Animal Profile

Macho is At Risk due to behavioral concerns. Macho's owner reports that he has had altercations with the other dogs in the home over treats and was recently bitten during a resource-guarding incident. He is reactive toward dogs, cats, and unfamiliar people approaching the home, responding with growling and snapping. While in the Care Centers, Macho has displayed a stiff body posture with select staff members but remains receptive to treats. Medically, Macho has Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex and a wound that is healing.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 23 lbs

Medical Notes

6/12/2026

DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: Reported 4y Microchip noted on Intake? scanned negative History: Owner surrender due to personal health issues. Got into fight with other dog in household 2 days ago and broke skin. Subjective: BAR Observed Behavior - Tense, remains frozen with tail tucked throughout exam and tasks. Evidence of Cruelty seen -no Objective T = P =wnl R =wnl BCS 5/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: not performed PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NR, NMA, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: male intact MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat, small cut over Right eye close to medial canthus CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: normal external Wood's Lamp Exam: not performed Assessment wound Prognosis: good Plan: intake tasks expect wound to heal without intervention neuter after hold released Starting 75mg trazodone PO BID indefinitely for in shelter FAS SURGERY: Okay for surgery after hold released

6/20/2026

SO: Due for release from rabies observation BAR standing at front of kennel eent: eyes clear, no ocular or nasal dc apparent h/l: eupneic, no coughing or sneezing appreciated msi: ambulatory x4 neuro: mentation alert and appropriate, no neurological deficits appreciated at this time A: no clinical signs of rabies appreciated P: Patient has appropriate mentation at this time (no neurologic signs present) and has not exhibited any neurological signs while at MACC.

6/25/2026

Noted on symptoms board to be sneezing S: BAR at front of kennel and eating very well. O: EENT: Eyes clear, clear nasal discharge noted H/L: Eupneic, but sniffling/sneezing while cage side MSI: Ambulatory x 4, healthy hair coat. CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities A: CIRDC BAR/eating P: Rx: Doxycycline 125mg PO SID x10d Recheck at end of course

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 3. Yellow

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

Upon intake Macho was nervous- lip licking- but allowed all handling. He did growl at Milo when Milo got too close. Macho was easily leashed but did not want to walk. He was picked up and carried to kennel without issue.

Date of Intake: 6/12/2026

Basic Information:: Macho is a 4 year old SMB dog. He is seeking a new home due to prior owner's health issues. He has experience with adults, children, and other dogs.

Previously lived with:: adults

How is this dog around strangers?: Alert barks

How is this dog around children?: Tolerant

How is this dog around other dogs?: Familiar dogs: Tolerant Unfamiliar dogs - on leash: Hard barks and/or growls Unfamiliar dogs - off leash: Lunges

How is this dog around cats?: No experience

Resource guarding:: Valuable items: Treats (bones, rawhides, etc.) Reaction: Growls or hard barks

Bite history:: Macho has been in fights with other dogs in the home- they were fighting over treats. Warning signs prior to the bite: Showed teeth, lifted lips, Growled, hard barked, and/or snarled, Lunged or snapped. Type of bite: Bite and released immediately.

Housetrained:: No

Energy level/descriptors:: medium

Other Notes:: Goes potty on: Wee-wee pads Behavior concerns: Jumps up and bites/chews leash during walks, Barks a lot, Mouthy/Takes treats rough Reacts to on walks: Large dogs, Cats, Strangers that approach the home/yard Reaction type: Growling/Hard barking, Lunging, Attempts to bite How this dog reacts when... - Held/restrained: Snaps, Barks/Growls - Disturbed while resting/sleeping: Isn't bothered - Startled: Barks/Growls - Pushed/pulled off furniture: Barks/Growls - Paws are touched: Snaps - Collar grabbed/touched: Snaps

Has this dog ever had any medical issues?: No

For a New Family to Know: Description of this dog most of the time: Prefers contact on their own terms, Vocal Where the dog spent most time: Living room For grooming, this dog: Allows owner/family to bathe and brush, Does not allow nail trimming (fearful, uncomfortable) Walks on leash rating: 5 - Very hard pulling (maintains tension during the entire walk; very difficult to manage) Walk Frequency: Does not have a schedule Walk length of time: 15 min Crate trained: Yes, does well Hours in crate: 5 Type of crate: Open pen crate During car rides, this dog: Vomits in the car, Nervous getting in or being in the car Additional info: He will try to flee out the window

Date of intake:: 6/12/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Previously lived with:: Adults

Behavior toward strangers:: Macho will alert bark

Behavior toward children:: Macho is tolerant

Behavior toward dogs:: Macho is tolerant of familiar dogs, will hard bark, growl, and lunge towards unfamiliar dogs

Behavior toward cats:: No experience

Resource guarding:: Valuable items: Treats (bones, rawhides, etc.) Reaction: Growls or hard barks

Bite history:: Macho has been in fights with other dogs in the home- they were fighting over treats. Warning signs prior to the bite: Showed teeth, lifted lips, Growled, hard barked, and/or snarled, Lunged or snapped. Type of bite: Bite and released immediately.

