Date of intake:: 8/17/2025

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner Surrender (3+ Years)

Previously lived with:: 3 Adults, 2 Child, 2 other dog

Behavior toward strangers:: Thor would bark at first. He would then get wiggly and approach for petting

Behavior toward children:: Thor was very playful with the children in the neighborhood of all ages

Behavior toward dogs:: Played rough with resident dogs (2 LMB)

Behavior toward cats:: Tolerant of resident cat, lunges at cats on walks

Resource guarding:: Thor was not bothered when the owner would approach his food, treats or toys

Bite history:: On 8.17 Thor was in the living room with the two other resident dogs and a 3yo child. The child was heard screaming, but the mother does not know what happened and the child wouldn't say. The bite did not break skin. In 2023 Thor was the victim of a bite by another dog leaving multiple puncture wounds.

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Medium to High

Other Notes:: Thor is described as social, affectionate and playful. In the home, he liked to follow the owner around from room to room. Thor has a medium to high activity level and likes to play with all types of toys. For exercise, he was taken on brisk walks on the leash. When on leash, he tends to pull very hard at first. He was fed both wet and dry food, different brands.

Summary:: Due to Thor's fearfulness and escalation towards staff displayed in care, a handling assessment could not be conducted.

Summary:: Due to operation limitations, dog-to-dog introductions are postponed.

Summary (3):: 08/24: Thor is lying on his bed at approach. Once he notices staff, he slowly moves to the front of his kennel with a neutral body and low wagging tail. He is easily leashed and taken for a walk around the building, pulling mildly with a neutral body. He ignores people when passed. In the yard, Thor remains on leash and jumps onto a bench, allowing petting with a neutral body throughout. He meets a female dog through the gate, approaching with a neutral body, sniffing briefly, then moving away calmly. He then returns to the bench, allows additional petting, and is easily returned to his kennel. 08/23: Thor is at the front of his kennel with a neutral body and low head. A drag leash is clipped to the slip leash for easier removal. He is easily leashed and pulls moderately on exit. Once in the yard, he darts in and relieves himself before going for a walk. He pulls moderately and trots, sniffing the ground. When a volunteer takes pictures from a distance, Thor closes his mouth, holds his ears forward, and his tail is high and stiff, but he passes calmly and continues walking. He is returned to his kennel without issue.

Summary (4):: 08/21: A drag leash is clipped to the slip lead for safe removal. Thor is easily leashed and walks close to handler, ignoring staff and volunteers in the hall. In the yard, he pulls briefly to the back before being invited onto the bench, where he accepts treats readily. During the walk, he pulls less than previously. At the turn back, he briefly balks but is coaxed forward without issue. He returns to kennel calmly, and the slip lead is removed using the safety leash. 08/20 (AM): Thor is lying on his bed at approach. He comes forward slowly and is easily leashed. Outside, his body is slightly tense and nervous, and he pulls moderately. In the yard, he remains on leash, relieves himself, and wanders with a slightly tense body. On the bench, he accepts head, neck, and body pets with a more neutral posture. While being pet, his leash is clipped, and he is easily returned to his kennel, going directly back to his bed to lie down. 08/20 (PM): Thor is easily leashed and walks at the handler’s side in the hall. He pulls into the yard and to the back, ignoring handler’s invitation to approach the bench. On a walk, he pulls moderately. When returning, the handler attempts to clip him in the yard, but Thor avoids. At the gate, as the handler reaches to clip him, he shows whale eye and snaps, then immediately recovers. He is returned without further issue. 08/19: Thor is easily leashed and walks warily through the hall. Outside, he pulls hard to the back of the yard, attempting to exit by climbing the fence. On the walk, he relieves himself and continues pulling to the end of the leash. Handler is able to coax him back toward the shelter. At clipping, he tenses, so he is returned with the slip lead still on. When a hook is presented, he bares his teeth. To reduce stress, he is left briefly, and high-value food is offered at the front of his kennel. While he is eating, the handler is able to wiggle the leash off without use of the hook.

Summary (5):: 12/11/23 Thor is standing on all fours while vocalizing at the handler. Thor is leashed with ease, and he jumps out his kennel, pulling towards the exit. Thor displays a loose body while pulling on leash. Thor will take treats gently when administered. Thor when fixated on other novel dogs during the walk, would pull towards them. Thor is returned to the facility. Upon entering the kennel room, Thor lunges for food slots in which some dogs have their face. Thor is placed in kennel with no issue. 12/07/23 Thor is lying down with his back towards his kennel door. Thor rises once he is called, coming forward in his kennel. The handler unlocks the kennel door, leashing Thor with ease and taking him outside for a walk. Thor displays a loose body, prancing beside the handler with a wagging tail. Thor checks in periodically. Thor doesn't take any treats when administered or any tossed to the floor. Thor remains stiff as he is pet, lip licking and whipping his head back to see what the handler is doing. Thor is returned back to the facility entering the facility and his kennel quickly. 11/30/23 (PM) Behavior remains the same from the morning. 11/30/23 Thor is lying down with a still body as the handler approaches. Thor is leashed and taken to the assessment room. The handler wants to collar Thor, however, once the handler grabs a collar, Thor darts for the door. Thor begins to shake and lip lick excessively. The handler does not want to stress Thor, so they leave the assessment room and head outside for a walk. Thor displays a neutral body while walking moderately beside the handler. Thor loosens up during the walk as it commences but will not take any treats. Thor is returned to the facility where he enters the building with no issue as well as his kennel.

