Date of intake:: 7/9/2025

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray(Unknown History)

Date of assessment:: 7/12/2025

Summary:: 07/12/25: Teo is taken to the behavior office for handling assessment, While on leash, Teo maintains a stiff frame and high, curved tail, a posture he continues to display in the room. He avoided the handlers and displays high hackles on the base of his tail. He begins to mark the room and begins sniffing the handlers’ legs, at times to the point of chattering. When a second handler attempts to call him over for collaring, Teo grumbles while remaining stiff and focused on scenting. Teo is then returned to his kennel. Due to this a handling assessment is not conducted at this time. ***07/11/25: Teo is taken to the behavior office for handling assessment, when attempting to collar him he begins to displace seeking the exit and displaying raised hackles. Due to these stress signals, handlers decide to give him another day to acclimate.*** ***07/10/25: A handling assessment is not conducted due to not having vaccines.***

Summary:: Due to entering the facility as a stray, there is no prior dog-to-dog history recorded. 07/14/25 Teo is introduced at the gate to a novel female dog while off leash at the care center. Teo will approach the gate with a neutral frame, scenting the novel female dog through the gate as he stands adjacent to her. The novel female dog will scent him as well displaying a looser, wigglier frame. Teo eyes will widen as he displays a high-fast wagging tail, appearing sexually motivated. The novel female dog begins to lose focus, becoming a bit aroused, seeking attention from the handlers in her pen, bouncing on and off of them. Teo remains at the gate line, tracking the novel female dog as she pays him no mind, slowly fatiguing as she bounces around the pen. Teo remains self-present attempting to solicit her attention before being returned to kennel, concluding the interaction.

Summary (7):: 7/16: Jumping high enough to get close to his kennel top. 7/16/25: Mounting mentioned on board. 7/14/25: Teo is at the front of his kennel with a neutral body, and when approaching the handler sniffs the leash and begin to whale eye and look away. Teo is leashed over his head and walked out of kennel to the yard. (See dog-dog for more details). Teo is aloof with staff, but does tolerate collaring and handling around his neck briefly. Teo is brought back to kennel and head whips the leash off his head. 07/12/25: (assessment) As the handler approaches, Teo is observed standing at the front of his kennel with a stiff body posture and a high, curved tail. During the first leashing attempt, Teo quickly retreats and looks back at the handler with a stern expression. On the second attempt, the handler is able to leash him and escort him to the Behavior Assessment (BA) room. While on leash, Teo maintains a stiff frame and high, curved tail, a posture he continues to display upon entering the room. Throughout the session, he consistently engages in marking behavior. Teo spends extended periods scenting the handlers’ legs, at times to the point of chattering. When a second handler attempts to call him over for collaring, Teo grumbles while remaining stiff and focused on scenting. Teo is then returned to his kennel, continuing to display a stiff posture and high tail. He is safely unleashed and secured. 07/11/25: Teo is standing at the front of his kennel and allows the handler to leash him with ease. He is then escorted to the assessment room, where both primary and secondary handlers attempt to place a collar on him. Teo begins displacement behavior, seeking the exit and displaying raised hackles. Due to these stress signals, handlers decide to give him another day to acclimate and return him to his kennel safely without any issues. For more information, see behavioral assessment.

Date of intake:: 7/9/2025

Summary:: During intakes the dog allowed to be scanned, collared and a photo to be taken

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Teo Potential challenges we recommend he is placed in a adult only home at this time. Place with a New Hope partner:Teo came into the care center as a stray due to this his behavior in a home enverment is unknown. During assessments, he has presented with a stiff body posture, high curved tail, raised hackles, and displacement behaviors such as retreating, seeking exits, and excessive scenting, including chattering while investigating handler scent. He has also exhibited low-level vocalizations (grumbling) when approached for handling and collaring. Although Teo allows leashing in the kennel, his heightened arousal and discomfort with close contact suggest handling sensitivities and potential for escalation under stress. Teo would benefit from placement with a New Hope partner experienced in working with dogs who display fear-based behaviors and low thresholds for arousal. A calm, consistent environment that prioritizes decompression, slow introductions, and positive reinforcement-based handling will be critical to his long-term success.

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

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful/potential for defensive aggression/Low threshold for arousal/Handling/touch sensitivity: During assessments, he has presented with a stiff body posture, high curved tail, raised hackles, and displacement behaviors such as retreating, seeking exits, and excessive scenting, including chattering while investigating handler scent. He has also exhibited low-level vocalizations (grumbling) when approached for handling and collaring. Training will focus on building trust through slow, low-pressure interactions, desensitization to touch, and reinforcing calm behavior to help reduce arousal and defensive responses. Please see the handout on Fearful/potential for defensive aggression/Low threshold for arousal/Handling/touch sensitivity.