Date of intake:: 10/10/2023

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray, no history

Bite history:: Nemo bit his foster in her home when she attempted to give him his medication while he was with his bone. The bite left one puncture to her finger.

Other Notes:: *As per the foster home (updated 7/8/24) Nemo has spent over six months in foster. It has been reported that he is social and friendly with al humans encountered. Nemo is mostly house-trained, though may utilize wee-wee pads mid-day. Nemo may lunge or bark at dogs on leash but has begun to found success with using positive-reinforcement based training. He may growl if humans reach for high value bones/chews in his possession. *Nemo's foster parent has spent time working on in-person training with ACC's staff trainer, and is currently working on muzzle conditioning, on-leash reactivity, and basic manners. First stay: 10/12/23: Stray, No known history Second Stay 10/19/24: Returned from foster, limited history Previous assessments can be given upon request.

Date of assessment:: 11/4/2024

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Hard Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: None Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Distracted Call over: Approaches readily Sociability comments: Sniffing around the room Soft handling: Seeks contact Exuberant handling: Accepts contact Comments: Leans into soft handling Arousal Jog comments: Follows hander readily with neutral body Knock Knock comments: Approaches handler readily Toy Toy comments: Grips firm, moves away with loose body and wagging tail

Summary:: Gate greet 10/12/23 Tense, hackles raised, tail is tucked. 11/18/19 When approaching another dog through the fence Nemo begins lunging, growling and hard barking.

Summary (5):: 11/15/24- Nemo is at the front of his kennel with a wiggly body, he easily leashed. He is taken for a street walk, when in the driveway handler attached leash to harness due to Nemo pulling hard. He would pull hard to sniff various spots on the street and to relieve himself. When called to him, he came over and took treats. He had no reaction to people passing, when seeing another dog on the same block he would stop to look with a high tail and slightly tense body. Handler would call to him and toss a treat in the other direction, he followed. He allowed handler to pet his head, chin and chest, he leaned into handler's legs when petting his sides. He was easily releashed and was returned to kennel without issue.

Summary (6):: 11/1/24- Nemo is barking with a wiggly body when handler approaches, he is easily leashed and taken for a street walk. He pulls hard throughout the walk and handler calls to him, he comes over and takes treats. He sees someone standing on an electric scooter on the sidewalk, (not driving it) and handler calls to him. He comes to handler and takes more treats. When Nemo sees another dog, he will pull hard towards them with a stiff body but with no vocalization. Handler tugs his leash and tosses treats in another direction, he follows them. He is easily clipped and returned to kennel without issue. 10/25/24: Nemo is standing at the front of the kennel barking. He is leashed using treats as a lure. He is walked in the yard where he initially explores and relieves himself. Once done he will jump up onto the bench and watch the other dog in the pen in the far end of the yard. He takes treats but spits them out. When walking past another reactive dog, he is tense body hackles raised hard barking. Handler has to pull him away. He goes into kennel without issue. 10/20/24: Nemo is standing in the front of his kennel as handlers approach. He is offered treats but ignores them, he allows leashing without issue however and is taken to the yard for his walk. Once outside he is brought into the play yard and begins sniffing around and investigating. Nemo is offered more treats outside which he briefly sniffs but again ignores. He is sensitive to squeaker noises or any other loud sharp sounds and will turn to investigate them quickly when he hears them. Nemo will stare at dogs passing by with a slightly stiff body but will refocus once they pass. At one point Nemo approaches a dog using the bathroom on the other side of the fence and begins vocalizing, so handler pulls him back and he stops. After a while Nemo is returned to kennel without issue. 10/19/24: Nemo is standing in the front of his kennel as handlers approaches. Nemo is offered treats through kennel but ignores them. He is placed on a double leash for precaution due to past history of dog reactivity and brought out the room without issue. Nemo is walked to the backyard where handler removes one of the leashes due to Nemo being very relaxed and not showing signs of reactivity or overstimulation. Nemo is brought out to the yard and spots a dog on the opposite side of the play yard fence and briefly stares at the dog, handlers toss treats to distract Nemo but he ignores them, he remains neutral bodied and disengages from staring at the other dog on his own. Nemo is aloof during his walk, he does not accept treats or react to a squeaker but tolerates petting around his lower back from handler. When spotting dogs passing him he will briefly stare but lose interest as they pass. Nemo is clipped and returned to kennel without issue.

Summary (7):: 11/16/23 Nemo is sitting in front of kennel, when approached by handler he presents a loose body. Nemo was easily leashed and taken out for a street walk. When on the street Nemo nicely walks alongside handler. Nemo takes treats and stays attentive to handler when called throughout the interaction. Nemo was social with handlers allowing petting and seeking attention by approaching with a loose and wiggly body. Nemo was returned to kennel with no issue. 11/4/23: Nemo is sitting at the front with soft body. His tail begins to wag when handler approaches. He is easily leashed and removed from kennel and is walked on the street. He is wiggly throughout and approaches handler periodically. He allows petting and leans into it. He easily returns to kennel. 10/26/23: Nemo is at the front of the kennel soft bodied. He is easily leashed and taken outside for a street walk. He walks very nicely throughout, he takes treats very gently before spitting them out. He then leans against handler and allows petting. He does not react to dogs or other stimuli. He is returned to kennel without issue 10/12/23: While in the assessment room, Nemo does not approach handlers when called and seeks exit. When handlers begin offering chicken and other high value treats, he approaches them with a soft body and wagging tail before taking treats gently. When handler goes to remove the clip leash, he moves his body away while looking whale-eyed, second handler is able to remove it. He is then returned to kennel without issue.

Date of initial:: 10/19/2024

Summary:: BAR tall wagging, when tried to put on muzzle, dog lunged and started barking. sedated for exam

ENERGY LEVEL:: Medium/high

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),Single-pet home,Recommend no dog parks,Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to fearfulness, resource guarding and bite history we recommend an adult only home. Single Pet home/ No Dog Park: Due to hard barking, lunging, and growling at other dogs we recommend a single pet home with no trips to the dog park. We recommend placement with a New Hope rescue partner who is able to provide an experienced, adult-only foster home. Force-free, reward based training and/or consultation with a professional trainer/behaviorist is highly recommended.

Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Strength/leash pulling,Bite history (human)

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful Defensive: In the care center Nemo has presented as highly fearful; often tense, whale eyed, hackles raised, and avoiding humans. He has been reported as more social and outgoing since his time spent in a foster home. During his medical exam on his second stay Nemo was observed to hard bark and lunge towards handlers. It is important to move slowly with Nemo, 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. Resource guarding: Nemo may growl if chews or bones in his possession are reached for. Nemo has been observed to escalated to biting while high value items are in his possession. See handout on Resource Guarding. We recommend leaving Nemo to enjoy these items in his own company, and trading for higher value food or treats if needed. Bite history (human): Nemo bit his foster when she was giving him his pills while he was guarding his bone. The bite left a puncture. Please see the handout on Bite History. On-leash reactivity: Nemo may lunge or bark at dogs on-leash. He has been responsive to the use of high value treats and positive reinforcement training to work on these behaviors. See handout on Leash Reactivity. Leash Pulling: Nemo has been observed to pull hard while on leash. Their adopter must be prepared and able to handle a dog of this strength. It is recommended that they be walked on a front clip harness or head halter, which will help diminish their strength through leverage, and that they be trained using positive reinforcement, reward based training to not pull on leash. Please see handout on Leash Manners.