Date of intake:: 12/13/2024

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

Previously lived with:: 3 Adults, 3 children (new born, 10 & 12 y/o), 2 cats

Behavior toward strangers:: tolerant of strangers. Night is friendly, outgoing, and playful with stranger

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

Behavior toward dogs:: friendly, outgoing, playful, and tolerant of familiar, and unfamiliar dogs

Behavior toward cats:: avoid contact and would bark at cats.

Resource guarding:: No known history of resource guarding.

Bite history:: No reports of a bite history

Housetrained:: Partially

Energy level/descriptors:: Sprite is reported to have a high energy level.

Other Notes:: When sprite was moved into a smaller apartment, Sprite would use wee wee pads and use the bathroom during walks. During walks, Sprite growls and hard bark at small animals like squirrels, birds, and raccoons. Sprite isn't bothered when disturbed while sleeping or when her collar is grabbed. Sprite is fearful when startled. Sprite will bark when pushed/pulled off furniture.Sprite does not like it when her owner or family has attempted to trim her nails. Sprite is fearful and will growl when her feet/paws are touched. Sprite will hard pull while on the leash.

Date of assessment:: 12/17/2024

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: loose Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: None Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Anxious- hypersalivation, pacing Call over: Approaches- low body, whale eyes Sociability comments: Handling Soft handling: Allows- heavy panting, dilated eyes, red eyes Exuberant handling: Allows- heavy panting, dilated eyes, red eyes Handling comments: distracted with squeaker Arousal Jog: mild leash bite Arousal comments: Knock: Jumps Knock Comments: Toy: hover, body block Toy comments:

Summary:: According to Sprite's previous owner(s), Sprite has interacted with different dogs and is often described friendly, outgoing, playful, and tolerant of familiar, and unfamiliar dogs. 12/26/24: When off leash at the Care Center Sprite is introduced to a novel male dog. At the gate Sprite cautiously approaches. Sprite scents the novel male before displacement scenting with her paw raised. The novel male stands up on the the gate. Growing frustrated The male starts pawing at the gate and proceeds to bark at Sprite. Sprite flinches hard when barked and pawed at. Due to Sprites discomfort to interaction was ended.

Summary (4):: 01/27/25 (AM+PM) Sprite is sitting in front of her kennel as the handler approaches, displaying a neutral frame. The handler is able to leash her with ease and take her out for a long walk. Sprite is first taken to the play yard, where she trots over with a neutral frame. She enters the pen and spends her time exploring, relieving her self and still exploring. She will run up to the gate to watch dogs pass with novel handlers, watching them with a neutral frame. The handler takes Sprite for a walk, where she pants heavily, slightly pulling. When returned to the facility, her kennel isn't clean, so the handler takes her to the live room. When entering the live room, she sees a toy that interest her and immediately picks it up and plays with it. The handler will toss her some high value treats in which she takes gently. She will engage with the toy before being returned to kennel. Her (PM) walk went the same, however they go straight to the live room. She engages with toys, remaining loose and wiggly, rolling around with toys and allowing pets from the handler. They will spend the whole time playing with toys before being returned to kennel.

Summary (5):: 01/25/25: Sprite is standing at the front of kennel with a loose frame as handler approaches. She is leashed with ease and pulls mildly to the Canine Behavior Office. Sprite is clipped to a drag lead and free to explore the space. She readily engages with squeaky toys that are offered to her and will toss them around before taking them over to the bed and laying down. Sprite becomes exuberant as another handler enters the room and will jump up onto them excitedly to solicit attention. She begins to zoom around the room, panting heavily. Handlers toss treats to slow her down, but she shows no interest. Handler leashes her and she pulls mildly back to kennel, returning safely. 01/25/25 (Trainer Note): Sprite is sitting at the front of the kennel as the handler approaches. She is easily leashed. Sprite thrashes briefly as she is removed from kennel, but quickly settles. She pulls moderately to the canine training room. Sprite initially has difficulty engaging with the enrichment, moving frenetically around the room with dilated pupils. Handler uses the up/down game to help her settle before transitioning to the enrichment. She engages with mild interest before leaning into the handler to solicit contact, rolling over to display her abdomen. Handler checks in frequently and intermittently redirects Sprite to the enrichment. She continues to to be able to take food and continues to lean into contact. Another handler enters and she becomes aroused, jumping repeatedly up onto them. The primary handler redirects her and uses the enrichment to soothe her again. Sprite is able to relax, taking food and shaking off. She leans into contact once more, rolling over to display her abdomen and solicit contact. She is returned to kennel without issue. 1/23/25: Sprite was sitting at front of kennel when handler approached. She was leashed with ease and walked to the CB room where she was clipped to a drag leash. Sprite ran and jumped onto the couch at fast speed and then played independently with a toy. She explored the room and relieved herself. Sprite engaged in fetch with handler and would swap toys each time. She would become impatient at times and jump up trying to get the toy before handler threw it. Sprite was returned to kennel with ease.

