Date of Intake: 2/11/2018

Spay/Neuter Status: Unknown

Basic Information:: elmo is a 8 year old male, small mixed breed, was brought in to siacc due to the medical/physical limitations of the owner.

Previously lived with:: 3 adults 1 child from age 6-10

How is this dog around strangers?: shy warms up with treats. during intake – elmo was snapping and growling at staff, staff was unable to put a lead on him, or take him out of cage that the owner transported him in

How is this dog around children?: has been around a child from the ages of 6-10

How is this dog around other dogs?: when walking on a leash he does bark, and pull at the leash

How is this dog around cats?: unknown

Resource guarding:: will growl some times when some one interrupts his eating

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: medium to high

Date of intake:: 2/11/2018

Spay/Neuter status:: Yes

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

Previously lived with:: 3 adults, 1 child

Behavior toward strangers:: Shy but warms up with treats

Behavior toward dogs:: May bark and pull on leash

Behavior toward cats:: Unknown

Resource guarding:: Will growl if approached when eating

Bite history:: Elmo bit two staff members while here at the care center. Once during his initial medical exam (on staff member’s hand), and once when staff attempted to remove him from kennel (On staff member’s finger). Both bites broke skin.

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Medium to high

Date of assessment:: 2/16/2018

Look:: 4. Dog holds eye contact while remaining motionless with ears forward. Body is stiff and becomes stiffer as assessment progresses.

Sensitivity:: 5. Dog freezes, growls, or tries to bite.

Toy:: 1. Minimal interest in toy, dog may smell or lick, then turns away.

Summary:: Elmo became increasingly uncomfortable with up close tactile handling.

Date of intake:: 2/11/2018

Summary:: During intake, Elmo growled and snapped at staff, limiting handling.

Date of initial:: 2/11/2018

Summary:: During his initial medical exam, Elmo bit staff on the hand, breaking skin.

ENERGY LEVEL:: His owner describes Elmo as having a medium to high level of energy. In the care center, Elmo displays as having a medium level of energy, though this may be due to stressful environment.

IN SHELTER OBSERVATIONS:: Elmo may thrash on leash if he is uncomfortable and staff attempts to coax him by directing the leash.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: NEW HOPE ONLY

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: No children Under 13 : Elmo appears to become uncomfortable with up close handling, for this reasons we advise against a home with children at this time. Place with a New Hope Partner: Elmo has not acclimated well to the kennel environment and has allowed only minimal handling since intake. We recommend placement with a New Hope partner who can provide any necessary behavior modification (force-free, positive reinforcement-based) and re-evaluate behavior in a stable home environment before placement into a permanent home.

Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Multiple-bite history/risk of future aggression

Potential challenges comments:: Resource Guarding:The owner reports that Elmo growls if his food bowl is approached while he is eating. We recommend that Elmo be left alone while eating to prevent rehearsal of the warning as well as to prevent escalation. Handling/Touch Sensitivity:Elmo has been noted to become uncomfortable with up close tactile handling.It is important to always go slow and give Elmo the option to walk away from any social interaction. Elmo should never be forced to approach anything that he is uncomfortable with or to submit to petting or handling. It should always be Elmo’s choice to approach a new person or thing. Elmo may do best in an initially calm and quiet home environment and should be given time to acclimate to his new surroundings. Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Elmo has attempted to bite during his stay in our care centers when uncomfortable; guidance from a professional trainer/behaviorist is recommended to assess behavior after decompression in a new home environment. Force-free, reward based training is advised when introducing or exposing Elmo to new and unfamiliar situations. Multiple Bite History/risk of future aggression: Elmo has bitten caretakers on more than one occasion in the care center. It is important to make sure Elmo stays under threshold and is not pushed to escalate further to a bite.