Date of intake:: 9/11/2025

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Date of assessment:: 9/17/2025

Summary:: **09/17/25** Since arriving at the care centers Mr. Pickles has displayed high levels of FAS. He has been observed to growl at staff upon intake and has allowed minimal handling since arriving. Mr. Pickles has also displayed fearful tendencies, refusing to walk at times and a hesitancy to approach staff. Mr. Pickles also has displayed high levels of reactivity toward dogs. Due to these factors, Mr. Pickles is not a candidate for a handling assessment at this time.

Summary (5):: 10/1/25: Mr. Pickles is standing quietly in kennel with neutral body as handler approaches. He takes a treat through kennel door while being leashed, Mr. Pickles exits kennel without issue but is pulling moderately. He briefly pulls toward pop-crates but loses interest and enters elevator. On elevator he checks in with handler, takes treats when dropped on floor. Once on sidewalk Mr. Pickles walks with a loose leash, and is somewhat social with handler. Allows light petting with neutral soft body. Mr. Pickles understands sit command after several attempts. When returning to MACC, Mr Pickles sees a MMB outside of main entrance. He pulls toward with tense body, verbal cues and treats are ineffective to redirect Mr. Pickles. A parked car is used to break line of sight, however Mr. Pickles is attempting to re-establish visual on the MMB. Leash pressure is used to muscle Mr. Pickles away. Once outside of kennel Mr. Pickles baulks, but treats are used effectively to lure Mr. Pickles back into kennel. 9/27/25: Mr. Pickles is standing at the front of his kennel barking as handler approaches. He is able to be leashed while being distracted with treats. He then pulls on the way outside for a walk. On the walk, he would walk ahead of the handler with a loose body and was comfortable approaching the handler to receive treats. He has no reactions to dogs or people. He pulls on the way back to his kennel and enters with no issues.

Summary (6):: 9/16/25: Mr. Pickles is at the front of the kennel when the handler approaches. He is easily leashed and taken to the driveway. He pulls moderately and is aloof to the handler. When seeing another dog Mr. Pickles becomes tense with a forward body and vocializes loudly when seeing another dog. He then reers up on his hind legs and attempts to pull forwards. This behavior is not able to be redirected. Using coaxing, treats, or squeakie sounds. The handler has to use leash pressure to guide Mr. Pickles away. When returning to kennel Mr. Pickles pauses in front of the kennel. The handler tosses treats and he is not receptive. The handler uses leash pressure to guide him into kennel. 9/15/25: Mr. Pickles is standing at the front of kennel with a neutral body as handler approaches. As handler unlocks the door, Mr. Pickles attempts to push past it using his head. He presses his head into the bars but allows leashing. He is removed from the kennel and taken to the yard for a walk. He relieves himself and is walked on the perimeter of the pens as he begins to baulk and is reluctant to step onto the turf. He keeps his distance from handler and pulls heavy towards the back gate. When spotting other dogs, he pulls very hard towards them with a tense body and high stiff , bristled tail, hackles raised, and begins to whine. He is unable to be redirected with treats and squeakers. Upon return, he begins to scramble and seek exit as he approaches his room. He baulks briefly and continuous frantically scrambling in all directions. Handler uses consistent leash pressure to secure him in kennel, but as the door is closed he attempts to bolt out. Handler has to use muscle to pull him back on leash and brace the door. 9/14/25: PM WALK: Mr. Pickles is at the back of the kennel curled up sleeping. Handler unlocks the kennel and he stands up with a neutral body. He is easily leashed and taken out to the backyard where he is walked around the perimeter of the yard. Handler tries to bring him into a pen and he refuses. Mr. Pickles relieves himself a few times as he is walked around. A dog inside one of the pens approaches the gate and Mr. Pickles stops and stares at the dog through the fence with a tense body and high flagging tail. He is walked away, but will repeatedly turn and pull back to where the dog is. Handler then takes Mr. Pickles to the street where he relieves himself a few more times before he is walked back to the shelter. Once in the building, handler pre-clips his leash and he startles slightly and lower his body. He plants outside the kennel room and handler tosses a treat to coax him in. He ignores the treat and handler applies leash tension and he enters the room. He stops outside his kennel and leash tension is applied and he plants. Mr. Pickles is then muscled into the kennel and the leash is removed without issue.

