Date of intake:: 11/14/2024

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

Previously lived with:: 1 adult, 1 other LMB dog

Behavior toward strangers:: friendly, outgoing, playful, and tolerant

Behavior toward children:: friendly, outgoing, playful, and tolerant

Behavior toward dogs:: hard bark, growl, lunge, and snap at other familiar and unfamiliar dogs on/off leash.

Behavior toward cats:: Unknown

Resource guarding:: Ella will resource guard food with other dogs by growling.

Bite history:: No known bite history.

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Ella is reported to have a medium energy level.

Other Notes:: Ella pulls hard on the leash. Ella will resource guard food with other dogs by growling. Ella isn't bothered when held/restrained, disturbed while sleeping, pushed off furniture, or when paws/collar is touched. When startled she growls and barks. Ella reacts to small and large dogs on walks. She will lunge, growl, hard bark, and attempt to snap/bite.

Date of assessment:: 11/15/2024

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Mild Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: hx of reactivity Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Highly Social Call over: Approaches readily Sociability comments: very loose / wiggly, affectionate, leans into petting Handling Soft handling: Seeks Contact Exuberant handling: Seeks Contact Handling comments: highly social, leans into petting, sits in front of handler Arousal Jog: Follows loose Arousal comments: Knock: Approaches loose Knock Comments: Toy: Grips, loose bodied when approached but moves away Toy comments: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Loose Reactivity to humans: Inconclusive- Didnt walk pass people Reactivity to dogs: Inconclusive- Didnt walk pass dog Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Nervous seeks attention whining, lip licks Call over: Stays near handlers, allows petting, lays down Sociability comments: Flitches when raised hand and given treats, shakes off allowed touch Handling Soft handling: Allowed handling, neutral body Exuberant handling: Allowed handling, neutral body Handling comments: Arousal Jog: Follow- looks at the handler, neutral body Arousal comments: Knock: Approach- neutral body Knock Comments: Toy: Ignores Toy comments:

Summary:: According to Ella's previous owners, Ella will hard bark, growl, lunge, and snap at other familiar and unfamiliar dogs on/off leash. 11/27/24 Ella is introduced to a novel female dog while off leash at the care center. Ella doesn't greet the novel female at the gate, as soon as she sees the novel female dog, she becomes stiff. Ella will proceed to charge the gate snarling, hard barking at the novel female dog. The novel female dog will disengage and move away due to Ella's reactivity. Ella will fixate on the novel female dog from a distance before being returned to kennel. 11/17/24 Ella is introduced to a novel male dog while off leash at the care center. Ellas is tense while standing at the gate. Ella will lip lick and move away from where the novel male dog was standing. Ella is taken inside to greet him face-to-face. Ella enters the pen still remaining stiff while heavily salivating. Her hackles are risen and se is cautiously sniffing out the novel male dog's genitals. The novel male dog is uncomfortable, so he moves away from her. The novel male dog will loosen up and begin to sniff her genitals. The novel male dog becomes persistent, making the Ella uncomfortable. She moves away from the novel male dog still salivating and lip licking excessively. The novel male dog is moved away. Ella as well. Ella is returned to kennel.

Summary (3):: 03/13/25 Ella is lying down as the handler approaches. She rises gently and softly, making her way to the front of kennel. She is leashed with ease being taken for a walk. She will trot out of the building maintaining a moderate pace displaying a still, neutral frame. She maintains this pace throughout the walk, walking alongside the handler. She will lunge at birds during the walk. Ella will decline any treats that are administered. Ella is returned to the facility where she will enter the building as well as her kennel with no issue. 03/07/25 (Trainer Note): Ella is standing on the door of her kennel with a mild pant as the handler approaches. She is easily leashed and pulls mildly to the canine training room. Ella is initially anxious, intensely sniffing the room, but eventually softens and begins to engage with the various enrichment items and take treats. She is then taken outside where she hard stares at dogs. When Ella arrives in the play yard she is again initially anxious, pacing and sniffing intently with a slightly tense body. The handler begins to throw tennis balls for her and Ella first chases them, but does not pick them up. Over time, she is able to soften and pick up the balls, engaging in parallel play with the handler. Ella displays a soft body and wagging tail. As Ella is being returned to kennel, she passes another dog. The handler begins to speak to her and when she turns away she is tossed the ball. She carries the ball for a few moments before dropping it. Ella is returned to kennel without issue.

