Date of intake:: 7/24/2024

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Other Notes:: Blitz was brought to the Care Center due to someone calling the officers, stating Blitz was displaying reactive behaviors, but they did not give further details. They stated that he had bitten someone, but not recently. He was tranquilize by ESU.

Date of assessment:: 7/29/2024

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Very Hard Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: N/A- Did not see any dogs Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Highly social Call over: Approaches readily Sociability comments: Jumps up on handler Soft handling: Seeks contact Exuberant handling: Accepts contact Comments: Arousal Jog comments: Follows handler exuberantly Knock Knock comments: Playbows, vocalises, approaches handler readily, jumps up Toy Toy comments: Tenses, takes toy away

Summary:: 8/13/24: Blitz greets another dog at the gate with a neutral body. He barks after a few seconds of greeting at the gate.

Summary (5):: 09/12/2024: Blitz is standing at the front of kennel with a soft body, relaxed tail wag, and barking as handler approaches. He is easily leashed and brought out to the street. He pulls very hard and does not accept treats while walking. Handler pauses any time there is pressure on the leash and does not move forward until pressure is loosened/released. Handler stops on sidewalk to take video of Blitz. He remains loose with a relaxed tail wag, is panting (due to the weather) and handler attempts to pet. He leans into the pets and solicits after handler walks away form him. He continues pulling hard when returning to care centers. Blitz is returned to kennel without issue.

Summary (6):: 09/07/2024: Blitz is at the front of kennel barking with a loose body as handler approaches. He pulls very hard as he is walked out to the street. Once outside, he shakes off and handler begins BAT training. He was not food motivated outside, however, handler used smelling his surroundings as a reward. Anytime there was tension on the leash, handler would pause and wait for Blitz to turn around and release the tension before continuing forward. By the end of the walk, Blitz was maintaining a loose leash, until reaching the care centers where he began to pull hard again. He was returned to kennel easily and without issue. 08/31/24: Blitz is at the front of kennel barking with a loose body as handler approaches. He is easily leashed using a treat as a lure and is taken outside to the street where he pulls hard. He is not as interested in treats outside as he is in kennel, but handler introduced BAT training. Blitz caught on pretty fast that when there was pressure on the leash, he would not move forward (handler would pause), and he immediately would turn his head to the left and return to the handlers side. Handler was consistent and paused every couple steps, Blitz would turn around, return closer to the handler, and wait for the handler to start moving again to begin walking once more. Blitz maintained a loose body, was drooling, and panting throughout walk, but would close his mouth tightly, posture, his body became stiff, and he had a high tail any time he passed by /noticed a dog. He was redirected with treats onto the floor, and after eating them all, he would look up at handler. He was returned to kennel without issue . 8/24/24: Blitz is at the front of the kennel barking when the handler approaches. He has a wiggly body and wiggles himself out of the leash a few times. He is leashed using a treat lure and pulls very hard on the way out of the kennel room. He moves to jump on the handler but sits instead. He is rewarded with treats which he takes gently. In the elevator he again goes to jump but sits instead. He is taken for a street walk where he pulls hard and relieves himself. He does not react to strangers but becomes alert with a high tail when he sees dogs but is easily redirected. He allows the handler to pet him on his back and his tail stops wagging. The handler stops and Blitz moves closer to them, allowing the handler to pet him under the chin with a wagging tail. He is taken back inside, clipped, and returned to kennel without issue.

Summary (7):: 8/10/24: Blitz is sitting at the front on the kennel with his body leaning up against the kennel doors. AS handler unlocks the door, he stands with loose and wiggly body. He is easily leashed and removed from kennel. He pulls hard past the other dogs and towards the dogs in pop up kennels. He turns to handler when called and takes treats gently. He explores his surroundings while out on the street, soft bodied and walking loosely on the leash. He is easily returned to kennel. 8/1/24: Blitz is at the back laying down when handler approaches. He comes forward soft bodied and allows leashing. He is taken out for a street walk where he walks slowly while coughing. He explores his surroundings, frequently marking. He allows brief petting from handler whenever he approaches. Afterwards, he is returned to his kennel without issue 7/29/24: Blitz is standing in the middle of the kennel with a soft body and rapid tail wag. He is easily leashed and does not take treats. He is taken for a street walk where he pulls very hard, is aloof to the handler, relieves himself, and does not react to strangers. He is taken for his assessment where he is exuberant, frantic, panting heavily, jumping excessively, and allows all handling. Towards the end of the assessment he begins to vocalize and whine. He whips his head around as the handler tries to unclip the dragline and releash him. He is returned to kennel without further issue. 7/26/24: Blitz is standing in the front of his kennel, slightly hunched over as handler approaches. Upon seeing the handler unlocking the kennel door he loosens up and becomes more wiggly. He is slightly hesitant to be leashed at first, allowing the leash to be put on only halfway and them moving his head back slightly at the last second. Treats are used to distract Blitz and he is leashed without issue. Blitz is taken to the play yard, along the way he pulls moderately and once inside the play yard, Blitz is loose and wiggly. He does not accept treats while out in the play yard and walks around the yard pacing to each side while on leash. Blitz will approach handler with a loose body and wagging tail and sniff the handler but seems conflicted about social interaction with handler. After walking around the play yard for a bit, handler observes Blitz sniffing and attempting to hug onto handlers legs briefly but is straight armed and refocused by exiting the play yard and walking around its perimeter. Blitz sniffs around infrequently and after walking for a bit more is returned to kennel without further issue.

Date of intake:: 7/24/2024

Summary:: Reported to be aggressive, growled at police

Date of initial:: 7/25/2024

Summary:: Tense and shrinking to back of kennel.

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Blitz so we cannot be certain of their behavior in a home environment. However, they will need daily mental and physical activity to stay 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.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: Level 4

Recommendations:: No children (under 13)

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to reported aggressive behavior and lack of basic manners we recommend an adult only home.

Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Basic manners/poor impulse control,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Strength/leash pulling,Bite history (human)

Potential challenges comments:: Resource Guarding: Blitz was observed to become tense and move away with a toy in his possession. While they gave an appropriate warning of their discomfort (tense, takes away toy), Blitz did show possible potential to guard items they consider valuable. Please see handout on Resource Guarding. Basic Manners: Blitz has been observed to jump up on handlers persistently in a social seeming manner. It is recommended that default behaviors such as "Sit" and "Off" are reinforced to substitute any frustration and teach them to control their impulses instead of simply reacting; proper management is also advised. Force-free, reward-based training only is recommended. Please see handout on Basic Manners. Fearful Defensive: Blitz was reported to have aggressive behavior in the home, and growled at police when they arrived to pick him up. In shelter Blitz has been observed to be tense and fearful. It is important to move slowly with Blitz, 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 (human): Blitz was reported to have bitten someone but the details were not given. Out of precaution, Blitz handlers should always pay attention to his body language. Please see the handout on Bite History. Leash Pulling: Blitz has been observed to pull very hard on leash. Their adopter must be prepared and able to handle a dog of this size and 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.