Date of intake:: 12/15/2025

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner Surrender (1 year)

Previously lived with:: adults, dogs and 1 year old child

Behavior toward strangers:: Benji will hard bark, growl, alert bark

Behavior toward children:: Banji is friendly and outgoing

Behavior toward dogs:: Benji is playful and tolerant with familiar dogs

Behavior toward cats:: No experience

Resource guarding:: Valuable items: Food, Treats (bones, rawhides, etc.) Reaction: Growls or hard barks

Bite history:: Previous bite to a person: No Previous bite to another animal: Yes Did the other animal need vet care: No Date of last bite to an animal: 10/7/2025 Bitten by another animal: Yes Did this dog need vet care: No Date of last bite by another animal: 10/7/2025 Additional info: They were play fighting over a random object/toy. Bite History Survey Answers: Victim: A familiar dog Additional info: Her littermate, same size but a boy Was this the first bite: Yes How many times the dog has bitten in the past: 1-2 times in the past Bite severity: not severe Medical attention needed: No Warning signs prior to the bite: Growled, hard barked, and/or snarled What happened before/during the bite: The dogs were let out their crate and began fighting over a object. Type of bite: Bite and released immediately When the biting began: Change in home (new baby, new pet, construction, etc.)

Housetrained:: No

Energy level/descriptors:: Very high (more active than most)

Other Notes:: Goes potty on: Designated area in home Accident frequency: Daily Additional info: Pees and poops in crate Behavior concerns: General anxiety (paces, whines, unable to settle), Destructive tendencies (furniture, walls, shoes, household items, etc.), Barks a lot, Anxious when left alone Additional info: She does not have a lot of experience going on walks so she is timid. How this dog reacts when... - Held/restrained: Isn't bothered - Disturbed while resting/sleeping: Isn't bothered, Barks/Growls - Startled: Barks/Growls - Pushed/pulled off furniture: Isn't bothered - Paws are touched: Unknown/Have not attempted - Collar grabbed/touched: Unknown/Have not attempted

Date of assessment:: 12/28/2025

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Moderate Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: None Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Fearful Call over: Approaches handler readily Sociability comments: Retreats from handler and mouths the handlers hand when they attempt to interact Soft handling: Fearful Exuberant handling: Fearful Comments: Panting with open mouth, head whips for contact, attempts to shy away from handler, rolls to expose belly Arousal Jog comments: Follows handler with tense low body Knock Knock comments: Approaches handler, then retreats and jumps up on couch, reluctant to approach handler Toy Toy comments: Becomes tense and mouths the assess-a-hand, hovers over the toy

Summary:: 12/30/25- Benji has a neutral body with front hackles raised when gate greeting another dog, she leans to sniff at the other dog going back and forth at the gate. She disengages and jumps on handler, she coax to greet again and she has a softer body. When in the pen she bounces around, sniffing at the other dog and lays down at times

Summary (5):: 12/28/25: Benji is observed to be vocalizing loudly in kennel with his face pressed against the kennel door. 12/23/25: Benji is sitting on the couch next to the handler when a different handler walks into the room. Benji begins growling loudly towards the handlers with a forward body. The handler quickly leaves to lower FAS. When the handler returns to inform that the kennel is readily Benji again Growls loudly at the handler. 12/22/25 Easily leashed and exits the kennel without issue walking slightly in front of the handler to the yard. A drag leash is placed and she walks around, seeking exit. Treats are offered which she sniffs at but does not take. Handler sits on the bench and calls out and she comes over and climbs up, sitting next to the hander with her back turned. She allows gentle petting before walking around the pen seeking exit. Comes back to sit on the bench when called again. When leaving, no issue removing drag leash. She pulls hard when entering the kennel room and jumps into kennel.

Summary (6):: 12/20/25: It is reported on the behavior board that Benji is difficult to leash and shows signs of 'aggression'. No further information is known. 12/17/25: (ASSESSMENT WALK) Benji is at the front of the kennel with a lowered head. She is leashed slowly and lead out of the room. Benji is taken to the street and walked around. On the street, Benji has a lowered head and pinned ears, her tail pressed against her. She spots a member of the public approaching from several feet away. She jumps forward and barks and growls towards them. Handler quickly changes direction and she stops and continues walking. Other people she passes after that, she looks to with a tense body and walks by. Handler lowers themself and Benji approaches, the tip of her tail is wagging while the rest is pressed against her body and she rolls over on her back, her legs tense. Handler stops and Benji is walked back to the driveway. Another dog exits the building. She quickly ducks under a nearby car and handler calls her away to a better spot. She is walked back into the shelter and hides behind a door. Benji is then brought to the assessment room where she is tense with the assessor. She stays by the main handler and takes treats. She is easily collared and after her assessment, handler tries to exit the room. Benji begins the follow but she begins to retreat and stay in a corner by the assessor, heavy panting. She does not move for squeakers and treats. Handler and assessor walk with Benji back to the kennel where she is returned without issue. 12/17/35: Benji is at the front of her kennel with a soft body as the handler approaches. As the handler attempts to leash, Benji backs away from the front and stands in the back of her kennel. The handler calls her and uses squeaker, but she shows no interest. The handler then tosses treats and she approaches the front. They leash and bring her out the room. On the street, Benji walks ahead with little leash tension. She has no interest in passersby and displays no dog reactivity. A few times, Benji jumps on the handler. When the handler pets Benji, she lowers herself and exposes her belly. Upon return, the handler clips their leash and returns Benji to kennel.

