Date of intake:: 4/17/2025

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

Previously lived with:: 3 Adults, 3 children (2 month old, 8 y/o, and 14 y/o, 1 small dog

Behavior toward strangers:: Rapalo will bark and growl at strangers and will actively avoid them.

Behavior toward children:: Rapalo was in a home with children. Rapalo was noted to be tolerant, playful, friendly, and outgoing

Behavior toward dogs:: Rapalo will actively avoid unfamiliar dogs on or off leash.

Behavior toward cats:: No experience

Resource guarding:: The owner never attempted to take anything from the dog's procession.

Bite history:: No bite history

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: High

Other Notes:: During walks, Rapalo will bark at large dogs and strangers who approach the family. Rapalo isn't bothered when held/restrained, disturbed while sleeping, startled, pushed/pulled off furniture, feet/paws touched, or when his collar is grabbed. Rapalo is a social, affectionate, active, playful, and independent dog. Rapalo would spend most of his time in the living room, where people are, and in a crate for 2 hours. Rapalo allows the family to bathe him and trim his nails. Rapalo will mildly pull while on the leash and is used to 20 min walks 2 times a day. Rapalo is crate trained and does well for 5 hours. Rapalo does not enjoy getting into a car. Rapalo does not know any commands. The owner never trained him to learn commands. The owner stated their favorite thing about Rapalo is that he is loving and loves to play. Rapalo loves to jump around, likes to go to the park, loves Vienna sausages, and Cesar dog food.

Date of assessment:: 4/21/2025

Summary:: 4/21/2025: Due to Rapalo's fearfulness and sensitivity to some handling, a handling assessment will not be conducted at this time.

Summary (6):: 4/29/25: Rapalo's behavior in care remains the same. He is consistently not eating his meals or taking his medication. 4/28/25: Rapalo is resting at the back of his kennel, displaying a calm demeanor as the handler approaches. He slowly comes forward and is easily leashed, allowing himself to be gently carried to the behavior office. Once in the room, Rapalo engages with the handler, seeking attention by leaning in and softly licking their hands. While he is social, After his session, he is carefully picked up and returned to his kennel without issue. 04/27/25: Rapalo's behavior remains consistent with note from 04/26/25. He is social with familiar handlers throughout his time in the room and is low energy, appearing to be under the weather. 04/26/25: Rapalo is lying at the back of kennel with a soft frame as handler approaches. He comes forward and is easily leashed and is carried to the Live Room. Rapalo is social with handler throughout his time in the room and will lean into handler to solicit petting and licks their hands. Rapalo appears to be under the weather and is less energetic than usual. After his session, he is picked up and returned to kennel safely. 4/24/25: Rapalo was out for his PM walk with a staff member when he began to slip out of his collar, and get loose from a staff member. The staff member was able to corner Rapalo and he began to snap at them when attempted to be picked up. Rapalo was covered with a towel by another staff member and brought back into his kennel.

Summary (7):: 4/24/25: Rapalo is laying down on his bed as handler approaches his kennel. He then begins to walk back and forth between both sides of his kennel as the handler unlocks the door. The handler offers him treats and he smells them but doesn’t eat them. He then approaches the front and would retreat when the handler presented the drag leash. After retreating a few more times, he was comfortable as with allowing the handler to clip him and pick him up. He was then carried to the behavior room. In the room, he had a loose and wiggly body and would jump up on the handlers. He would prance around to explore. When the handler tries to pick him up he lays flat to the ground due to not wanting to leave. The handler then grabs the drag leash and walks him back to kennel. He was comfortable being picked up to go back into kennel with no issue. 04/19/25: Rapalo is standing at the front of kennel with a loose frame as handler approaches. He will pace back and forth at the kennel door and attempts to exit kennel as the door is cracked open. Rapalo is leashed with ease and once the lead tightens around his neck, he begins to thrash and alligator roll. Handler gives him a few seconds to decompress and then quickly picks him up, carrying him to the Canine Behavior Office. Once in the office, Rapalo settles and begins exploring the room. He will place his front paws onto handler's legs and accept petting with a light frame. Handler pats on the couch next to them and Rapalo will readily jump up, climbing into handler's lap. He is slowly collared, clipped to a drag lead, and free to explore the space. Rapalo becomes loose and wiggly and rubs into handler to solicit petting. After his session, he is carried back to kennel, returning safely. 04/18/25: Rapalo is sitting in the middle of kennel with a neutral frame as handler approaches. He comes to the front of the kennel door as handler unlocks it but will retreat once door is open. Rapalo stands on the other side of his kennel and will sniff treats that handler tosses to him but does not come forward. Handler spends time talking to him with a soft tone and luring him forward. A second handler unlocks the other side of Rapalo's kennel and attempts to leash him. Rapalo will dodge the lead but handler is able to drop the lead over his head. Rapalo is avoidant of handler picking him up and will continue to dodge them for a minute before being picked up and carried to the Canine Behavior Office. Rapalo is switched to a drag with a stopper and is free to explore the space. He spends time exploring the room and will place his front paws on handler's legs to solicit attention. Rapalo will accept light petting along his sides but shows conflicted behavior, becoming slightly tense and whale eyeing. After his session, handler picks him up with a towel and he is returned to kennel safely.

Date of intake:: 4/17/2025

Summary:: Rapalo had a tense body and would actively avoid staff

Date of initial:: 4/18/2025

Summary:: Barking and jumping in cage, panting, avoids eye contact, growls

ENERGY LEVEL:: Rapalo is described as active and enthusiastic. He will need daily mental and physical activity to keep him engaged and exercised. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in addition to physical exercise, to positively direct his energy and enthusiasm. We recommend feeding with puzzle feeders and food-dispensing toys. And we recommend only force-free, reward-based training techniques for Rapalo.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Rapalo's fearfulness in care, we recommend he goes to an adult-only home. Place with a New Hope partner: Due to Rapalo's fearfulness in care, we recommend he is placed with one of our New Hope Partners.

Potential challenges: : Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Anxiety,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration

Potential challenges comments:: Handling/touch sensitivity/Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: In care Rapalo has been a bit uncomfortable with handling, and has escalated to growling and snapping at staff when attempted to be handled. Signs of discomfort must be respected; Rapalo should never be forced to interact, and he should always be given the opportunity to walk away from situations or people he finds uncomfortable. We recommend a slow approach, and we recommend ONLY force-free, reward-based training methods for Rapalo. More aversive techniques are likely to increase fear, increase the risk of aggression, and decrease Rapalo's quality of life. Anxiety: Rapalo is a bit anxious in care the care center. We recommend long walks and puzzle toys to help alleviate his anxiety. See handout on Generalized Anxiety. On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration: In his previous home, Rapalo was observed to react to other dogs while on leash—lunging towards them, barking, and growling. Rapalo may benefit from positive reinforcement, reward-based training to help him learn to focus on his handler rather than other dogs. We recommend using a front-clip harness or head halter to help manage this behavior.