Animal Profile

Snickers is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns in the care center and in his previous home. In the care center, Snickers has not allowed for much handling. At his kennel, he has growled, snapped toward the leash, and thrashed briefly once leashed, and has displayed pacing, lip licking, avoidance, and difficulty settling during interactions. In addition to in-care behaviors, Snickers has a history of resource guarding in the home, including growling, snapping, and biting when his food was touched, resulting in a bite to the wrist that broke skin, as well as reported bites when approached too quickly. Medically, Snickers is apparently healthy.

Let's get to know each other a bit more...

This pet needs emergency placement. Please click here to go to our emergency placement page for more information. This pet is available only through ACC New Hope partners. To adopt or foster, please complete the pre-screener form below. Inquiries sent directly to ACC will not receive a response. Pre-Screener Form Snickers is on the at-risk list due to behavior concerns in the care center and in his previous home. In the care center, Snickers has not allowed for much handling. At his kennel, he has growled, snapped toward the leash, and thrashed briefly once leashed, and has displayed pacing, lip licking, avoidance, and difficulty settling during interactions. In addition to in-care behaviors, Snickers has a history of resource guarding in the home, including growling, snapping, and biting when his food was touched, resulting in a bite to the wrist that broke skin, as well as reported bites when approached too quickly. Medically, Snickers is apparently healthy. Snickers came into the care center as an owner surrender due to not having time or help to care for him. Snickers has a documented history of fear-based and defensive behaviors in both his prior home and the shelter environment. In his previous home, he was reported to alert bark, prefer contact on his own terms, snap at strangers, and display on-leash reactivity toward other dogs. He also has a history of resource guarding food, including a bite to the wrist that broke skin when his food was touched, and has bitten when people approached him too quickly.Snickers would benefit from a New Hope placement with an experienced, behavior-savvy adopter who can provide a calm, structured environment. He will require careful management of resource guarding, slow and predictable handling, controlled exposure to people and dogs, and the use of positive reinforcement and consent-based interactions.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 16.4 lbs

Medical Notes

12/17/2025

DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 6 years Microchip noted on Intake? scanned neg History: owner surrender Subjective: bar Observed Behavior -very reactive, sedated in squeeze gate for exam Is there evidence of Cruelty? no Is there evidence of Neglect? no Is there evidence of Trauma? no Objective BCS 5/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: mild tartar PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupnic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: neutered male MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: grossly normal Assessment APH Prognosis: good Plan: DVM intake and tasks awaiting sort sedated with 0.15 mls each Dex/Torb, reversed with 0.15 mls Antisedan IM start trazadone 50 mg q 12 hours SURGERY: Permanent waiver due to already altered

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 5. Red

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

upon intake: When staff went out to the car he was in a crate hard barking and growling when staff approached, staff had owner walk him into the shelter and hand off the leash. While in the hallway when he saw dogs he would hard bark and growl and when anyone got too close to him he would growl and hard bark. While in the hallway he thrashed lightly, low growled and would lip lick.

Date of Intake: 12/17/2025

Spay/Neuter Status: Neutered

Basic Information:: Snicker is a 7 yr old altered SMB, who has been with his current owner since he was a puppy and it is unknown when he has last been to the vet

Previously lived with:: 2 adults, 2 teens and a DSH

How is this dog around strangers?: Alert barks, Prefers contact on own terms, Snaps.

How is this dog around children?: Playful, friendly and outgoing

How is this dog around other dogs?: Familiar Dogs: No experience Unfamiliar dogs- on leash- alert barks. Unfamiliar dogs- - off leash - No experience

How is this dog around cats?: Cats: actively avoids. Other animals : No experience

Resource guarding:: Food items- Bites, snaps

Bite history:: he has bitten a person that has broken skin and drew blood

Housetrained:: Partially

Energy level/descriptors:: Medium

Other Notes:: Goes potty on : Designated area in home

Has this dog ever had any medical issues?: No

For a New Family to Know: He is social/affectionate, independent and solitary and likes to spend time in the basement . He allows family to bathe and brush him and to trim his nails. He goes on 15 min walks with hard pulling and crate trained up to 12 hours. He knows the cues for sit, lay and no and eats Beneful dry food.

Date of intake:: 12/17/2025

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner Surrender( 7 years, since he was a puppy)

Previously lived with:: 2 adults, 2 teens and a DSH

Behavior toward strangers:: Alert barks, Prefers contact on own terms, Snaps.

Behavior toward children:: Playful, friendly and outgoing

Behavior toward dogs:: familiar dog/unfamiliar off leash dogs: no experience, unfamiliar on leash dogs will alert bark

Behavior toward cats:: Cats: actively avoids. Other animals : No experience

Resource guarding:: Snickers is noted to bite and snap if his food is touched.

Bite history:: He is a resource guarder and when his food was touched he growled, snapped and bit the person on the wrist breaking skin. Summer of 2024 He has also bitten when people approach too fast.

Housetrained:: Partially

Energy level/descriptors:: Snickers is noted in the prior home to have a mediumn energy level.

