Date of intake:: 7/1/2025

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray(Unknown History)

Date of assessment:: 7/3/2025

Summary:: 7/03/25: Waterfall is taken to the behavior office for a handling assessment. In the office, he presents as social and seeks attention from the handlers allowing petting and rubs into handlers hands. During handling assessment, he allowed touch leaning into the handler's hands with a soft body. During the job portion of the handling assessment, he began to Growl and growl stiffs and attempted to lunge at the assessor. The assessor stiff-armed the lead, which he stopped. The helper is able to leash him with a slip lead and takes him back to the kennel, where he begins to pull away and tense his body, not wanting to go back into the kennel. The helper is able to bring him back into the kennel with leash pressure and attempts to distract him with a toy. Once placed into the kennel, he begins to shove his way out of his kennel, vocalizing and goes to snap at handler's knee.

Summary:: Due to Water Fall entering the facility as a stray, there is no prior dog-to-dog history recorded. 07/03/25: While off leash at the Care Center, Water Fall is introduced to a male greeter dog. At the gate, Water Fall approaches with a loose body posture, as does the greeter male. The two dogs engage in mutual scenting through the gate. Water Fall proceeds to mark at the gate, then briefly scents the greeter male before returning to mark again. While the greeter remains loose and offers play bows, Water Fall shakes off but continues to display low-level hackles. He then disengages and walks away from the gate without returning. Both dogs are separated, concluding the interaction. 07/02/25: While off leash at the Care Center, Water Fall is introduced to a female greeter dog. At the gate, Water Fall approaches with a loose body posture, first scenting the turf before licking the grass and eventually beginning to chatter. The greeter female approaches with similarly soft body language, and both dogs engage in mutual scenting through the gate. Water Fall marks at the gate, presenting as sexually motivated, maintaining a forward posture while kicking up turf with both his front and hind legs. His tail remains wagging throughout the interaction. The greeter female also begins to present her hindquarters at the gate, appearing sexually motivated as well. Water Fall remains present at the gate, continuing to mark. The dogs are then separated, concluding the interaction.

Summary (7):: 7/6/25 (KSV): Water Fall was standing at front of kennel drinking water when handler approached. He ate a piece of beef lung dropped into kennel. Water Fall gave a loose tail wag when handler spoke to him. He sniffed turkey crisps but did not eat them. Water Fall remained calm for duration of interaction. 7/3/25: Waterfall is standing at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He is able to be leashed with ease and is taken to the behavior room for his assessment. In the room, he would approach the handler with a loose body and was comfortable being petted. He begins to jump up on the handler and bite at the leash with growling. He is then taken back to his kennel. He refuses to go back in and had to be muscled inside. He then instantly turns around and shoves his snout through the door gap. He refuses to back away as the handler continued to have the door closed on his snot due to him being able to shake the leash off. The handler tries to toss treats and toys and he was not interested. He then tries to snap and vocalize at the handler's knee. He is finally able to back up into kennel as the handler wiggles the door. He jumps up and barks at the door as the handler locks the door and walks away. 7/3/25: Water Fall was jumping up on kennel door, eager to exit kennel as handler leashed him. He walked to the yard for a gate greet (see dog-dog summary.) Water Fall would solicit attention by jumping up on handler but got down when they said "no" and turned their body away. Upon returning to the care center, Handler slow jogged Water Fall through kennel room where he balked in front of kennel. Handler used directional leash pressure to guide him in but he forcefully pushed his way straight back out. He was disinterested in treats. Handler guided him in a second time and he wedged his muzzle between door and door frame, persistently trying to push his way out. Water Fall began to mouth at leash stuck in door jam so handler let it fall off on its own. Handler retrieved leash with hook. 7/2/25: Water Fall was lying in kennel as handler approached. He was leashed with ease and walked to the yard for a gate greet (see dog-dog summary.) Water Fall walked back to kennel room where he balked in front of kennel as a novel handler entered the room. Water Fall was unable to be lured into kennel using a treat scatter. The novel handler greeted him and he was returned to kennel using directional leash pressure. He remained at front of kennel as handler was standing there.

Date of intake:: 7/1/2025

Date of initial:: 7/1/2025

Summary:: Loose and wiggly, not interested in treats but tolerated all handling. Stressed in kennel; panting a

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): We recommend that he be placed in an adult-only home. Place with a New Hope partner: Waterfall came into the care center as a stray. Due to this, his behavioral history in a home environment is unknown. Waterfall has shown social behavior and has displayed a soft, loose body leaning into touch, and seeks attention. However, Water Fall has shown arousal behavior and kennel frustration, frequently displaying jumping, leash biting, and resistance when returning to his kennel. He has shown low treat interest at times and persistent mouthing behavior when overstimulated. Due to his impulse control issues and kennel stress, Water Fall would benefit from placement with a New Hope partner experienced in behavior modification. A decompression-based setting with consistent structure and positive reinforcement training will help support his progress and reduce frustration-related behaviors.

Potential challenges: : Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Leash-biting,Low threshold for arousal

Potential challenges comments:: Low threshold for arousal/Leash-biting/Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: In the care center, Waterfall has displayed leash biting behavior when going back into kennel and will mount the handler and also noted to attempt to snap at the handler's kneel when trying to push his way out of the kennel. He is also noted to growl and lunge at the assessor during the job portion of the handling assessment. A handling assessment wasn't completed due to his behavior in care.