Date of intake:: 10/25/2024

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner Surrender (4 years)

Previously lived with:: 2 adults 2 children ages 4 and 17

Behavior toward strangers:: shy, contact on own terms

Behavior toward children:: social, outgoing

Behavior toward dogs:: Familiar dogs friendly and outgoing; unfamiliar dogs playful

Behavior toward cats:: alert barks, wary, lunges on walks

Resource guarding:: Karma is reported to become tense while having a toy in his possession. He is reported to not let go unless distracted by something else like a treat or another toy

Bite history:: Karma was bitten by cat May of 2022. Due to this he's reported to be wary of cats.

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Karma's reported to have a medium energy level

Other Notes:: Goes potty on: "Outside on walks (grass, cement, dirt, etc.)" Accident frequency: Never Reacts to on walks: Cats | Reaction type: Lunging 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 For grooming, this dog: Allows owner/family to bathe and brush, Allows owner/family to trim nails Walks on leash rating: 1 - No pulling (loose-leash during the entire walk) Walk Frequency: 3-4 times per day Walk length of time: 20 min to 1 hour Crate trained: Yes, does well Hours in crate: 5 Type of crate: Crate for medium dogs During car rides, this dog: Loves car rides!

Date of assessment:: 12/26/2024

Summary:: Karma was reported to be resource guarding multiple items in his kennel in the morning and unable to leash him safely. Karma is reported by his previous owners to resource guard his toys and has been in QUACC since October 2024. ACS staff approached canine behavior staff due to Karma hovering and growling over a knuckle bone in his kennel. Handlers approach the kennel to find Karma laying down in his bed with a tense body. He displays an agonistic pucker and begins to hard stare and low growl upon seeing the handlers. Karma then stands and walks over to the knuckle bone, hovering over it with a tense body and continuing to growl. Handlers attempt to use a hook to maneuver the knuckle bone out of the kennel. Each time the hook nears the bone, Karma grabs the bone tightly with his front paws and bites the hook, continuing to growl. One handler is able to leash Karma and hold him still while the second handler pushes the knuckle bone away from Karma with the hook. This takes several attempts as Karma continues to grip the bone and bite at the hook, once biting and holding on for a few seconds before releasing. The handler is eventually able to knock it away from him. However, Karma continues to growl and hard stare at the handlers with a tense body. The second handler's leash is placed and Karma is removed from kennel. He is initially reluctant to leave while pancaking, attempting to turn back towards the knuckle bone, dragging his paws to get back to the bone and continuing to growl, but eventually follows the handlers. They step to the side in the hallway and Karma sits with a tense body. Karma continues to be tense with both handlers, low growling on leash when the handlers attempt to make sudden movements. As another staff member walks by and Karma begins to growl again, lunging slightly forward towards them. He then begins to pull back towards the kennel, continuing to growl. The handlers return him to kennel and Karma growls and snaps at the leashes as they are removed. He begins to hunt for the now-removed knuckle bone, growling whenever a person approaches. ACS staff that Karma throughout the morning continues to growl when approached in kennel, and remains tense while staff go to check on him. Due to Karma's extreme resource guarding and quick escalation to biting and holding onto tools trying to retrieve said items from hold and escalations towards staff (lunging, growling), the behavior team believes he is not a safe candidate for placement.

Summary:: According to Karma's previous owners, she is friendly and playful with other dogs. 11/01/24: When off leash at the Care Center Karma is introduced to a female greeter dog. At the gate approaches displacement scenting with a high curved tail, flagging. He scents the female through the gate with tail wags before walking away, displacement scenting again. Karma marks returns and offers play bows. The greeter is moved to the back of the pen to make space for Karma to enter. Once in the pen Karma displacement scents before marking. Karma and the greeter female approach one another and begin scenting one another's face and muzzle. Karma's ears back. The two attempts chin overs one another before the greeter female initiates play. They play a game of chase play with start stops and breaks in between. Karma begins to become over whelmed displaying whale eyes and lip licks. He attempts to paw at the greeter as well as lick their muzzle to regulate her excitement. She continues to bounce around him. Karma mirrors her ramping up back into another game of chase play before immediately attempting to mount. Karma is escorted out of the play pens to avoid further stress. 10/28/24 Karma is introduced to a male greeter dog while off leash at the care center. Karma doesn't greet the male greeter dog at the gate, remaining aloof. Karma will displacement sniff away from the gate in which the greeter dog remains vocalizing, maintaining his distance practicing avoidance.