Summary (4):: 03/06/25 (trainer notes): Ella is standing at the front of her kennel with a neutral frame and easily leashed and taken to the live room. When in the room, her body loosened up and she explored the room. She wasn't interested in treats and preferred to engage with the licky mat with cheese. She was able to practice recall, and "take a breath" being reinforced using the cheese spray. Her body remained loose with a low tail wag. She was easily leashed and returned to kennel. 3/6/25: Ella was lying on kuranda bed when handler approached. She was leashed with ease and walked through the kennel rooms at a casual pace without pulling. Ella became alert and started pulling once outside where multiple other dogs were being walked ahead of her. Ella entered the yard where she was clipped to a drag leash. Ella stood at the fence observing a dog in another yard. She was disinterested in treats and toys. When a dog walked past the pen Ella followed along the fence line. She ignored handler when called over to them and was not distracted by squeaker. On the way back to care center Ella raised her hackles and barked at two workers who likely startled her as they rounded the corner. She continued barking until they moved out of sight. Once back inside Ella's face and body visibly relaxed as she walked on a loose leash back to kennel. 03/06/25: Ella is observed to hard bark at a unfamiliar staff member as she is being walked outside. 03/01/25: Ella is standing in her kennel with a neutral frame and will jump up as the handler approaches and opens the kennel door. She is leashed with ease and escorted to the live room for enrichment. Once inside, the handler places a drag leash on her, allowing her to roam freely. Ella lays on top of the snuffle mat, eating a few hidden treats before shifting her full focus to the pupsicle with a treat inside. She remains engaged with the pupsicle for the duration of her session. Once finished, Ella is safely escorted back to her kennel with no issues.

Summary (5):: 02/27/25 (Trainer Note): Ella is sitting by her kennel door and is easily leashed and taken outside for some engage/disengage game. Ella pulls moderately to the yard and is very distracted. Ella sees dogs passing by in the yard and stares at them with a tense body and is unable to disengage. One dog approaches more closely and Ella seems frustrated and manages to disengage with a wide tail wag. Ella isn't interested in treats, so we go inside to the Training room. Once inside Ella readily engages with the enrichment and looks to the trainer and takes a breath between enrichment. Ella is much more focused and responsive in lower distraction environments. Ella is easily leashed and taken back to her kennel. 02/22/25 (Trainer Note): Ella is standing on her kennel door as the handler approaches. She is easily leashed and pulls moderately outside. Ella pulls moderately. She tenses and stares at dogs, having difficulty turning away even from a distance. The handler works on marking her for engaging and reinforcing when she disengages. Ella is returned to kennel without issue. 2/13/25: Ella is reported to kennel fight and attempt to grab neighboring dogs' paws. 02/07/25 (Trainer Note): Ella is loose and wiggly in kennel as the handler approaches. She is easily leashed and pulls moderately to the canine training room. Ella allows the handler to attach a drag leash and engages with the enrichment with mild interest. Ella works with the handler on the 123 game and conditioning the yes verbal marker. She is then handed a toy. Ella takes it and moves to the snuffle mat. She lays down on top of it and chews the toy for several minutes. Ella is then easily re-leashed and returned to kennel without issue. - 02/01/25 (Trainer Note): Ella is loose and wiggly as the handler approaches. She is easily leashed and pulls moderately to the canine training room. Ella is loose and social and explores the various enrichment items. She leans into contact and is given a toy. Ella runs around the room with it before being easily leashed and returned to kennel without issue. 01/31/25: Ella is super loose and wiggly in kennel upon handler arrival and will be leashed with ease and brought to the assessment room. Once Ella has a collar on she will free room the room greeting the secondary handler with a loose body. Ella will allow touch and will seek attention from handler. Ella is giving a toy and will ignore it a few time before she actually picks it up and starts to shake the toy. Ella will not show any signs of resource guarding at this time. Ella is escorted back to her kennel safely with no issues.

Summary (6):: 01/18/15 (Trainer Note): Ella begins to jump on her kennel door as the handler approaches. She is easily leashed and pulls moderately to the canine training room. She engages readily with the enrichment and plays the 123 game with the handler. Handler then works with her on orienting in between enrichment items. Ella is easily leashed and returned to kennel without issue. 01/10/25 (Trainer Note): Ella begins to jump on the front of her kennel as the handler approaches. She is easily leashed and pulls moderately to the canine training room. She shows mild interest in the enrichment and plays 123 with the handler before grabbing a toy. Ella plays independently with the toy for several minutes before approaching the handler to solicit contact. She leans in with a soft body before being easily leashed and returned to kennel without issue. 01/03/25 (Trainer Note): Ella is standing at the front of her kennel with a loose body as the handler approaches. She is easily leashed and pulls moderately to the canine training room. Ella shows little interest in the various enrichment, but leans into contact with the handler and takes treats from the handler's hand. Ella engages readily as handler establishes Look At That and the 123 game. Following this, she engages with the enrichment with mild interest. Ella is easily leashed and returned to kennel without issue. 12/27/24: Ella was standing at the front of her kennel as the handler approached. She then started to jump and paw at the door as the handler was unlocking it. She was able to be leashed with ease and she pulled hard on the way to the live room for enrichment fun. She first sniffed all around the room before engaging with the snuffle mat and cheese lick mat. She was able to walk back and enter her kennel with no issues. 12/18/24 (Trainer Note): Ella is standing at the front of the kennel with a loose, wiggly body as the handler approaches. She is easily leashed and pulls moderately to the canine training room. Ella is loose and social with staff, but shows no interest in treats or toys. She leans into contact for several minutes before being returned to kennel without issue.

