Date of intake:: 12/27/2017

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray

Date of assessment:: 12/31/2017

Look:: 1. Dog’s eyes are averted, with tail wagging and ears back. Allows head to be held loosely in Assessor’s cupped hands.

Sensitivity:: 1. Dog leans into the Assessor, eyes soft or squinty, soft and loose body, open mouth.

Tag:: 1. Dog follows at the end of the leash, body soft.

Paw squeeze 1:: 1. Dog does not respond at all for three seconds. Eyes are averted and ears are relaxed or back.

Paw squeeze 2:: 1. Dog does not respond at all for three seconds. Eyes are averted and ears are relaxed or back.

Flank squeeze 1:: Item not conducted

Flank squeeze 2:: Item not conducted

Toy:: 5. Dog snaps or bites the Assess-a-Hand.

Summary:: Butch quickly approached the assessor in the assessment room with a soft body. He was a bit distracted during the assessment, sniffing around the room, but displayed social behavior and allowed all handling. When in possession of the toy, he snapped towards the assess-a-hand hand when it touched the toy.

Summary:: The behavior department feels that Butch may be most compatible with female dogs who are playful and tolerant. Butch’s behavior history around other dogs is not available due to arriving as a stray. He has been observed to be gently playful when introduced to female dogs in the care center. He has not yet been introduced off leash to other male dogs while in our care, though has been observed to become tense and growl when greeting them in passing.

Summary (1):: 12/28: When introduced off leash to the female greeter dog, Butch is bouncy and solicits play.

Summary (2):: 1/6-8: Butch engages in bouncy play with a playful female dog.

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Butch so we cannot be certain of his behavior in a home environment. However, he is an enthusiastic, social dog who will need daily mental and physical activity to keep him engaged and exercised. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in additional to physical exercise, to positively direct his energy and enthusiasm.

IN SHELTER OBSERVATIONS:: While Butch presents to be a challenge in the care center with his on leash dog reactivity, he remains highly social when interacting with his human caretakers. Duke is playful, exuberant and actively seeks/solicits attention.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: ADULT ONLY HOME

Behavior Asilomar: TM – Treatable-Manageable

Recommendations:: No children (under 13)

Recommendations comments:: No children: Due to Butch’s response to the Toy item of SAFER, indicating possible potential to guard items, we feel Butch should be placed in an adult only home.

Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Fearful,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration

Potential challenges comments:: Resource guarding: Butch displayed the potential to guard items he considers valuable on his assessment, snapping at the assess-a-hand. Nothing should ever be taken directly out of Butch’s mouth, and any time something is removed he should be rewarded with a high value treat or toy. He should be taught the “drop” cue and trade-up games. Fearful: At the care center, Butch has displayed some fearful behavior, cowering away from quick movements. It is important to always go slow and give Butch the option to walk away from any social interaction. Butch should never be forced to approach anything that he is uncomfortable with or to submit to Butch’s choice to approach a new person or thing. Butch would do best in an initially calm and quiet home environment and should be given time to acclimate to his new surroundings. On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration: At the care center, Butch has been observed to react to other dogs on leash, lunging towards them, barking and growling. Butch may need positive reinforcement, reward based training to teach him to look at you rather than other dogs. We recommend a front clip harness or head halter to help manage this behavior.