Date of intake:: 4/10/2025

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Previously lived with:: 2 adults, 2 children (10 and 14), 1 other dog

Behavior toward strangers:: Blu will Hard bark/growls, Friendly and tolerant after becoming more familiar

Behavior toward children:: Blu will hard bark and growl

Behavior toward dogs:: Blu is shy and will snap at unfamiliar dogs, tolerant with familiar dogs

Behavior toward cats:: No Experience

Resource guarding:: None reported

Bite history:: None reported

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: High Energy

Other Notes:: Blu's former owners describe her as avoidant with some new people and will hard bark/snap but is social and playful once familiar. Blu's owner stated he does not like little dogs ( Same notes as previous stay) 02/04/25: Owner Surrender, first stay During his previous stay, Blu was observed to be fearful Same Owner Surrender, Same profile *Previous assessment can be given upon request*

Date of assessment:: 4/12/2025

Summary:: **04/12/25**When brought into the assessment room Blu remained tense and fearful. He remained tense with a tucked tail, he was avoidant of the handler and stood near the office door seeking exit. Blu was not receptive to treats or coaxing. Due to the high levels of fear, stress, and anxiety displayed. Blu is not a candidate to receive a handling assessment at this time. **02/07/25**Blu is fearful in the Care Centers and head flipped when staff attempted to collar him. He has a history of snapping at strangers. Due to these behaviors, Blu will not get a handling assessment.

Summary:: 4/15/25: Blu greets another dog at the gate with a tense body and hackles raised.

Summary (6):: 04/30/25: Blu is at the front of his kennel barking as handler approaches. He is offered treats but does not accept them, he head whips while handler attempts to leash him in the direction of handlers hand but handlers hand is kept a safe distance away. Blu is eventually leashed and brought out of kennel, he attempts to pull toward dogs he passes with moderate intensity. Blu begins vocalizing as he exits the room and continues for a bit into the hallway. Once outside he pulls forward hard, he stops to sniff spots on the street and walks past people without issue. After walking a while he is brought back to kennel, he lowers his posture and attempts to baulk. Handler slowly walks with Blu into kennel and he returns.

Summary (7):: 4/23/25: It is reported on the behavior board that Blu is hard barking at staff when they attempt to leash him while in kennel. The where eventually able to leash him using chicken as a lure but he was un responsive to other forms of treats. 4/21/25: Blu is sitting at the front of his kennel, heavily panting with wide eyes. Blu is easily leashed and taken out of his kennel. When leaving the room, he is barking, pulling hard, and showing teeth towards other kennels in passing, and handler has to muscle him towards their side. Blu is then taken to the street so handler can collect pictures and videos of him. Once out on the street, he immediately sniffs around and uses the bathroom. As handlers phone is pulled out, there are a lot of loud sounds outside, and Blu becomes tense-bodied and isn't easily refocused back onto the handler. Handler offers high-value treats to help break Blu's focus, which doesn't work. Not too long after, handler decides to bring Blu back inside to decrease FAS. He is pulled back towards the shelter, clipped, and returned with no issue. Handler tosses Blu a chew, which is ignored, and the interaction is then ended. 4/21/25: Blu is observed to be lunging, hard barking and kennel fighting when coming out of his kennel and while he is leaving his kennel room. 4/12/25: Blue is standing at the front of the kennel with neutral body and wide eyes. He is not interested in treats but easily leashed. He pulls hard while growling when passing the other dogs kennels. He is walked on the street where he walks slightly ahead of handler without pulling. He will try to approach parked cars as we pass them. In the behavior room, his tail is low and he is tense. Handler approaches to collar and he faces them, tense. Interaction is ceased. When returning to kennel, Blu walks slowly and handler has to coax him forward and into his kennel. 2/13/25: It is reported on the behavior board that Blu pancakes when returning to kennel. 2/6/25: Blu is at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He lays down in the front and ignores treats tossed to him. He allows leashing and exits kennel while looking intently at the dogs he passes in kennel. Blu is taken to the street for his walk and pulls mildly outside. He stops to use the bathroom or when people pass by, and he will attempt to approach them. He is brought inside for a behavior assessment, during which he is slightly tense and seeks exit standing near the door. He does not accept treats and head whips when attempting to collar. He begins to whine so handlers decide to end interaction. He is brought back to kennel and returned without issue

Date of intake:: 4/10/2025

Summary:: Allowed handling

Date of initial:: 4/11/2025

Summary:: Ears back, tail down, flinches on exam but allows handling, whining

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

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No Children (Under 13): Due to Blu reportedly hard barking and growling at children we recommend a home with no young children. Recommend no dog parks: Blu is noted to snap at unfamiliar dogs. Due to this behavior, he shouldn't visit a dog park. Place with a New Hope partner: Due to all noted concerns displayed in the Care Center and the home environment, the behavior department recommends Blu be placed with a New Hope placement partner who is able to provide an experienced adult-only foster home. A period of decompression is recommended to allow Blu to acclimate comfortably to his new environment; force-free, reward based training only is advised when introducing Blu to new and unfamiliar situations.

Potential challenges: : Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful/Potential for Defensive Aggression: Blu is reported by his former owners to hard bark/growl and even snap at unfamiliar people. Blu should never be forced to interact, she should always be given the opportunity to walk away from situations or people she finds uncomfortable. We recommend a slow approach and we recommend ONLY force-free, reward-based training methods for Blu. More aversive techniques are likely to increase fear, increase the risk of aggression, and decrease Blu's quality of life. Please see handout on Fearful and Defensive Aggression Handling/touch sensitivity: Blu displayed handling sensitivity when staff attempted to collar him. Positive reinforcement should be used to help him feel comfortable with certain handling. Please see the handout on Handling/touch sensitivity.