Summary (7):: 12/16/25 (late entry)- Benji is laying on her bed with a tight body, when handler unlocks her door she stays on her bed. They toss in some treats which she slowly moves to to eat. When handler attempts to leash Benji retreats to the back of her kennel, she lowers her head down to the drain with ears pinned. When handler stops attempting to leash, she lifts her head. Handler tosses treats but she shows no interest. After a few attempts handler is able to lasso the leash onto her. She slowly exits the kennel and walks with her body low, ears slightly pinned when passing the other kennels. She is taken to the play yard and into a pen. When handler goes slowly to pet Benji she lowers her body the ground, they softly pet her and she goes belly up. Handler lightly scratches her belly, when they stop petting Benji is loose and wiggly. She jumps on handler with her front paws, leaning into their body. Handler takes Benji to a bench and she hops up on it. She allows handler to collar her and she is placed on a drag leash. She explores the pen and sniffs around then relieves herself. There is another dog in a neighboring pen, she goes to the fence with a soft body and just looks at the other dog. Handler calls to her and she comes over to them. They scratch her head and chin. She is easily leashed and returned to her kennel without issue. 12/16/25: Benji is sitting at the front of her kennel as handler approaches. She stands loose body and wagging tail. She takes a treat but as kennel door is opened stops taking treats. She is easily leashed and removed from kennel. She is walked in the yard where she pulls ahead of handler, looking back over her shoulder with wide eyes at handler. She explores and will randomly jump on handler briefly in an anxious manner (pawing at handler, and hopping). She is easily clipped and returned. 12/15/25: Benji was lying down at the owners feet. When K9 Behavior approaches she low growls and begins barking towards the handler with a tense body and pinned ears, lunging forward. Handlers' toss treats towards her and her body softens. The owner assists in placing the double leashes on Benji and she is walked to her kennel. She baulks slightly a few times and walks through the hall with a lowered body and hackles raised. Benji does not take treats when tossed. She is brought to her kennel where she enters without issue and retreats to the back. The leashes are carefully removed with a hook.

Date of intake:: 12/15/2025

Summary:: Growling, barking, lunging, ears pinned

Date of initial:: 12/15/2025

Summary:: Whale eyed, tail tucked and tense body for exam but warmed up to staff with coaxing

ENERGY LEVEL:: Benji is described as active and enthusiastic. They will need daily mental and physical activity to keep them engaged and exercised. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in additional to physical exercise, to positively direct their energy and enthusiasm. We recommend feeding with puzzle feeders and food-dispensing toys. And we recommend using force-free, reward-based training techniques for Benji.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: Level 4

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),Single-pet home

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to fearful behavior we recommend a home with no children. Single Pet Home: Due to the bite incident in the home, we recommend a single pet home.

Potential challenges: : House soiling,Resource guarding,Destructive behavior,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Separation anxiety,Anxiety,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Bite history (dog)

Potential challenges comments:: House Soiling: Benji's previous owner states that she has daily accidents in the home. We recommend positive reinforcement, reward-based training only. Please see handout on House Soiling. Resource Guarding: Benji's previous owner states that she will growl or hard bark while having food and treats in her possession. This is also a bite incident that occurred over resources with the resident dog. Nothing should ever be taken directly out of Benji's mouth, and any time something is removed they should be rewarded with a high value treat or toy. Please see handout on Resource Guarding. Destructive Behavior: Benji's previous owner states that she is destructive in the home with items such as furniture, walls, and shoes. We are unaware of what, if any, attempts were made to remedy this behavior but we suggest to future adopters that Benj will need to be provided with physical and mental stimulation and with a variety of appropriate and engaging chew toys so they can engage in necessary chewing behavior without damage to human objects. Please see handout on Destructive Behavior. Fearful Defensive: Benji's previous owner states that she will bark and growl when disturbed while sleeping and when startled. During intake Benji was obsvered to growl, hard bark, and lunge towards handlers. It is important to move slowly with Benji, to build positive associations (treats/toys/praise), and to allow them to initiate interactions with new people. They should never be forced to greet or to interact if they are not comfortable and soliciting attention. Please see handout on Fearful and Defensive Aggression. Bite History (Dog): Please see bite history above for more details. Please see handout on Bite History and Potential for Future Aggression. Separation Anxiety/ Anxiety: Benji's previous owner states that she is anxious in the home and will pace, whine, bark frequently and be unable to settle. They also state that she becomes anxious when left alone. We recommend that potential adopters feel comfortable with separation anxiety behaviors and be prepared to manage and positively modify them should they appear in a home environment. They would do best in a home where a person is home for a large part of the day or with a plan so they are not alone for long periods of time. Please see handout on Separation Anxiety. On Leash Reactivity: Benji has been obsvered to hard bark, growl, and lunge towards people while on leash. Benji will need positive reinforcement, reward based training to teach them to look at you rather than other people. We recommend a front clip harness to help manage this behavior. Please see handout on On Leash Reactivity and Barrier Frustration.