Date of Intake: 12/8/2017

Spay/Neuter Status: Neutered

Basic Information:: Trappers is a 4 year old, black and white medium mixed breed male. He was neutered prior to coming into the shelter and has been in his home since he was a few weeks old. He was an owner surrender due to landlord conflict. Trapper has no known health issues and has not seen a vet recently.

Previously lived with:: In home with owner

How is this dog around strangers?: Trapper will alert bark when someone approaches the house. He is slightly unpredictable in his behavior as some individuals he will sniff and allow them to pet him, and others he will growl and back away.

How is this dog around children?: Trapper has lived with one small child and has interacted with other children before. He is very friendly and playful with them, although sometimes he does not know his size and will jump on them.

How is this dog around other dogs?: Trapper has never lived with other dogs but does bark at them when being walked in public.

How is this dog around cats?: Trapper has lived with two cats that he grew up with and is familiar with, with them he is relaxed and respectful. The owner stated she is unsure how he would act around new cats as he does chase and bark at outside cats.

Resource guarding:: Trapper’s owner is able to put food in his bowl with him there without any issues, and when she tries to take a toy away he will think she is playing. The owner did stated if you try to take another object or treat away he will growl and possibly snap at them.

Bite history:: Trapper has no bite history.

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: High

For a New Family to Know: Trapper is described as being friendly, playful and pushy. He likes to follow his family around when they are home. He likes to play with all kinds of toys and likes to play tug of war and chase. He has been an indoor dog and sleeps on his bed or the owners bed. He eats dry food and is house trained to go outside. He is well behaved when left alone in the house and knows the commands sit and come. He slow walks on a leash for exercise and will pull hard.

Date of intake:: 12/8/2017

Spay/Neuter status:: Yes

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

Previously lived with:: 1 adult, 2 cats

Behavior toward strangers:: Cautious, growls, may sniff

Behavior toward children:: Friendly, playful, exuberant

Behavior toward dogs:: Barks while on leash

Behavior toward cats:: Relaxed, respectful with resident cats though chases neighborhood cats

Resource guarding:: Growls and may snap upon removal of treat/possibly high value item

Bite history:: None reported

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Friendly, playful and pushy with a high energy level

Date of assessment:: 10/10/2017

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:: 2. Dog stands still and accepts the touch, eyes are averted, tail is between legs, body stiff, mouth closed, lip long, ears likely back, may lip lick.

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

Paw squeeze 1:: 1. Dog does not respond at all for three seconds. Eyes are averted and ears are relaxed or back.

Paw squeeze 2:: 1. Dog does not respond at all for three seconds. Eyes are averted and ears are relaxed or back.

Toy:: 1. No interest.

Summary:: Trapper came into the assessment room calm and quiet, he was friendly and attention seeking towards the handlers.

Summary (1):: Trapper is anxious during his time in Playgroup. He is uncomfortable around another dog’s anxious behavior and immediately jumps on their back, while grumbling. When Trapper was at the Care Center in October, he was nervous around other dogs and attempted to avoid rear sniffs by spinning around. As he continued to participate in group, he became anxious and attempted to exit the pens. His previous owner reported he barks at other dogs when on leash. The Behavior Department believes that Trapper would be most comfortable as the only dog in the home. Any resident dogs should be polite and respectful. All introductions should be conducted slowly and be under supervision. 12/9: When off leash at the Care Center, Trapper is anxious and avoidant when attempt is made to have him greet the female greeter dog. He quickly moves past her and paces through the pens, panting and whining. He paws at the gates, multiple times, ignoring the greeter. Towards the end of his session he briefly greets the female helper dog. 12/10: Trapper is slightly less anxious today but still interacts very little with the other dogs, and paces around the yard. 12/12: Trapper persistently greets a nervous female dog, ignoring her body language. 12/20: Today, Trapper anxiously enters the pen. He jumps on another anxious dog back and grumbles. He is separated and his session is over.

Date of intake:: 12/8/2017

Summary:: Active, allowed all handling

Date of initial:: 12/8/2017

Summary:: Active, social, allowed all handling

ENERGY LEVEL:: Trapper is reported to have a high energy level in the home environment, in line with what has been observed in the care center.

IN SHELTER OBSERVATIONS:: 1/3/18: Over the past week Trapper has been showing signs of behavioral deterioration in the shelter– increased occurrence of in-kennel reactivity. Trapper barks, lunges and snaps at every dog that passes his kennel. He has been at the Care Center for nearly a month and the stress of being kenneled that long is having deleterious effects on his welfare. At this time, the Behavior Team feels that it is necessary, for his well-being, that Trapper leave the Care Center environment immediately.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: ADULT ONLY HOME

Behavior Asilomar: TM – Treatable-Manageable

Recommendations:: No children (under 13)

Recommendations comments:: _X_No children (under 13): His previous owner’s report of his behavior towards strangers in addition to his potential resource guarding causes us to feel that an adult only home may be most beneficial at this time. Force-free, reward based training is recommended in addition to a period of decompression to best set up Trapper for success.

Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Fearful

Potential challenges comments:: Resource guarding: Trapper’s previous owner notes that he may growl/snap when high value items are approached. We recommend that Trapper be left alone 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 Trapper’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. Fearful: Trapper takes some time to warm up to new people, though he shows good coping skills when uncomfortable. His previous owner also notes that she may growl at stranger so we recommend a slow approach, only allowing Trapper to engage at his own pace. We feel he will do best with an adopter prepared to allow him to warm up to new people and new environments slowly. Use of treats and other rewards will help to make new experiences positive.