Summary (5):: 01/16/25: ACS staff approach canine behavior staff due to Karma hovering and growling over a knuckle bone in his kennel. Handlers approach the kennel to find Karma laying down in his bed with a tense body. He displays an agonistic pucker and begins to hard stare and low growl upon seeing the handlers. Karma then stands and walks over to the knuckle bone, hovering over it with a tense body and continuing to growl. Handlers attempt to use a hook to maneuver the knuckle bone out of the kennel. Each time the hook nears the bone, Karma grabs the bone tightly with his front paws and bites the hook, continuing to growl. One handler is able to leash Karma and hold him still while the second handler pushes the knuckle bone away from Karma with the hook. This takes several attempts as Karma continues to grip the bone and bite at the hook, once biting and holding on for a few seconds before releasing. The handler is eventually able to knock it away from him. However, Karma continues to growl and hard stare at the handlers with a tense body. The second handler's leash is placed and Karma is removed from kennel. He is initially reluctant to leave, attempting to turn back towards the knuckle bone and continuing to growl, but eventually follows the handlers. They step to the side in the hallway and Karma sits with a tense body. Another staff member walks by and Karma begins to growl again, lunging slightly forward towards them. He then begins to pull back towards the kennel, continuing to growl. The handlers return him to kennel and Karma growls and snaps at the leashes as they are removed. He begins to hunt for the now-removed knuckle bone, growling whenever a person approaches. Handlers walk away. ACS staff reported similar behavior over toys the previous day (01/15/25).

Summary (6):: 01/11/25: Karma is laying at the front of kennel sleeping as handler approaches. He is leashed with ease and pulls mildly to the Live Room. Karma is clipped to a drag lead and free to explore the space. Karma spends time engaging with a snuffle mat offered to him and readily eats squeezy cheese. Handler tosses a soft toy which he shows no interest in. Karma approaches handler and accepts petting along head, neck, and body with a loose frame. After his session, he is leashed with ease and is returned to kennel safely. 1/4/25: Karma is laying in his bed as the handler approaches. As the handler unlocks the door, Karma comes to the front with a loose body and wagging tail as he jumps on the door. Karma is easily leashed and pulls moderately to the behavior room for enrichment. Once on a drag leash in the room, Karma immediately begins sniffing. The handler offers Karma peanut butter which he does not like. Karma is instead interested in treats and will take them gently from the handler's hand. The hander drops treats on to a snuffle mat that Karma engages in. He will come back to the handler and offer a sit which the handler rewards with a treat before tossing more on the snuffle mat. The handler tosses a toy, and Karma excitedly plays with it. After his enrichment, Karma is easily leashed and returned to his kennel with no issues. 12/31/2024: Karma is reported to stare at his kennel walls and doesn't respond when called over. 12/24/20: Karma is lying at the front of his kennel and rises calmly to allow the handler to leash him with ease. He is escorted to the live room for enrichment, where a drag leash is attached to allow free roaming. Once inside, Karma walks over to the snuffle mat, briefly engaging with it and eating only some of the hidden treats before moving on. He then selects a toy and plays with it for a period of time. Afterward, Karma approaches the handler, sitting directly in front of them and looking up expectantly before beginning to explore the room. He sniffs around, investigating the toys, the bed, and even the handler. Once his exploration is complete, Karma returns to a toy, lies down with it, and begins playing, squeezing the squeaky toy contentedly as he holds it in his mouth., Will be brought back to his kennel safely with no issues. 12/18/2024: ACS reports that Karma began to kennel fight when going back into the care center.