Summary (7):: 09/14/25: Mr Pickles is at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He is offered some treats and sniffs them briefly but does not accept any. He is slowly leashed by handler and taken to the street for his walk. While outside Mr. Pickles fixates on scents and will pull hard toward them. Mr. Pickles uses the bathroom while outside and ignores people passing. When seeing dogs in close proximity Mr. Pickles will pull hard toward them and is difficult to redirect. He walks for a while more before being brought back to kennel, he is clipped and brought back to kennel. At the front of kennel he refuses to enter so handler uses moderate leash pressure to return him. 9/11/25: Mr. Pickles is in a crate in the lobby of the care center. HAndler approaches and kneels down. He growls and moves to the back of the crate. He is not interested in the treats tossed in. Chicken is offered and he eats it out of the handlers hand. He has a leash and collar attached and as handler attempts to grab the leash with the hook, Mr. Pickles paces at the back of the crate, panting and salivating. He is no longer interested in treats, including the chicken. The leash is tied to the bottom of the crate with a plastic bag. Handler cut the leash with a scissors on the outside of the crate. Mr. Pickles continues to pace and pant at the back of the kennel. Once cut from the crate, the remains leash is pulled out of the crate with a hook. Handler loops their leash through and places pressure on the leash to get him to come forward. He stands at the front of the crate facing away from handlers. Hooks are used to get the securely on him. Once the elash is secured, The door is opened (he was is the crate sideways and door opened down like and oven). As he steps out of the crate a second handler attempts to place their leash on him but Mr. Pickles moves away. Main handler quickly walks him to kennel as to not further agitate him. He stands outside of his kennel and needs to be muscled in. He paces the kennel as handler uses the hook to remove the leash.

Date of intake:: 9/11/2025

Summary:: Accepting treats, tense, avoids leashing, hypersalivating, leashed and brought to kennel, baulks

Date of initial:: 9/12/2025

Summary:: Tense in kennel, double leashed, sedated for thorough exam

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Mr. Pickles so we cannot be certain of his behavior in a home environment. However, 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.

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: Due to Mr. Pickles high levels of FAS and need for contact on his own terms, we recommend a home with no children. Single-Pet Home/No Dog Parks: Due to the high levels of dog reactivity Mr. Pickles has displayed since arriving to the care centers we recommend placement in a single pet home. Place with a New Hope Partner: The behavior department recommends Mr. Pickles 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 Pickles to acclimate comfortably to her new environment; force-free, reward based training only is advised when introducing Pickles to new and unfamiliar situations.

Potential challenges: : Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration

Potential challenges comments:: Handling/Touch Sensitivity: Since arriving at the care centers Mr. Pickles has displayed a sensitivity to handling, cowering and moving away when contact is made with handlers. It is important to always go slow and give Pickles the option to walk away from any social interaction. He should never be forced to approach anything that he is uncomfortable with or to submit to petting or handling. It should always be Mr. Pickle’s choice to approach a new person or thing. Pickles may do best in an initially calm and quiet home environment and should be given time to acclimate to his new surroundings. Please see handout on Handling and Touch Sensitivity. Fearful/Potential for Defensive Aggression: Upon intake, Mr. Pickles was observed to growl and bear teeth at staff when being brought in by crate. Pickles should never be forced to interact, he should always be given the opportunity to walk away from situations or people he finds uncomfortable. We recommend a slow approach and we recommend ONLY force-free, reward-based training methods for Mr. Pickles. More aversive techniques are likely to increase fear, increase the risk of aggression, and decrease Mr. Pickle's quality of life. Please see handout on Fearful and Defensive Aggression. On-Leash Reactivity/Barrier Frustration: While on leash, Mr. Pickles has displayed dog reactivity, pulling hard toward dogs with a tense body and vocalizing while also being hard to redirect. Pickles may need positive reinforcement, reward based training to teach him to look at you rather than other dogs. We recommend a front clip harness or head halter to help manage this behavior. Please see handout on On-Leash Reactivity and Barrier Frustration.