Date of Intake: 1/11/2018

Basic Information:: Ivy is a 5 year old female brown and white medium mixed breed dog. Ivy lived with previous owner for about 2 weeks. Ivy lived with her first owner for almost 5 years but was given away due to her medical issues. Ivy was surrendered because she snapped at one of the owner’s sons and the owner was afraid she would bite. Ivy was bleeding from a cut in her mouth when surrendered but ha no other injuries or health problems. Ivy has not seen a vet recently.

Previously lived with:: Ivy previously lived with one adult and four children

How is this dog around strangers?: Ivy is friendly and outgoing with strangers. Ivy will approach strangers and will allow to be petted.

How is this dog around children?: Ivy previously lived with four children aged 10, 13, 14 and 15 years old. Ivy is described as being friendly and playful with all the children. Ivy was said to be closer with the 10 year old child, allowing him to hug her and kiss her.

How is this dog around other dogs?: Ivy has not interacted with other dogs.

How is this dog around cats?: Ivy has not interacted with cats.

Resource guarding:: Ivy’s previous owner never tried to touch her food or food bowl while she was eating. Ivy will play tug when a toy, treat or object is taken away from her.

Bite history:: Ivy has never bitten another animal or human.

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Ivy has a medium energy level

Other Notes:: Ivy was not allowed on furniture. Ivy is friendly when being held or restrained. Ivy is afraid when being bathed and will try to avoid the water. Ivy has never had her nails trimmed. Ivy is not bothered when an unfamiliar approaches her and her owner.

Has this dog ever had any medical issues?: No

Medical Notes: Ivy has no known medical issues.

For a New Family to Know: Ivy is a friendly, mellow, and anxious dog. When at home, Ivy likes to be in the same room as her owner and likes to lay near her bed. Ivy likes to play with tennis balls and likes to play tug. Ivy was kept as an indoors only dog and was free-fed Pedigree dry food. Ivy is house trained and usually goes potty outside on the grass. Ivy was taken out for slow walks on the leash twice a day at 5am and 7pm every day. When left home alone, Ivy is well behaved when left home alone.

Date of intake:: 1/11/2018

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner Surrender (In home for 2 weeks)

Previously lived with:: An adult and children (ages 10, 13, 14, and 15)

Behavior toward strangers:: Friendly and outgoing

Behavior toward children:: Friendly and playful

Resource guarding:: None reported

Bite history:: None reported

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Ivy is described as friendly, mellow, and anxious with a medium level of activity.

Other Notes:: Ivy snapped at the 10 year old child’s face. Circumstances the preceded the snap are not certain, but the owner believed the child may have been attempting to hug Ivy.

Date of assessment:: 1/14/2018

Look:: 2. Dog’s eyes are averted, body posture is stiff and fearful, tail is low and not moving. Dog allows head to be held loosely in Assessor’s cupped hands.

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

Summary:: Ivy approached the assessor in the assessment room with a low body. After look was conducted, she cowered away and moved away as far away from the assessor as the leash would allow and walked in large circles around the assessor, keeping a distance and pacing in circles. She approached the assessor again, but when the assessor went to touch her she moved away and began to circle again, not looking at the assessor and displacement sniffing the floor. Out of concern for stress levels, the rest of the handling assessment was not preformed.

Summary (1):: Ivy is muzzled for her first off leash interaction. When introduced to a male greeter dog, Ivy greets with stiff body initially. She then mounts the male dog and begins vocalizing and chasing him, but is able to be interrupted by handlers. She remains stiff and is removed from the pen. Based on these observations, a single dog home is recommended for Ivy, and it is recommended she be kept out of areas of potentially high dog traffic.

Date of intake:: 1/11/2018

Summary:: Ivy allowed all handling.

Date of initial:: 1/11/2018

Summary:: Ivy appeared very anxious.

ENERGY LEVEL:: Ivy’s previous owner described her as having a medium level of activity.

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 snapping at a 10 year old child in her previous home, we recommend an adult only home. Place with a New Hope partner: Due to the potential for defensive aggression Ivy has displayed at the care center and in her previous home, 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,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration

Potential challenges comments:: Single dog home/no dog parks: Based on observation made in our care, a single dog home is recommended for Ivy, and it is recommended she be kept out of areas of potentially high dog traffic. Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Ivy gives clear warnings when she is uncomfortable and does seem to choose to avoid or retreat when given the opportunity, but if prevented from moving away there is a potential to escalate to higher-level warning behaviors and possible fear-based aggression. It is important to move slowly with Ivy, to build positive associations (treats/toys/praise), and to allow Minerva to initiate interactions with new people. She should never be forced to greet or to interact if she is not comfortable and soliciting attention. On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration: At the care center, Ivy has been observed to react to other dogs on leash, lunging towards them, barking and growling. Ivy may need positive reinforcement, reward based training to teach her to look at you rather than other dogs. We recommend a front clip harness or head halter to help manage this behavior.