Date of intake:: 1/2/2018

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner Surrender (In home for 4 years)

Previously lived with:: An adult and children (ages 7 and 10)

Behavior toward strangers:: Shy but warms up and becomes friendly

Behavior toward children:: Relaxed, respectful, and playful

Behavior toward dogs:: Respectful

Resource guarding:: None reported

Bite history:: None reported

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: MJ is described as sweet and friendly with a high level of activity.

Date of assessment:: 1/3/2018

Look:: 2. Dog pulls out of Assessor’s hands each time without settling during three repetitions.

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

Tag:: 1. Dog assumes play position and joins the game. Or dog indicates play with huffing, soft ‘popping’ of the body, etc. Dog might jump on Assessor once play begins.

Paw squeeze 1:: 3. Dog closes mouth, becomes stiff.

Paw squeeze 2:: Item not conducted

Flank squeeze 1:: 1. Dog does not respond at all.

Flank squeeze 2:: 1. Dog does not respond at all.

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

Summary:: MJ approached the assessor in the assessment room with a soft body. When his paw was touched for squeeze, he became very tense, so flank was used.

Summary:: The previous owner of MJ describes his behavior around other dogs as “respectful”. He has engaged in gentle play with female dogs in the care center. He has not yet been introduced to another male dog in our care. Slow introductions are recommended to respectful female dogs.

Summary (1):: 1/3: When introduced off leash to a female dog, MJ greets politely and wanders the pen, engaging in brief bounces when solicited with play.

Summary (2):: 1/12: MJ engaged in rambunctious play briefly. He then would wander the pen.

Summary (3):: 1/13: MJ engages in running play with a female dog.

Date of initial:: 1/3/2018

Summary:: Mj was tense.

ENERGY LEVEL:: Mj’s previous owner described him as having a high level of activity. He is a young, enthusiastic, social dog who 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.

IN SHELTER OBSERVATIONS:: While MJ presents to be a challenge in the care center with his on leash dog reactivity, and his unwillingness to return to his kennel, he remains highly social when interacting with his human caretakers. MJ is playful, exuberant and actively seeks/solicits attention; he has displayed no handling concerns.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: EXPERIENCE (suitable for an adopter with some previous dog experience, especially with the behaviors outlined below)

Behavior Asilomar: TM – Treatable-Manageable

Recommendations:: No young children (under 5)

Recommendations comments:: No young children: Due to potential for handling sensitivity, a home without young children is recommended.

Potential challenges: : Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful

Potential challenges comments:: Handling/touch sensitivity: Mj became tense when his paw was handled, showing discomfort with touch in certain areas. It is important to avoid touching Mj’s paws at this time and to be cautious when touching him in other areas as we do not know where he may have other sensitivities. Positive reinforcement, reward based training should be used to pair touch with good things such as food rewards in order to teach Mj to be more comfortable with this. Fearful: Mj’s previous owner reported that he is shy with new people. It is important to always go slow and give Mj the option to walk away from any social interaction. Mj should never be forced to approach anything that he is uncomfortable with or to submit to petting or handling. It should always be Mj’s choice to approach a new person or thing. Mj would do best in an initially calm and quiet home environment and should be given time to acclimate to his new surroundings.