Date of Intake: 10/17/2017

Basic Information:: King is a large, black and white male, who was not neutered before coming into the shelter. His owner has had him since he was 3 months old, and had nursed him back to health after battling parvo. He did pull through and has not had any health issues since then. He last went to a vet with in the year.

How is this dog around strangers?: King is very friendly and outgoing with strangers. He will alert bark to let his owner know someone is at the door, but stops once she addresses the guest and he sees her calmly interacting with them.

How is this dog around children?: King has spent time around young children and briefly lived with two young boys. He was very playful and affectionate with them.

How is this dog around other dogs?: King has not spent time around other dogs.

How is this dog around cats?: King has not spent time around cats.

Resource guarding:: King’s owner has not reported any resource guarding behavior. She can touch his food bowl and take anything out of his mouth.

Bite history:: King has no bite history

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: High

Other Notes:: King’s owner stated that recently he has started growling at her when he is told to do something he does not want to, for example if he is on a pile of clothes she is folding and she tells him to get off, he will start growling. This is a new behavior and it is unpredictable as he could be relaxed one moment, and then tenses up and starts growling the next without any environmental changes or warning.

Has this dog ever had any medical issues?: Yes

Medical Notes: King had parvo as a young puppy.

For a New Family to Know: King is described as being friendly, affectionate and playful. He will follow his owner around and likes to be in the same room as her when she is home. He has been an indoor dog and likes to play with all kinds of toys and games. He sleeps anywhere in the house and eats dry food. His favorite treats are chicken breast, steak or beef. He is house trained to go outside on any surface and is well behaved when left alone in the house. He knows the commands sit, come, down, stay, drop it and shake or paw. He walks both on and off leash, but only off leash at parks at times when it is not highly populated.

Date of intake:: 10/17/2017

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Previously lived with:: Adults, 2 children

Behavior toward strangers:: Friendly, calm

Behavior toward children:: Playful

Behavior toward dogs:: Unknown

Behavior toward cats:: Unknown

Resource guarding:: None reported

Bite history:: None reported

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: King is described as friendly with a high energy level.

Other Notes:: The owner reported as of lately King has been showing unpredictable behavior. When giving a command, King is reported to become tense,and will growl. She does have the resources to properly manage this behavior, and is afraid this behavior will escalate.

Date of assessment:: 10/21/2017

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.

Sensitivity:: 2. Dog stands still and accepts the touch, eyes are averted, tail is between legs, body stiff, mouth closed, lip long, ears likely back, may lip lick.

Tag:: 2. Dog is fearful but unresponsive when touched. Approaches the Assessor when the game ends. Dog is likely crouching, may have a long lip or lip lick.

Paw squeeze 1:: 2. Dog quickly pulls back.

Flank squeeze 1:: 3. Dog closes mouth, begins to purse lips and becomes stiff.

Flank squeeze 2:: 3. Dog closes mouth, begins to purse lips and becomes stiff.

Toy:: 1. No interest.

Summary:: During the handling assessment king initially showed a high level of fear, avoiding direct contact,pulling away from the assessor, and attempts to exit. Toward the end of the assessment King became a bit more relaxed approaching the assessor for some soft petting, giving paw.King allowed all handling with a slow approach, but remained tense, and wary.

Summary (1):: According to King’s previous owner, King did not socialize with other dogs while he was in his care. 10/18: When off leash at the Care Center, King displays a nervous body posture- flat ears and tuck tail. The greeter dog’s leash is held to give him a chance to approach, but King chooses to keep to himself and never approaches her. He mostly kept to himself wandering the pen and avoiding the other dog. 10/19: Today, King approached the novel female dog with a forward lean, raised hackles and tense body. He allows her to sniff his rear, before moving away. After exploring the pens, he re-approaches the greeter, with a heighten posture. He is easy to distracted.

Date of intake:: 10/17/2017

Summary:: Friendly, allowed handling

Date of initial:: 10/19/2017

Summary:: Timid, allows handling with gentle restraint.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: ADULT ONLY HOME

Behavior Asilomar: TM – Treatable-Manageable

Recommendations:: No children (under 13)

Recommendations comments:: While King showed no issues with the children in the home, he has shown a number of warning and distance-increasing behaviors to different handling triggers. Due to these behaviors we recommend an experienced adopter and an adult-only home.

Potential challenges: : Fearful/potential for defensive aggression

Potential challenges comments:: King gives clear warnings when he 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 King, to build positive associations (treats/toys/praise), and to allow King to initiate interactions with new people. He should never be forced to greet or to interact if he is not comfortable and soliciting attention.