Summary (7):: 12/12/24 (Trainer Note): Ella is standing at the front of the kennel with a neutral body as the handler approaches. She is easily leashed and pulls moderately to the play yards. Ella sees another dog through glass and barks once but follows the handler willingly. Once in the play yard Ella allows the handler to attach a drag leash. She shows no interest in treats or toys. Ella hears another dog and goes to the edge of the yard to hard stare with a tense body. Handler brings her to a yard where she cannot see dogs. Ella relaxes some, but continues to tremble and shows no interest in treats, toys, or contact. She is easily leashed and returned to kennel without issue. 11/28/24 (Trainer Note): Ella is standing at the front of the kennel with a loose body as the handler approaches. She is easily leashed and pulls moderately to the canine training room. She accepts contact from handlers and takes treats from hands, but shows no interest in the enrichment items. She displays anxious behaviors, pacing, panting, and crying. Ella spends several minutes intently sniffing the training room. She is easily leashed and returned to kennel without issue. 11/27/24: Ella is standing at the front of her kennel upon handlers arrival and will be leashed with ease and brought to playgroup to be introduced to a playmate. Ella will be dress in a drag leash then her playmate will enter the other pin. Ella will begin hard barking at her playmate demonstrating a tense frame and will be remove from the yard and escorted back to her kennel safely with no issues. 11/17/24: Ella is standing at the front of kennel with a neutral frame as handler approaches. She is leashed with ease and pulls mildly to the play yard for playgroup (see Dog-Dog Summary for further details). Ella accepts petting from handler with a soft frame. After her session, she is returned to kennel safely. 11/16/24: Ella is standing at the front of kennel with a neutral frame as handler approaches. She takes treats gently from hand and is leashed with ease. Ella walks with a slightly tense body to the Canine Behavior Office for assessment (see Behavior Assessment for further details). Ella is clipped to a drag lead and free to explore the space. She will readily approach multiple handlers and lean into them to solicit attention. She loosens slightly throughout her time in the room and will lay next to a handler and begin to fall asleep. After her session in the room, Ella is returned to kennel safely. 11/15/24: Ella standing up on hind legs when handler arrives and will be leashed with ease and brought to the BT room. After Ella is collared a drag leash will be placed on her and she able to free roam. Ella appears to be nervous so she will be brought back to her kennel safely.

Date of intake:: 11/14/2024

Summary:: all handling and leaned into pets.

Date of initial:: 11/15/2024

Summary:: tense throughout exam, slightly whale eyed, deep low growled twice when restrained.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: Level 4

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),Single-pet home,Recommend no dog parks

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13)- We recommend that Ella be placed in an adult-only home. Single-pet Home/Recommended no dog parks: Due to the concerning behaviors reported by her previous owners and the concerning behaviors displayed in playgroup, we recommend that Ella to be the only dog in the home and not attend dog parks.

Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Anxiety,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Strength/leash pulling

Potential challenges comments:: Resource guarding-Ella will resource guard food with other dogs by growling. To address Ella's resource guarding, start by feeding her and other dogs in separate areas to prevent immediate conflicts and reduce stress. Gradually desensitize her by having the other dog at a distance and rewarding her with high-value treats when she remains calm. Slowly decrease the distance over time. Teach her commands like "leave it" and "place" to help manage her behavior during mealtimes. Establish a structured feeding routine and occasionally hand-feed her to build trust. using positive reinforcement techniques to encourage progress. Please see the handout on Resource guarding. Fearful/potential for defensive aggression/Anxiety- Ella anxiety, displayed through lip licking and whinig needs to be addressed to improve his overall well-being. Ella also esclated to lunging/hard barking at a stranger in her previous adoptive home Identify and minimize exposure to anxiety-inducing situations whenever possible. Create a calm and safe environment for Ella, using techniques like providing a designated quiet space and using calming aids such as pheromone diffusers or anxiety wraps. Gradually expose Ella to potentially stressful situations in a controlled manner, pairing these exposures with treats and positive reinforcement to build positive associations. Consistent use of these techniques will help reduce Ella anxiety over time. Please see the handout on the Decompression period and generalized anxiety. On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration/Strength/leash pulling- IN care Ella is reported to Kennel fight and Ella will hard bark, growl, lunge, and snap at other familiar and unfamiliar dogs on/off leash. Begin by exposing Ella to other dogs from a distance where she remains calm, rewarding her for focusing on you and staying relaxed. Gradually decrease the distance over time while continuing to reward calm behavior. Teach Ella alternative behaviors, such as focusing on you or performing a "sit" command when she sees another dog. Consistent training sessions and positive reinforcement will help reduce Ella reactivity and improve her behavior on walks. Please see the handout on On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration/Strength/leash pulling.