Basic Information:: Gobi came in as a stray so his behavior is limited to officer interaction and intake behavior.

How is this dog around strangers?: The officers say Gobi was lunging, growling, and snapping at them.

Date of intake:: 10/29/2017

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Behavior toward strangers:: The officers who brought Gobi is reported that he was lunging, growling, and snapping at people

Date of assessment:: 11/1/2017

Summary:: In the assessment room, Gobi did not approach the assessor. He allowed the assessor to take his leash and sit next to him at first. After a few minutes, he froze and hard stared at the assessor, so a handling assessment was not conducted.

Summary (1):: Gobi has offered polite greeting to female dogs in the care center. He has displayed attempts to mount during interaction, though has responded well to correction from other dogs and interruption from handlers. Based on observation made in our care, the behavior department feels that Gobi would be most compatible with social or tolerant female dogs. Slow introductions are recommended. History around dogs is unknown due to arriving as a stray. 10/31: When introduced off leash to the female greeter dog, Gobi greets with a loose body and wagging tail. He follows and attempts to mount. He responds well to correction from the greeter dog and briefly ceases attempting to mount.

Summary (2):: 11/1: Gobi greets the female helper dog politely. He follows and briefly attempts to mount. He ceases when offered correction from the other dog.

Summary (3):: 11/3: Gobi greets the female dog politely and follows, sniffing and attempting to mount.

Date of intake:: 10/29/2017

Summary:: Gobi was growling and lunging.

Date of initial:: 10/29/2017

Summary:: Gobi was growling.

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Gobi so we cannot be certain of his behavior in a home environment. In the care center, he displays a medium level of activity.

IN SHELTER OBSERVATIONS:: Gobi has allowed some handling in the care center though has been observed to easily startle; when uncomfortable Gobi will make all attempts to increase distance, displaying all appropriate warning signals.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: NEW HOPE ONLY

Behavior Asilomar: TM – Treatable-Manageable

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

Recommendations comments:: No children: Due to how uncomfortable Gobi is currently with touch and novel stimuli, we feel that an adult-only home would be most beneficial at this time. Place with a New Hope partner: Gobi was lunging, growling, and snapping at intake and has remained aloof with handlers at the care center. When his assessment was attempted, he froze. For these reasons, 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: : Fearful/potential for defensive aggression

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Upon intake, Gobi was lunging, growling, and snapping. He has improved during his stay at the care center but remains aloof with staff members. He has at times growled and frozen up when in close proximity to people. 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 Gobi to new and unfamiliar situations.