Date of Intake: 2/18/2018

Spay/Neuter Status: Neutered

Basic Information:: Max is a 2 and a half year old, large mixed breed male who was neutered prior to coming into the shelter. He has no known health issues or injuries and last saw a vet in February of 2017. Max was adopted from North Shore Animal League and was surrendered due to his recent aggression towards another animal in the home.

Previously lived with:: In home with owner and 2 children

How is this dog around strangers?: Max will alert bark when someone comes to the door, but after they come inside and he sniff them, he calms down and is very friendly and affectionate.

How is this dog around children?: Max has lived two children in his previous home and was very relaxed and playful with them. He liked to follow them around and lay with them.

How is this dog around other dogs?: Max has lived with two other dogs and up until 3 weeks ago was very playful and respectful with them. Starting 3 weeks ago he began showing aggressive behaviors towards one of the dogs in the home. Max has also interacted with other dogs at the park and was very friendly and playful with them.

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

Resource guarding:: Max has no resource guarding with food, treats, or toys.

Bite history:: Max has no bite history with humans but has bitten one of the other dogs in his home before.

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Medium

Other Notes:: Max is not bothered by being pushed off the furniture, woken up out of his sleep or being restrained. His owner has been able to bathe and groom him with ease but she has not tried to trim his nails. He will alert bark when someone approaches the house or yard.

Has this dog ever had any medical issues?: No

For a New Family to Know: Max is described as being friendly, affectionate and playful. He likes to follow his family around and be in the same room as them. He likes to play with all kinds of toys and games. He has been an indoor dog, sleeps on his dog bed, and eats dry food or homecooked chicken and rice. He is house trained to go outside on any surface and never has accidents. He is well behaved when left alone in the house and yard, and has been crate trained in his younger months. He knows the command sit, come, down, drop it and jump. He walks both on and off leash at the dog park.

Date of intake:: 2/18/2018

Spay/Neuter status:: Yes

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

Previously lived with:: 1 adult, 2 children, 2 dogs

Behavior toward strangers:: Barks initially though friendly once he sniffs

Behavior toward children:: Relaxed, playful

Behavior toward dogs:: Has been friendly with residents dogs until recently; has also played at dog parks

Behavior toward cats:: Unknown

Resource guarding:: None reported

Bite history:: Starting 3 weeks ago Max has bitten another resident dog in the home, 5 year old male who is not neutered, a total of 5 times. The only bite that broke skin happened, 2/18/2018. The owner was not in the room during the incident so she did not witness how it started but she ran into the room when she heard the growling; he immediately let go once she yelled his name. He had bitten and broke skin on Rex’s left ear and above the eye.

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Friendly, affectionate and playful with a medium activity level.

Date of assessment:: 2/27/2018

Look:: 1. Dog holds gaze with soft eyes, soft body. Allows head to be held loosely in Assessor’s cupped hands. Dog holds gaze for three full seconds.

Sensitivity:: 1. Dog stands still and accepts the touch, eyes are averted, and tail is in neutral position with a relaxed body posture. Dog’s mouth is likely closed for at least a portion of the assessment item.

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 gently pulls back his/her paw.

Toy:: 1. No interest.

Summary:: Max displayed no concerning behavior during his assessment.

Date of intake:: 2/18/2018

Date of initial:: 2/18/2018

Summary:: Fearful

ENERGY LEVEL:: Max is reported to display a medium energy level in his previous home environment, in line with what has been observed in the care center.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: NEW HOPE ONLY

Behavior Asilomar: TM – Treatable-Manageable

Recommendations:: Recommend no dog parks,Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: New Hope Only: Based on Max’s bite history in his previous home environment, the behavior department believes he would best be set up to succeed if placed with a rescue group who can further assess this behavior in a stable home environment.

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

Potential challenges comments:: On leash reactivity/barrier frustration: At the care center Max has been observed to react to other dogs on leash, lunging towards them and barking. We cannot be sure if this reaction is due to excitement and frustration, though we recommend a front clip harness or head halter to help manage this behavior. He will need positive reinforcement, reward based training to teach him to look at you rather than other dogs. Multiple bite history/risk of future aggression: Max has a multiple-bite history solely with the other resident dog in his previous home. He appears to have escalated quickly to snapping and biting, so this is an established behavior that he offers when he feels threatened. Max needs careful behavior modification and management to prevent future bites. We recommend only force-free, reward-based training methods for Max as more aversive techniques are likely to increase fear and increase the risk of aggression