Summary (6):: 11/29/23 Thor's PM walk went identical to his morning walk. The only difference was before exiting the building he was taken to the assessment room in order to be collared. Thor is soft and wiggly with one of the handler's so the main handler hands them over the collar. As soon as Thor sees the collar, he begins to back away, retreating to the door. He remains at the door until being taken out. Once they exit the room, he gives a big shake and continue on their way out. - 11/29/23 Thor is lying down with a still body as the handler approaches. Thor rises as the handler unlocks the kennel door, leashing Thor with no issue. They proceed outside for a walk. Thor maintains a still, neutral body, walking moderately beside the handler. Thor is administered high value treats in which he takes gently. Thor begins to pick up the pace and wag his tail as the walk commences and the handler socializes with Thor. The handler will call out his name and refer to him as a good boy, receiving a looser, wigglier body from Thor as the walk commences. Thor maintains a calm pace beside the handler returning to the building. Thor enters the facility as well as his kennel quickly, with no issue. 11/28/23 Thor is at the front of his kennel hard barking at the handler. Once the kennel door is unlocked, Thor ceases to bark, stepping forward to exit his kennel. Once leashed, Thor and the handler proceed outside for a walk. Thor displays a still, neutral body where he slightly pulls on the leash. Thor is skeptical of the handler, keeping his distance and side eyeing the handler. When the handler drops to one knee and attempts to coax Thor with treats, Thor slowly approaches the handler and sniffs the treats. Thor doesn’t take any, even ones tossed to the ground. Thor is returned to the facility where he enters the building and his kennel with no issue.

Summary (7):: 11/27/23: Thor greets the handler standing on all fours in front of the kennel door. Thor hard barks at The handler. Handler tosses treats to distract Thor, he is uninterested in them. Thor is easily leashed and escorted out of the facility. When outside Thor would pull hard. When walking Thor would whine anxiously while scanning the environment. Handler sits beside Thor which appears to ease his anxiety due to him sitting down rather than standing and stopping his whining. Thor and the handler sat outside for a few minutes. After he eliminates his bowls, Thor is escorted back to the kennel and unleashed with no issues. 11/27/23: Thor is sitting at the back of the kennel growling when a handler approaches. He slowly comes to the front when the handler bends to one knee and offers him cheese. Thor accepts with a soft mouth and tolerates leashing. He pulls hard out of the kennel for the duration of the entire walk. He does stop once to relieve himself but he sees other dogs during the walk and his anxiety spikes. Thor begins whining and yowls while standing on his back legs when he sees the other dogs. The handler returns him to the building but his kennel is not yet finished cleaning. The handler stands off at the end of the hallway to avoid other dogs but Thor begins yowling again and pacing due to his anxiety. The handler attempts to redirect his attention with cheese but he does not accept. Once his kennel is ready, Thor enters without issue but begins jumping up and bouncing off his kennel walls in circles. 11/26/23: Thor greets the handler standing on all fours in front of the kennel door. Thor hard barked at The handler. Handler tosses treats to distract Thor, he is uninterested in them. Thor is easily leashed and escorted out of the facility. When outside Thor would pull hard. Thor would sniff around. After he eliminates his bowls, Thor is escorted back to the kennel and unleashed with no issues. 11/26/23: Thor is barking in front of his kennel when the handler approaches , the handler tosses him treats which he takes and displays a neutral body. The handler opens his kennel door and easily leashes him, they exit the kennel room which he walks on a moderate tug to the leash. Thor is taken to the parking lot due to his DOH-V hold. Thor sniffs around and relieves himself, Thor will sniff around the cars and stand up trying to go in. Thor is distracted when given treats and allows the handler to reclip the lead when heading back inside, he hops into his kennel without issue

Date of intake:: 11/27/2023

Summary:: Thor had a tense body and was lip licking

Date of initial:: 11/25/2023

Summary:: dog was whale eyed, growling, showing teeth, and made an attempt to lunge when sedated

ENERGY LEVEL:: Thor is described by his previous owners as having a medium/high energy level. He will need daily mental and physical activity to keep him engaged and exercised.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Thor's fearfulness and potential for defensive aggression, we recommend he goes to an adult only home. Place with a New Hope partner: Due to Thor's fearfulness and potential for defensive aggression. We recommend he is placed with one of our New Hoper Partners.

Potential challenges: : Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Strength/leash pulling,Bite history (human)

Potential challenges comments:: Handling/touch sensitivity: Thor has not been comfortable with certain handling, especially when staff attempt to safety clip his slip lead to return to kennel, escalating to snapping. Please see handout on Handling and Touch Sensitivity. Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: During his first stay at ACC, Thor has escalated to growling and lunging both at his medical exam and during his time in the care center. During this second stay, he has been more tolerant some handling however is not comfortable when staff attempt to safety clip the slip lead, escalating to snapping. It is important to move slowly with Thor, to build positive associations (treats/toys/praise), and to allow Thor to initiate interactions with new people. He should never be forced to greet or to interact if she is not comfortable and soliciting attention. Please see handout on Fearful Potential for Defensive Aggression. Bite history (human): Thor bit a 3 year old in the home. We are unaware of the exact situation, 3 dogs and the child were playing on the floor. The bite did not break the skin. Please see handout on Bite History. Strength/leash pulling: Thor was highly fearful first few days in care, pulling to the end of his leash. As he is becoming more comfortable with select handlers this has improved however, he is a strong dog who will likely pull hard on leash with new handlers. Please see handout on Leash Manners.