Summary (6):: 01/21/25 Sprite is sitting in front of her kennel door as the handler approaches. The handler guides the loop of the lead onto her neck and takes her for a walk. Sprite displays a neutral frame as she trots alongside the handler. Sprite maintains a moderate pace as she trots alongside the handler. She relieves herself and the walk commences. When attempting to administer her treats, she sniffs them and declines, commencing the walk. The handler and Sprite will return to the facility where Sprite enters the building calmly as well as her kennel. 01/20/25: Sprite is standing at the front of kennel with a neutral frame as handler approaches. Handler tosses treats to the back of kennel to redirect her away from the door, but she shows no interest. As handler presents the lead, Sprite begins jumping up onto the kennel door. Handler drops the lead over her head, and she walks on a loose leash to the Canine Behavior Office. Sprite is clipped to a drag lead and free to explore the space. She jumps up on handlers to solicit attention. Handler tosses a toy, and she engages with it, tossing it around and catching it herself. After her session in the room, Sprite is leashed with ease and returns to kennel safely. 01/20/24 (staff reported): Staff handler was able to leash Sprite with ease but once in the middle of room B she started thrashing and leash biting. Handler tried to get more control of the leash by using 2 hands but Sprite stood upon her hind legs while thrashing and started biting staff's hands. Once she went for the hands, staff had to use all of their strength to get her back to the kennel. Afterwards, staff was able to take the leash off with no further issues. 01/18/25: Sprite is jumping on her kennel door barking as the handler approaches. She is easily leashed and pulls moderately to the canine training room. Sprite allows the handler to attach a drag leash and runs around the room, sniffing intently and exploring the various enrichment items. She is easily leashed and walks back to kennel. However, when the handler attempts to put her back into the kennel, she begins to thrash, getting the rope off of her head. The handler calls to her and she runs back over readily. The handler grabs her by the collar and she begins to thrash and alligator roll, attempting to mouth at the handler's hand. The handler tries to walk her by the collar to the kennel but she continues to thrash, roll, and mouth so the handler clips their leash to her collar. She turns and grabs at the rope but enters the kennel without issue and allows the handler to unclip the leash.

