Date of intake:: 10/8/2025

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Previously lived with:: Adults, 1 Child 10 Y.O., Cats

Behavior toward strangers:: Mason will alert bark at strangers

Behavior toward children:: Mason is friendly and outgoing with children

Behavior toward dogs:: Mason is friendly and outgoing with dogs

Behavior toward cats:: Mason is friendly and outgoing with cats

Resource guarding:: Has a tense body and will hover over toys

Bite history:: No Bite History

Housetrained:: Partially

Energy level/descriptors:: High Energy

Other Notes:: Goes potty on: Designated area in home, Wee-wee pads Accident frequency: Very rarely Additional info: Pees Behavior concerns: Jumps up often or non-stop Additional info: Not reported Reacts to on walks: Strangers that approach the home/yard Reaction type: Growling/Hard barking Additional info: Not reported How this dog reacts when... - Held/restrained: Isn't bothered - Disturbed while resting/sleeping: Isn't bothered - Startled: Isn't bothered - Pushed/pulled off furniture: Isn't bothered - Paws are touched: Isn't bothered - Collar grabbed/touched: Isn't bothered

Date of assessment:: 10/9/2025

Summary:: **10/09/25** Mason has displayed concerning behaviors since arriving at the care centers. Upon intake Mason snapped at a staff member, missing them and biting their ipad instead. When being brought to kennel he displayed a tense body and baulked frequently, he did not accept treats or respond to coaxing. Staff has reported that Mason will hard bark and lunge at them when passing his kennel intensely. Due to these concerns based around Masons defensively aggressive behaviors he is not a candidate for a handling assessment at this time.

Summary (7):: 10/13/25: (KSV) Mason is at the front of his kennel with a neutral body. Handler would begin to feed him treats through the kennel bars and he would take with a soft mouth. After the treats were done, he would begin to slightly whale eye the handler and begin to salivate. Interaction was then ended. DZ 10/9/2025 (KSV): Mason is standing at the front of kennel with a tense body as handler approaches. He fixates on handler, remains tense, begins to low growl and hard stare with tight facial muzzles. Handler attempts to place tag on kennel card, and he lunges up towards handlers' hand while hard barking and baring teeth. Handler tosses treats over the kennel and ends interaction.

Date of intake:: 10/8/2025

Summary:: Hard barking/lunging at staff, tense on leash, cowers while walking to kennel

Date of initial:: 10/8/2025

Summary:: Tense and growling when approached in kennel, sedated

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Mason 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),Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: No Children (Under 13): Due to the fearful defensive behaviors Mason has displayed in care paired with his need for contact on his own terms, we recommend a home with no children. Place with a New Hope Partner: Mason has not acclimated well to the kennel environment and has allowed only minimal handling since intake. We recommend placement with a New Hope partner who can provide any necessary behavior modification (force-free, positive reinforcement-based) and re-evaluate behavior in a stable home environment before placement into a permanent home.

Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Kennel presence

Potential challenges comments:: Resource Guarding: Mason's former owners report he will hover over toys with a tense body. We recommend that Mason be left alone while eating, and that food guarding behavior modification steps (available at ASPCApro.org) be utilized if this behavior is problematic in his future home. Nothing should ever be taken directly out of Mason's mouth, and any time something is removed he should be rewarded with a high value treat or toy. He should be taught the "drop" cue and trade-up games. Please see handout on Resource Guarding. Fearful/Potential for Defensive Aggression: Upon intake, Mason was observed to snap at staff when approached and has made multiple attempts to lunge at staff through his kennel bars. Guidance from a professional trainer/behaviorist is recommended to assess behavior after decompression in a new home environment. Force-free, reward based training is advised when introducing or exposing Mason to new and unfamiliar situations. Please see handout on Fearful and Defensive Aggression. On-Leash Reactivity/Barrier Frustration/Kennel Presence: Mason was observed to snap at staff when approached and has made multiple attempts to lunge at staff through his kennel bars. While we cannot be certain if this behavior will appear in any other contexts, in highly emotionally charged or stressful environments Mason may show behavior similar to what he is currently demonstrating in his kennel. We recommend potential adopters be comfortable managing this behavior and keeping themselves safe in any similar future situations. Please see handout on On Leash Reactivity and Barrier Frustration.