Basic Information:: King is a 3 year old large brown bridle male dog that was surrendered by his owner due to personal problems. The owner stated tat she got King as a gift when he was 8 weeks old.

Previously lived with:: Owner

How is this dog around strangers?: When around strangers King is friendly and outgoing. When playing with adults he is exuberant.

How is this dog around children?: King has spent time around children all ages. When playing with children he is exuberant.

How is this dog around other dogs?: King has not spent time in the home with other dogs so it is unknown how he will react.

How is this dog around cats?: King has not spent time in the home around cats so it is unknown how he will react.

Resource guarding:: If someone was to touch Kings food he may growl. If someone was to touch his f treats or toys he friendly. If someone unfamiliar approaches his house or family member he will bark.

Bite history:: King has never bitten an animal or another person.

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: High

Other Notes:: King is friendly when being bathed and brushed. He has never had his nails trimmed so it is unknown how he will react. King isn’t bothered if he is restrained pushed off the furniture or disturbed while he sleeps.

Has this dog ever had any medical issues?: No

Medical Notes: No reported medical concerns.

For a New Family to Know: Owner described King as friendly affectionate and excitable. When at home he will follow his owner around. He likes to play with balls and chew bones. King eats both wet and dry food. He is very much house broken and never has accidents. When left alone in the house he is well behaved. He has never been left in the yard or crated so it is unknown how he will react. King knows how to sit, stay, give paw and come when he is called. King is used to brisk walks on the leash. When off the leash he will wander but comes when called. On the leash King pulls hard.

Date of intake:: 10/27/2017

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner surrender (in home 3 years, obtained at 8 weeks old)

Previously lived with:: Adult (1)

Behavior toward strangers:: Friendly, outgoing, exuberantly playful

Behavior toward children:: Exuberant around children of all ages

Behavior toward dogs:: Unknown

Behavior toward cats:: Unknown

Resource guarding:: May growl if his food is touched.

Bite history:: None reported

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: King is described as affectionate and excitable with a high activity level.

Date of assessment:: 10/31/2017

Look:: 1. Dog’s eyes are averted, with tail wagging and ears back. Allows head to be held loosely in Assessor’s cupped hands.

Sensitivity:: 1. Dog leans into the Assessor, eyes soft or squinty, soft and loose body, open mouth.

Tag:: 1. Dog follows at the end of the leash, body soft.

Paw squeeze 1:: 1. Dog gently pulls back his/her paw.

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 down close to chew, will relinquish toy to you.

Summary:: King was playful. He mouths the leash, but applied no pressure; and quickly releases.

Summary (1):: King is uncomfortable with most social interactions. He displays a tense body, and offers grumbles when the novel female dogs attempts to solicit play. He eventually engages in play, but is sensitive with body contact. According to King’s previous owner, King has not spent with other dogs. The Behavior Department recommends that King be the only resident dog at this time. 10/28: When off leash at the Care Center, King anxiously enters the pen; pacing and hyper-salivating. He places his paws on the greeter’s back when she rushes him, then quickly runs away. As the session continues, he solicits running chase play with quick movements, and attempts to mount the novel female dog when she takes a break. 10/29: King greeted the male helper dog with a tense body- raised hackles. He relaxed some during their greet exchange and engaged in a few short bouts of bouncy play. He did attempt to mount the other dog once but responded immediately when interrupted. 10/30: King engages in awkward bouncy play in a group of playful females. He responds well to being re-directed by the handlers and will give appropriate corrections to other dogs for body contact. 10/31: King enters the pen with a tense body posture. He is tolerant of the other dog’s flirtatious behavior, and repeatedly licks her head and face. When she attempts to solicit play, he offers her a grumble and moves away.

Date of intake:: 10/27/2017

Summary:: King was friendly and outgoing.

Date of initial:: 10/28/2017

Summary:: Active but allowed exam. Needed a muzzle for ear cleaning as he became tense, whale eyed, struggling

ENERGY LEVEL:: King’s previous owner describes an active, energetic dog. King will need daily mental and physical activity to keep him engaged and exercised. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in additional to physical exercise, to positively direct his energy and enthusiasm. We recommend feeding with puzzle feeders and food-dispensing toys. And we recommend only force-free, reward-based training techniques for King.

IN SHELTER OBSERVATIONS:: 11/1: When brought into the medical room for treatment, King began lunging and snapping. This seemed to have been directed at the leash, but his rapid escalation and potential for redirection raised some concern and made him difficult to handle. He could not be restrained for his treatment due to this behavior and high arousal level.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: NEW HOPE ONLY

Behavior Asilomar: TM – Treatable-Manageable

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),Single-pet home,Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: No children: According to the owner, King is reported to growl when food is touched. Due to this and his low threshold for arousal, we advise against a home with children at this time. Single-pet home: King appears uncomfortable around and sometimes agitated by other dogs. We recommend that he be the only pet in the home at this time, until his behavior around other dogs can be more carefully and fully evaluated. Place with a New Hope partner: While King’s handling assessment raised no concerns and his previous owner describes him as friendly and exuberant around people, we have seen some concerns with over-arousal in the care center. At this time we recommend placement with a New Hope partner who can further investigate this behavior and provide in-depth counseling for adopters before placement into a permanent home.

Potential challenges: : Low threshold for arousal,Resource guarding

Potential challenges comments:: Resource guarding: King’s previous owner notes that he may growl when his food is touched. We recommend that King be left along while eating, and that food guarding behavior modification steps (available at ASPCApro.org) be utilized if this behavior is problematic in his future home. Nothing should ever be taken directly out of King’s mouth, and any time something is removed he should be rewarded with a high value treat or toy. He should be taught the “drop” cue and trade-up games. Low threshold for arousal: See In Shelter Observations section.