Basic Information:: Elsa is a 1 year old spayed female that has no previous or current medical issues that the owner is aware of. Owner had Elsa for 10 months but had to surrender due to landlord issues.

Previously lived with:: 2 Adults, 1 Newborn

How is this dog around strangers?: Around strangers, Elsa will bark at first and takes a few minutes to get comfortable around someone. Once she is comfortable, she will jump on the person and give kisses.

How is this dog around children?: Owner had a newborn in the home and stated that the newborn was only around Elsa once or twice and Elsa was respectful around the baby.

How is this dog around other dogs?: Owner’s mother had 3 other dogs in the home, 2 males and a female and the owner stated that Elsa would play roughly with the other female dog and has even bit the other dog on the ear when she was being given attention but did not break skin. Around both males dogs, Elsa was always relaxed and respectful.

How is this dog around cats?: Owner did not have a cat in the home so behavior is unknown.

Resource guarding:: Elsa is not bothered when the owner would take away her food, treats or toys.

Bite history:: Elsa has nipped the owners mothers dog several weeks ago but did not break skin.

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: High

For a New Family to Know: Elsa is described as friendly, affectionate, playful and shy around new people. She has a high activity level and likes to play with balls, stuffed animals, squeaky toys, bones and rope toys. In the home, she liked to follow the owner around from room to room. Owner fed Elsa dry food only (different brands). Elsa was kept mostly indoors and is house trained. when left alone in the home, she would destroy household items such as trash bags, sponges, etc. Else knows the cues sit, come,stay,up and paw. For exercise, owner would take Elsa on slow walks on the leash. When on the leash, Elsa tends to pull very hard. Owner has never tried to walk her off leash so behavior is unknown.

Date of intake:: 12/10/2017

Spay/Neuter status:: Yes

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

Previously lived with:: (2) Adults, (1) newborn, (3) dogs

Behavior toward strangers:: Bark, needs time to warm up and then becomes affectionate

Behavior toward children:: Respectful around baby in home

Behavior toward dogs:: Relaxed, respectful, plays rough

Behavior toward cats:: Unknown

Resource guarding:: None reported

Bite history:: Nipped a resident dog on the ear but did not break skin.

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Friendly, affectionate, playful and shy with a high activity level

Summary:: Elsa remains highly uncomfortable in the care center – her level of fear high. Elsa has escalated to threatening behavior directed at handlers on two separate occasions. Out of concern for her stress level and staff safety, Elsa is not considered to be an appropriate candidate for a handling assessment at this time.

Summary (1):: Elsa initially avoids the other dogs when in Group, but as her session continues she displays a soft posture and engages in social interactions. Elsa’s previous guardian reported that she lived with 3 other dogs, 2 males and a female and that she would play roughly with the other female. Around both male dogs, Elsa was always relaxed and respectful. The Behavior Department recommends that Elsa be placed in a home with resident dogs that are respectful and match her calm demeanor. 12/11: When off leash at the Care Center, Elsa does not greet the male helper dog and avoids having any contact with him throughout her session- moving from pen to pen away from him. 12/12: Elsa is slightly more confident around a calm female dog. She greets her with a neutral posture, and follows her around the pen. She explores the pens the rest of her session, and tolerates a persistent male dog. 12/13-14: Elsa spent most of her session interacting with the handlers. She briefly greets the other dog, before exploring the pens. 12/15: Today, Elsa was used a s greeter. She became reactive with an anxious dog.

Date of intake:: 12/10/2017

Summary:: Tense, growling

Date of initial:: 12/12/2017

Summary:: Nervous, tail tucked, tense, whale eyes, no growling or lunging

ENERGY LEVEL:: Elsa is reported to have a high energy level in her previous home environment. Daily mental and physical stimulation is recommended as an outlet to direct her energy and enthusiasm.

IN SHELTER OBSERVATIONS:: 12/14/17: Initially Elsa was shut-down when outside of her kennel and displaying fear-related distance increasing behaviors while in her kennel- barking and snapping when approached. She has begun to warm to certain handlers on the Behavior Team, soliciting attention with a loose and wiggly body, readily accepting handling. However on two of her socialization sessions, novel staff members were in the room. The first incident, a staff member was sitting in a chair and called Elsa over. At the time, Elsa was socializing with two familiar handlers. She turned and looked in the direction of the staff who was sitting down and calling her, then immediately lunged and barked at her. The second incident happened today. Two staff were sitting calmly on the floor with Elsa who was relaxed and readily accepting pets from them. One handler began to get up, slowly and Elsa again barked and lunged at her. She was easy to deescalate and did not redirect when tension in her leash increased.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: NEW HOPE ONLY

Behavior Asilomar: TM – Treatable-Manageable

Recommendations:: Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: Place with a New Hope partner: Elsa has not acclimated well to the kennel environment and has allowed only minimal handling from selective staff members 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: : Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression

Potential challenges comments:: Handling/touch sensitivity:Elsa has been noted to become uncomfortable with handling at times, especially when a person is reaching over her. It is important to always go slow and give Elsa the option to walk away from any social interaction. Elsa should never be forced to approach anything that she is uncomfortable with or to submit to petting or handling. It should always be Elsa’s choice to approach a new person or thing. Elsa may do best in an initially calm and quiet home environment and should be given time to acclimate to her new surroundings. Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Reactivity towards other humans was noted in the care center (lunging, growling, barking). Because this appears to present a challenge outside of the care centers, guidance from a professional trainer/behaviorist is highly advised to assess this behavior and modify/manage as needed. It is important to make sure Elsa stays under threshold and is not pushed to escalate further to a bite.

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