Basic Information:: Max is a gray brindle and white 3 year old large breed male. He was bought from a breeder when he was 3 weeks old and his previous owner had him ever since. He was surrendered because his previous owner is moving and no longer able to keep him.

Previously lived with:: 2 adults, 1 child, 1 dog

How is this dog around strangers?: With strangers, Max is friendly and outgoing and exuberant and rough when he plays with adults.

How is this dog around children?: Max lived with a 6 year old child. With him he was relaxed and playful and exuberant at play. He slept in bed with him and was always by his side.

How is this dog around other dogs?: Max lived with a small male 5 year old dog since he was a puppy. With him he was relaxed and playful and gentle at play. When Max sees other dogs outside he growls, barks and lunges.

How is this dog around cats?: Max is aggressive when he sees stray cats. He growls, barks, lunged and has bitten.

Resource guarding:: Max sits with a wagging tail if his food bowl is touched while eating. Sometimes his previous owner fed him with a spoon and Max was gentle when he ate. If a treat of toy was taken from him, he became playful.

Bite history:: Max has bitten an animal and drawn blood more than 10 days ago. He has never attempted to bite a person.

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Very high

Other Notes:: Max is not allowed on most furniture, only the 6 year old’d bed. When he is told to get down he doesn’t unless the child told him. He isn’t bothered if held or retrained. He is tolerant of baths. He’s friendly if his paws are touched or if an unfamiliar person approached his home or previous owner.

Has this dog ever had any medical issues?: No

Medical Notes: Max was last seen by a vet 1 year ago. He has no known injuries or health concerns.

For a New Family to Know: Max is described as friendly, affectionate, playful, confident and excitable. His previous owner stated he is awesome, well behaved and loves a lot of affection. When his previous owner was home, Max followed him around. Max likes to play with rubber balls, bones and ropes. His favorite game is tug and fetch. He was kept indoors and at night he slept in the 6 year old’s bed. He ate both wet and dry Purina. Sometimes he ate rice with his food. He is housed trained and never had accidents indoors. He is well-behaved when left alone indoors or outdoors. He knows the cue sit, stand and “on me- which means stay by my side. He was walked 2 times a day and walked on a treadmill 30 minutes a day.

Date of intake:: 2/17/2018

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner Surrender (In home for 3 years)

Previously lived with:: Adults, a child (age 6), and a dog

Behavior toward strangers:: Friendly, outgoing, and exuberantly playful

Behavior toward children:: Relaxed, playful, and exuberant

Behavior toward dogs:: Relaxed and playful with the dog he lived with, barks, growls, and lunges at dogs outside

Behavior toward cats:: Growls, barks, lunges, and has bitten a stray cat

Resource guarding:: None reported

Bite history:: Yes, Max bit another dog two years ago when the off leash dog ran up to him. The two dogs fought and Max held on, causing multiple punctures. A year ago, he killed a cat that came into his yard.

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Max is described as friendly, affectionate, playful, confident, and excitable with a very high level of activity.

Other Notes:: Max would growl at the previous owner when he spanked the child in the home. Max is noted to bark at people who approach him wearing a hoodie. Max is reported to lunge at certain people when on leash.

Date of assessment:: 2/19/2018

Summary:: Max is very fearful at the care center and has allowed minimal handling from his caretakers. Out of concern for his stress levels and due to safety concerns, we feel Max is not a good candidate for a handling assessment at this time. Please see his owner surrender profile for a full summary of his behavior in his previous home.

Date of intake:: 2/17/2018

Summary:: Max had a relaxed body, but when he saw another dog he lunged, barked, and growled.

Date of initial:: 2/18/2018

Summary:: Max was tense and jumpy but allowed handling.

ENERGY LEVEL:: Max’s previous owner described him as having a high level of activity. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in additional to physical exercise, to positively direct his energy and enthusiasm.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: NEW HOPE ONLY

Behavior Asilomar: TM – Treatable-Manageable

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),No cats,Single-pet home,Recommend no dog parks,Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: No children: Due to Max’s history of lunging at some people, as well as how fearful he currently is at the care center, we recommend an adult only home. Place with a New Hope partner: Due to all noted concerns displayed in a home environment, the behavior department recommends Max be placed with a New Hope placement partner who is able to provide an experienced adult-only foster home. A period of decompression is recommended to allow Max to acclimate comfortably to his new environment; force-free, reward based training only is advised when introducing Maxto new and unfamiliar situations. Consultation with a professional trainer/behaviorist is highly recommended for guidance to safely manage/modify any behavior max presents with outside of the care centers.

Potential challenges: : Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Multiple-bite history/risk of future aggression,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Max is reported to lunge at certain people, growl at the owner, and bark at people who approach him wearing a hoodie. 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 Max to new and unfamiliar situations. Multiple-bite history/risk of future aggression: Max has bitten multiple animals. He will need careful management. It is recommended he be conditioned to wear a basket muzzle for when he is walked outside. On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration: In his previous home, Max was reported to react to other dogs and human passerby on leash, lunging towards them, barking and growling. Max may need positive reinforcement, reward based training to teach him to look at you rather than other dogs and novel stimuli that may startle him. We recommend a front clip harness or head halter to help manage this behavior.