Date of Intake: 1/30/2018

Spay/Neuter Status: Unknown

Basic Information:: Nero is a roughly 6 year old male dog whom was gotten from a breeder and kept in the same home for 6 years. Unfortunately due to his behavior he could not be kept.

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

How is this dog around strangers?: Around strangers Nero is described as reactive and does not play

How is this dog around children?: Around children he is described as usually tolerant and does not play

How is this dog around other dogs?: Around other dogs he is described as reactive and does not play

How is this dog around cats?: He has not been socialized with cats so this behavior is unknown

Resource guarding:: Nero is described to have no known resource guarding issues.

Bite history:: Nero has a previous bite history which is elaborated in a separate memo

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: low energy level

Other Notes:: Nero isn’t bothered by loud storms or fireworks, having his food or toys touched, being brushed or being given a bath. He will bark, growl and snap when attempting to pull or push him off of furniture, being disturbed while asleep having his nails trimmed and will bark when unfamiliar people approach his home or owner.

Has this dog ever had any medical issues?: No

Medical Notes: Nero has no known medical issues

For a New Family to Know: Nero is described as friendly, shy, confident, independent, pushy, mellow and stubborn. He enjoys play fetch with balls, ate kibbles and bits dry food 2 times a day, is considered very house trained and is well behaved when he is left alone at home or in a yard. He knows the commands sit, stay, come and down, pulls lightly on leash and was walked twice a day.

Date of intake:: 1/30/2018

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner Surrender (In home for 6 years)

Previously lived with:: Adults, a child, and a dog

Behavior toward strangers:: Reactive

Behavior toward children:: Usually tolerant, does not play

Behavior toward dogs:: Reactive

Resource guarding:: None reported

Bite history:: Yes, Nero has bitten twice. One bite occurred three years ago when the owner’s partner approached Nero when Nero when Nero was eating a bagel. The bite left one puncture. The second bite occurred two years ago when Nero got tangled in a leash and the owner attempted to untangle him. This bite broke skin on the owner’s hand.

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Nero is described as friendly, shy, confident, independent, pushy, mellow, and stubborn with a low level of activity.

Other Notes:: Nero will will bark, growl, and snap when attempting to pull or push him off of furniture and when disturbed while asleep.

Date of assessment:: 2/1/2018

Summary:: Nero has been reactive to people at the care center, snapping at them, and has been observed to redirect and attempt to bite the person handling him when pulled away. He also has a multiple bite history. For these reasons, a handling assessment was not performed. Please see his owner surrender profile for a full summary of his behavior in his previous home.

Date of intake:: 1/30/2018

Summary:: Nero was tense and froze when the counselor approached him.

Date of initial:: 1/30/2018

Summary:: Nero was snapping.

ENERGY LEVEL:: Nero’s previous owner described him as having a low level of activity.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: NEW HOPE ONLY

Behavior Asilomar: TM – Treatable-Manageable

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: No children: Due to Nero’s multiple bite history and observed behavior of redirecting at the person handling him, 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 Nero 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 Nero to acclimate comfortably to his new environment; force-free, reward based training only is advised when introducing Nero to new and unfamiliar situations. Consultation with a professional trainer/behaviorist is highly recommended for guidance to safely manage/modify any behavior Nero presents with outside of the care centers.

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

Potential challenges comments:: Resource guarding: Nero has bitten someone who approached him while he was eating. For this reason, we advise against ever removing items from Nero’s possession without safely trading for an item or greater or equal value. Guidance from a professional trainer/behaviorist is highly recommended to aid in safely managing/modifying this behavior in a new home environment. On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration: Nero has been reported and observed to react to other dogs and people on leash, lunging towards them and snapping. He has been observed to attempt to bite the person holding him when pulled away. Nero may need positive reinforcement, reward based training to teach him to look at you rather than other dogs and people. We recommend a front clip harness or head halter to help manage this behavior. Guidance from a professional trainer/behaviorist is strongly recommended. Multiple-bite history/risk of future aggression: Nero has a multiple bite history and has attempted to bite at the care center. 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 Nero to new and unfamiliar situations.