Housetrained:: No

Energy level/descriptors:: Medium

Other Notes:: Goes potty on: Wee-wee pads Behavior concerns: Jumps up and bites/chews leash during walks, Barks a lot, Mouthy/Takes treats rough Reacts to on walks: Large dogs, Cats, Strangers that approach the home/yard Reaction type: Growling/Hard barking, Lunging, Attempts to bite How this dog reacts when... - Held/restrained: Snaps, Barks/Growls - Disturbed while resting/sleeping: Isn't bothered - Startled: Barks/Growls - Pushed/pulled off furniture: Barks/Growls - Paws are touched: Snaps - Collar grabbed/touched: Snaps

Date of assessment:: 6/15/2026

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: None Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: None Leash walking comments: Fearful Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Fearful Call over: Approaches handler with coaxing Sociability comments: Tense low body, tucked tail, receptive to treats. When returning to kennel, Macho becomes frozen and is no longer receptive to treats or coaxing. Handler is unable to clip their leash or remove the dragline due to Macho hard staring at them. Soft handling: Fearful Exuberant handling: Did not condcut Comments: Tense body, hard stares at handler, not able to position Arousal Jog comments: Balks, does not follow Knock Knock comments: No approach Toy Toy comments: No interest, No reaction

Summary (7):: 7/2/26: 07/02/26: Macho is at the front of his kennel, front paws up on the bars, as handler unlocks the kennel. He is easily leashed and brought outside for a walk. As he enters the play-yard, a large dog approaches him through the fence, vocalizing. Macho tenses up and begins vocalizing towards the other dog. Macho is easily redirected with verbal cues and led into a separate pen. He relieves himself multiple times, approaches the handler with a loose body and accepts pets on his head. He is then brought back inside and returned to kennel without issue. 6/27/26: MacHo is at the front of his kennel, standing up on the door with a loose body and wagging tail. He takes treats. He sniffs the handler's hand as they unlock the lock. He is easily leashed and lead to the driveway. He sniffs around. Occasionally, he jumps up on the handler softly with a wagging tail and takes treats. He ignores other dogs but pulls lightly towards a seated staff member. He allows leash clipping. He is walked back through the building and returned to kennel with a tossed treat. 6/15/26: MacHo is at the back of the kennel with a tense body and slight whale eye towards the handler as they approached the kennel. He is easily leashed and would flee towards the back, handler uses mild leash pressure to guide him out which he slowly follows. At first, he is reluctant to walking but would follow when leash pressure is applied. Throughout the walk, he walks around with pinned ears and a tucked tail. MacHo doesn't react towards any dogs or people he saw within passing. He is brought back inside for his assessment - once completed MacHo would become highly tense and begin to lip lick as handler would get close to clip their slip-lead, handler opts out and decides to place MacHo into their kennel and use a hook to remove. After the hook was used, the interaction was then ceased.

Date of intake:: 6/12/2026

Summary:: Fearful, lip licking, allowed all handling, growled at Milo (housemate)

Date of initial:: 6/12/2026

Summary:: Tense, remains frozen with tail tucked throughout exam and tasks.

ENERGY LEVEL:: Macho is described as medium energy. They will need daily mental and physical activity to keep them engaged and exercised. And we recommend using force-free, reward-based training techniques for them.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),No cats,Single-pet home,Recommend no dog parks,Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to fearful behavior and on leash reactivity we recommend an adult only home. No Cats: Due to growling, hard barking, lunging, and attempting to bite cats while on leash we recommend a home with no cats. Single Pet Home/ No Dog Parks: Due to fighting with the resident dog and hard barking, growling, and lunging towards unfamiliar dogs we recommend a single pet home with no trips to the dog park. We recommend placement with a New Hope rescue partner who is able to provide an experienced, adult-only foster home. Force-free, reward based training and/or consultation with a professional trainer/behaviorist is highly recommended.

Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Mouthiness/poor bite inhibition,Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Leash-biting,Bite history (dog)

Potential challenges comments:: Resource Guarding/Bite History (dog): Macho's previous owner states that he will escalate to growling and hard barking while in the possession of treats. They also stated that Macho will get into fights with the resident dog over resources. Nothing should ever be taken directly out of Macho's mouth, and any time something is removed they should be rewarded with a high value treat or toy. Please see handout on Resource Guarding. Mouthiness: Macho's previous owner states that he takes treats roughly. We recommend giving treats with a flat hand and to use force-free, reward-based training methods to teach Macho to take treats with a softer mouth. Please see handout on Mouthiness. Handling Sensitivity: Macho's previous owner states that he will snap when held, when his collar is touched, and when his paws are touched. It is also noted that he will bark and growl when pushed off furniture. Positive reinforcement, reward based training should be used to pair touch with good things such as food rewards in order to teach Macho to be more comfortable with this. Please see handout on Handling and Touch Sensitivity. Fearful Defensive: Macho's previous owner states that he will bark and growl when startled. While in care, Macho is observed to hard stare at handlers with a tense body. It is important to move slowly with Macho, to build positive associations (treats/toys/praise), and to allow them to initiate interactions with new people. They should never be forced to greet or to interact if they are not comfortable and soliciting attention. Please see handout on Fearful and Defensive Aggression. On Leash Reactivity: Macho's previous owner states that he will growl, hard bark, lunge, and attempt to bite dogs, cats, and strangers. Macho will need positive reinforcement, reward based training to teach them to look at you rather than dogs and other stimuli. We recommend a front clip harness to help manage this behavior. Please see handout on On Leash Reactivity and Barrier Frustration. Leash Biting: Macho's previous owner states that he will jump up and bite the leash during walks. We recommend walking them with a toy to dissuade them from grabbing the leash. Positive reinforcement, force-free training is advised to teach them to focus on you rather than grabbing the leash. Please see handout on Leash Manners.