Summary (7):: 12/14/24: Karma is laying down in his kennel and will jump up and run to the front when the handler is spotted. Karma will be leashed with ease and brought to the live room for enrichment. Once there, a drag leash is placed on Karma, and he will free roam the room. Karma will walk over to the snuffle mat and search for hidden treats. When he thinks he has found all the treats, he will walk over to the soft toy lying on the floor and begin playing with it, trotting back and forth with a green long leg frog in his mouth. Karma and his toy will lay next to the handler’s foot and enjoy his squeaky toy. Once Karma has finished playing with the toy, he will remain laying next to the handler’s foot, closing his eyes and falling asleep. Once this is done, Karma will be escorted back to his kennel safely with no issues. 11/23/24: Karma is standing at the front of kennel with a neutral body as handler approaches. Karma turns around, grabbing a soft toy, and is leashed with ease. He walks on a loose leash to the Canine Behavior Office for reassessment (see Behavior Assessment for further details). Karma is clipped to a drag lead and free to explore the space. He takes treats gently from hand and solicits treats from handlers by sitting in front of them. After assessment, he is returned to kennel safely. 11/19/24 Karma is sitting firmly as the handler approaches. Karma is leashed with ease and taken for a walk. Karma displays a neutral, relaxed frame as he trots his way to the play yard. Karma enters the play pen, immediately exploring. Karma is administered treats in which he takes gently. He will sit on his own when wanting treats. Karma is administered a toy in which he takes and engages with. He will take a break, explore the pen again before engaging with the toy once more. Karma is returned to the facility, where he carries his toy back to his kennel with him. Karma enters the building as well as his kennel with no issue. 11/15/24: Karma is observed to plant himself, laying down completely, on the walk back into the building. Handler offers treats which he shows no interest in. Handler kneels down and uses light directional leash pressure to guide Karma up and out onto the sidewalk. He is walked back to the building with a neutral frame. 10/28/24: Karma was standing neutrally at front of kennel. Handler 1 noticed his bedding was heavily soiled with blood and informed their team (medical already aware of face wound per rounds board.) Karma was still being requested for a gate greet, so handler 2 proceeded to remove him from kennel. Karma relieved himself once outside the building. He was returned to kennel with ease by handler 2.

Date of intake:: 10/25/2024

Summary:: Soft body high tail mouth open jumps up on staff accepts treats

Date of initial:: 10/26/2024

Summary:: loose body, wagging tail, accepts treats, backs away When approaching head allows handling for exam

ENERGY LEVEL:: Karma is reported to have a medium energy level. He would still benefit from enrichment games along with physical activity to provide him with appropriate and positive outlets for his energy

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): due to Karma's reported resource guarding, handling and touch sensitivity, and avoidance of interaction we recommend for him to be placed in an adult only home. No cats: due to the concerning behaviors reported in the home towards cats we recommend for karma to not be placed in a home with cats or other smaller animals. Place with A New Hope Partner: Due to the concerning level of resource guarding displayed in care and in his previous home in conjunction with other behavior concerns displayed, we recommend that Karma to be placed with a New Hope Partner who can address his challenges with the use of a certified trainer that uses only positive methodology only.

Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Handling/touch sensitivity,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Low threshold for arousal

Potential challenges comments:: Resource Guarding: Karma is reported to become tense when in the possession of a toy although his owner reported that he will trade for treats or another toy. He has also escalated to growling and biting and holding onto a tool being used to remove an item. Please see handout on resource guarding. Handling/touch sensitivity: Karma becomes tense and uncomfortable with contact and would flinch when his neck was touched, showing some discomfort in certain areas. It is important to avoid touching Karma his neck at this time as we do not know where he may have other sensitivities. It is unclear if that is due to his ear infection or a result of being in a stressful environment. Please see handout on handling/touch sensitivity. On-leash Reactivity / barrier frustration: karma is reported to lunge at cats during walks. Please see handout on on leash reactivity/barrier frustration. Both threshold for arousal: when attempting to conduct his handling assessment Karma initially began sniffing handlers but became increasingly fixated on them. When attempting to break his fixation or move him away from the source of his fixation he would tense further. Please be hand out on arousal.