Other Notes:: Goes potty on : Designated area in home He is social/affectionate, independent and solitary and likes to spend time in the basement . He allows family to bathe and brush him and to trim his nails. He goes on 15 min walks with hard pulling and crate trained up to 12 hours. He knows the cues for sit, lay and no and eats Beneful dry food.

Date of assessment:: 12/19/2025

Summary:: Due to his high level of FAS a handling assessment will not be condcuted at this time.

Summary (7):: 12/28/25: Snickers is at the front of his kennel, growling softly as the handler approaches. He will continue to growl as the handler opens the kennel and gets their leash ready. The first time the handler attempts to leash him, Snickers will snap at the leash close to the top of the kennel. The handler tries to leash him a couple more times before they are able to get the leash around his neck. Once it is on, Snickers will thrash briefly despite there not being pressure on the leash. He will then come out of his kennel and pull to the behavior office where he will relieve himself and sniff around briefly before quickly approaching the door. He is returned to his kennel with no issue and the handler uses the hook to remove the leash from his neck in kennel. He is secured safely. 12/26/25: Snickers is at the front of his kennel and will begin to lip lick, look away and begins to pace back and forth. Snickers is leashed but throwing the leash towards the back of his neck and it takes a couple tries before he is leashed and walks out of kennel. Snickers is brought to the behavior office where he is aloof, lip licks when coaxed or baby talked and is brought back to kennel shortly after having his leash removed with a tool. 12/21/25: Snickers is sitting in his kennel and will whale eye and look away as the handler approaches. The handler will place a kuranda bed at the transfer door as it will not shut. They go to open the kennel on the side he is on and he will turn his head towards the wall, lifting his paw up as he does this. The handler will then toss some treats in as they get their rope over his head as he looks down at the treats. Snickers will come out of his kennel quickly and will pull mildly to the behavior office. Throughout the session, Snickers is tense although his tail does unfurl slightly as he walks around. After sniffing, Snickers will seek exit, standing near the door looking away from the handler. He is then returned to his kennel with no issue. The handler will use the hook to remove Snickers' leash and he is then secured safely. 12/18/25: Snickers is siting in his kennel with a tense body as handler approaches. He would avoid being leashed by walking back and forth between his transfer door while growling. The handler is able to block the other side with his kuranda bed. He is then able to be slowly leashed as he turns his head away growling. Once leashed, he is then taken to the behavior room. In the room, he continues to have a tense body and would avoid the handlers. He would constantly stand at the door to seek exit. He is able to be returned back to his kennel, and the handler uses a hook to retrieve their leash back.

Date of intake:: 12/17/2025

Summary:: hard barking growling

Date of initial:: 12/17/2025

Summary:: very reactive, sedated

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Snickers bite history, we recommend he be placed in an adult-only home. Place with a New Hope partner: Snickers came into the care center as an owner surrender due to not having time or help to care for him. Snickers has a documented history of fear-based and defensive behaviors in both his prior home and the shelter environment. In his previous home, he was reported to alert bark, prefer contact on his own terms, snap at strangers, and display on-leash reactivity toward other dogs. He also has a history of resource guarding food, including a bite to the wrist that broke skin when his food was touched, and has bitten when people approached him too quickly.Snickers would benefit from a New Hope placement with an experienced, behavior-savvy adopter who can provide a calm, structured environment. He will require careful management of resource guarding, slow and predictable handling, controlled exposure to people and dogs, and the use of positive reinforcement and consent-based interactions.

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

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful/potential for defensive aggression/On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration:In the prior home Snickers is noted to Alert barks, Prefers contact on own terms, Snaps at strangers. Snickers is noted in the prior home to alert bark at dogs while on walks. When staff went out to the car he was in a crate hard barking and growling when staff approached, staff had owner walk him into the shelter and hand off the leash. While in the hallway when he saw dogs he would hard bark and growl and when anyone got too close to him he would growl and hard bark. While in the hallway he thrashed lightly, low growled and would lip lick. Use slow, non-threatening approaches, avoid crowding, and monitor body language for early stress signals. Reinforce calm behavior with high-value treats, maintain distance from dogs and strangers, and use controlled desensitization for leash reactivity. Please see the handout on Fearful/potential for defensive aggression/On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration Resource guarding/Multiple-bite history/risk of future aggression Bite history (human): In the prior home he is noted to be a resource guarder and when his food was touched he growled, snapped and bit the person on the wrist breaking skin. Summer of 2024 He has also bitten when people approach too fast.Avoid removing valued items without a trade, implement trade-up exercises, and manage feeding in a low-stress environment. Structured training to reduce guarding and careful handling protocols are essential. Please see the handout on Resource guarding. Strength/leash pulling: Snickers is noted in the prior home to hard pull while on the leash. Use appropriate equipment such as a front-clip harness or head halter, reinforce loose-leash walking with treats, and practice impulse-control exercises during walks. Please see the handout on Strength/leash pulling.