Summary (7):: 01/17/25: Sprite upon approach of new handler was hard barking, jumping between the kennel walls, and jumping on the door. Handler removed the lock and started speaking to her she would stop, wag her tail, and then proceed to bark and jump. Treats are offered and she approaches cautiously, sniffs, and takes treat. When leash is presents she whale eyes handlers hand and backs away but then slowly approaches forward. She is leashed with guide of a treat and removed from kennel. We pass several dogs and Sprite is focused on sniffing the areas. A dog toy is on the sidewalk and she sniffs it for sometime. When handler kicks it slighty and encourages her to interact with it she becomes excited, does a half playbow, and continues moving forward. Sprite pulls towards the pigeons and watches them run/fly away. She uses the bathroom, responds to handler interactions, takes treats gently, and easily walks back to the care center. She pulls on the leash inside but excitedly goes into her new kennel. Handler walks away and comes back a few minutes later and Sprite is seen playing with her new toy. 1/15/25: Sprite can be heard hard barking and jumping on her kennel door. When a handler leaves the behavior office, she can be seen lunging and hard barking at a medical staff member that is checking on her in her kennel. She does not settle or stop hard barking as the medical staff checks each kennel in the room. 12/26/24: Sprite was siting at the front of her kennel as handler approaches. She was able to be leashed with ease and walked to the play yard for play group with no issues. She had a tense body and stiffed curved tail while greeting the other dog at the gate. She was able to be taken back to her kennel and enter with no issues. 12/17/24 As the handler approaches Sprites kennel, she is sitting neutral at the front. Sprite is easily leashed and walks towards the dog in the next kennel when she emerges, though she shows no signs of reactivity. She sniffs the floor as she is walked into the behavior room for an assessment. In the room, she continues to sniff and greets the handlers, laying on the floor exposing her belly at their feet as she pants heavily. After her assessment, she is easily leashed and returned to her kennel with no issues. 12/17: As a handler exits the behavior office with a dog and crosses through Meet and Greet, Sprite begins lunging, snarling, and baring teeth in her kennel when she sees the other dog. She continues these behaviors any time she sees other dogs pass her kennel. Her kennel is covered with a kennel cover to reduce her stress. 12/15 (rep note): Sprite is noted to be fearful up warms up after some time. She is noted to startle when the other dogs begin barking as she passes their kennels.

Date of intake:: 12/13/2024

Summary:: take treats out of staff's hands and allow staff to pet her face

Date of initial:: 12/15/2024

Summary:: Whale eye, tucked tail, whining. Lunged and pulled/thrashed against rope when taken out of kennel, d

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),No cats

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13)- Due to Sprite behavior challenges we recommend she is placed in an adult-only home at this time. No cats- During walks, Sprite growls and hard bark at small animals like squirrels, birds, and raccoons. we recommend she is placed in a home without cats/small animals.

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

Potential challenges comments:: Resource guarding- During Sprite handling assessment she displayed body blocking and hovering over the assessment toy. Practice trading games, where you offer her a high-value treat in exchange for the item she is guarding, to teach her that giving up resources leads to positive outcomes. Please see the handout on Resource guarding. Handling/touch sensitivity/Fearful/potential for defensive aggression-Sprite is fearful when startled. Sprite will bark when pushed/pulled off furniture. Sprite is fearful and will growl when her feet/paws are touched. During Sprite medical exam she began to Whale eye, tucked tail, whining. Lunged and pulled/thrashed against rope when taken out of kennel, does not warm.Use desensitization and counter-conditioning techniques to gradually get her comfortable with handling. Begin with gentle, non-threatening touches, rewarding her with high-value treats for calm behavior. Gradually increase the duration and intensity of handling as she becomes more comfortable. Practice touching her paws and other sensitive areas in a non-threatening manner, always rewarding her for calm behavior. Please see the handout on Handling/touch sensitivity/Fearful/potential for defensive aggression Anxiety- During the sprite handling assessment she displayed whale eyes, hypersalivation, low body, pacing.Use desensitization and counter-conditioning techniques to gradually expose her to stressors in a controlled manner, rewarding her with high-value treats for calm behavior. Practice relaxation exercises, such as "settle" or "place," to encourage her to relax in specific areas. Provide plenty of physical and mental stimulation through regular exercise and interactive toys to help reduce anxiety. Consistency, patience, and positive reinforcement are key to building her confidence and reducing anxious behaviors. Leash-biting- During sprite handling assessment she displayed mild leash biting she was able to be distracted with a squeaker. Consistently redirect her attention to the toy, rewarding her with treats and praise when she engages with it instead of the leash. Practice this redirection technique regularly during walks to reinforce the desired behavior. Gradually increase the duration of walks while maintaining her focus on the toy or other positive distractions. Please see the handout on Leash-Biting. Strength/leash pulling/On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration- During walks, Sprite growls and hard bark at small animals like squirrels, birds, and raccoons. Practice focus exercises, such as "watch me" or "look," to redirect her attention to you when small animals are nearby. Consistency and patience are key, as well as avoiding punishment, which can exacerbate reactivity. Please see the handout on Strength/leash pulling/On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration .