Basic Information:: Gecko is approximately 2 years old and was adopted and returned to MACC after 3 days. She originally arrived to MACC as a stray. She was returned because the previous owner did not have time to train her.

Previously lived with:: 1 adult

How is this dog around strangers?: Her previous owner stated that she was shy around strangers.

How is this dog around children?: The dog was not around children.

How is this dog around other dogs?: The previous owner only had her briefly and did not get to socialize her with other dogs.

How is this dog around cats?: Gecko was not around cats.

Resource guarding:: Gecko did not guard any resource.

Bite history:: Gecko has no bite history.

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Medium

Other Notes:: The previous owner only had her for 3 days. He did not known how she reacted to loud noises/fireworks.

Medical Notes: The previous owner stated that she was sneezing in the 3 days that he had her for.

For a New Family to Know: The owner described Gecko as independent and friendly

Date of intake:: 11/8/2017

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Return (in previous home for 4 days)

Behavior toward strangers:: Lunges and growls at them

Other Notes:: While in her previous home, Gecko lunged and growled at the 25-year-old son who came over to visit. Gecko was previously in the care center as a stray, with her finder overnight. The finder reported that Gecko was extremely friendly and social

Date of assessment:: 11/3/2017

Look:: 1. Dog’s eyes are averted, ears are back, tail is down, relaxed body posture. Dog allows head to be held loosely in Assessor’s cupped hands.

Sensitivity:: 2. Dog is active and focused on the Assessor and all other stimuli available. Body is soft, likely panting, likely to display high movement between attempts.

Tag:: 1. Dog assumes play position and joins the game. Or dog indicates play with huffing, soft ‘popping’ of the body, etc. Dog might jump on Assessor once play begins.

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.

Toy:: 1. Dog settles close, keeps a firm grip and is loose and wiggly. Dog does not place his/her body between you and the toy.

Summary:: Gecko was very playful during Tag game, vocalizing and jumping/hopping, body remained soft.

Summary (1):: Gecko is initially fearful when greeting unfamiliar dogs in the care center, though has opened up to engaging playfully with select dogs. Slow introductions are recommended between Gecko and polite dogs. 11/2: When introduced off leash to the male greeter dog, Gecko is fearful and avoids approach completely.

Summary (2):: 11/3: Gecko stays on the bench for the duration of her time in the pen, briefly greeting male and female dogs who approach her.

Date of intake:: 11/1/2017

Summary:: During intake, Gecko was social and allowed all handling.

Date of initial:: 11/1/2017

Summary:: During her initial medical exam, Gecko was timid but allowed handling with a slow approach.

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Gecko so we cannot be certain of her behavior in a home environment. In the care center, Gecko is initially quiet with low energy, cautious and alert. Once warmed up, Gecko was bouncy and playful high energy. We recommend daily mental and physical activity to keep her engaged and exercised, such as walks, runs, exercise, and play to positively direct her enthusiasm.

IN SHELTER OBSERVATIONS:: Gecko has remained slightly timid while in the shelter environment, oftentimes proving difficult to remove from her kennel. However, she does well with a slow approach and has opened up considerably with handlers.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: ADULT ONLY HOME

Behavior Asilomar: TM – Treatable-Manageable

Recommendations:: No children (under 13)

Recommendations comments:: Due to Gecko’s reported behavior of lunging and growling at people who enter the home and when on walks, we recommend an adult-only home at this time.

Potential challenges: : Basic manners/poor impulse control,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful: (1st stay): Gecko is initially timid in new surroundings. She manages her stress well and has not escalated, but does need time to warm up. She will do best with a slow approach, and should be permitted to greet at her own pace and initiate interaction (rather than being approached and pet immediately by a new person). She should not be forced to submit to petting or handling when she is uncomfortable. Gecko would do best with a slow approach, preferably with a toy, and spoken to in a soft, gentle voice. Gecko may playfully vocalize when excited so her adopters should be prepared that she may exhibit grunt/snorts during excited play. (2nd stay): Gecko displays fearful behavior with new people, lunging and growling at them. Because this appears to present a challenge outside of the care centers, guidance from a professional trainer/behaviorist is recommended to assess this behavior and modify/manage as needed. Basic manners/impulse control: Gecko may playfully jump and bounce when excited. It is recommended that default behaviors such as ‘leave it’, ‘sit/stay’, and ‘down’ are reinforced to substitute any frustration and teach her to control her impulses instead of simply reacting. Force-free, reward based training only is recommended. On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration: In her previous home, Gecko was reported to lunge and growl at people while on leash. Gecko may need positive reinforcement, reward-based training to teach her to look at you rather than at other dogs and/or novel stimuli that may startle her. We recommend a front-clip harness or head halter to help manage this behavior.