Date of intake:: 5/30/2026

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray; history unknown

Date of assessment:: 6/10/2026

Summary:: Atlas Axel has escalated to hard staring, charging the kennel door, and snapping after slamming into the kennel door. He dodges leashing and remains stressed. Due to his escalations a handling assessment is not conducted.

Summary:: Due to entering care as a stray, no prior dog-to-dog history is recorded. 06/20/26 Atlas is introduced to a novel male while off leash. He approaches the gate with a forward frame and elbows locked as he sniffs the male. Atlas will loosen slightly as the male solicits play at the gate. Atlas walks away and reapproaches to greet again.

Summary (6):: 6/18/26: Atlas Axel is standing at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He retreats to the back and grabs a toy as the handler unlocks the door. He then re-approaches the door and drops toy for treats. He would quickly eat the treats and back away as the handler attempts to leash him. He then approaches again and is able to be leashed as he quickly eats more treats. He then pulls hard on the way outside for a walk. On the walk, he pulls hard towards a ball that he finds on the ground and he picks it up and carries it to the yard. In the yard, he fins another ball and then grabs that one as well. He then lays down while chewing on the two toys. He then stands up when the handler goes to try to walk around and he becomes tense and begins to growl while hovering as he stared at the handler. The handler tosses treats and he has no interest. He then pulls to the exit gate and handler is able to exit the kennel. On the way back to the building, he accidently drops the toy balls and they begin to roll down the ramp. He begins to pull hard towards them to chase after them. The handler then exits outside of the ramp and walks down the side walk back to the building. Before entering, he notices the ball again and begins to pull towards it. Another handler nearby is able to pick it up before he enters the building. He then pulls hard on the way back to his kennel and quickly grabs the toy that is in kennel when he enters. He then drops the toy and grabs his bedding and flips it to the opposite side of his kennel. Then starts to move around his kuranda bed with his snout as the handler locks the door and walks away. 06/15/26: Atlas is laying down in the back of his kennel and gets up to approach the front, wagging his nub tail as the handler prepares to open the kennel and leash him. He gently accepts treats from the handler’s hand and allows himself to be leashed with ease. Atlas is then brought outside for a relief walk. While outside, he maintains a soft, neutral frame and walks on a loose leash alongside the handler. He relieves himself multiple times and spends the outing exploring the neighborhood, taking in scents from the grass and trees. When the walk is complete, Atlas is brought back to his kennel safely without any issues.

Summary (7):: 6/14 (PM): ACS staff report that when they approached Atlas Axel's kennel, he was quiet. Upon opening the kennel door and placing the lead inside, Atlas charges, slamming into the kennel door and snapping at their lead. Due to his intensity, they lock the kennel door and give him some time to settle before making another attempt. After about 10-15 minutes, the ACS attempts to offer Atlas Axel treats and toys to coax him while attempting to leash, but he displays the aforementioned behaviors. Due to this, they are unable to remove him from the kennel. Later on in the night (a few hours later), another ACS attempts to leash Atlas. He is able to be leashed but when returning inside from his walk, Atlas begins balking. Once back in his kennel, Atlas begins lunging and hitting the kennel door. 6/8/26: Atlas Axel is standing at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He is able to be leashed with ease and he then pulls hard on the way outside for a walk. On the walk, he continues to pull hard towards would towards trees to mark his territory. He has no reactions to dogs or people and has no interest in treats. He pulls hard on the way back to his kennel and has to be muscled inside due to not wanting to go back in. 6/7/26: Atlas Axel is standing at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He is able to be leashed with ease and he then pulls hard on the way outside for a walk. On the walk, has a neutral body frame as he walks next to the handler. He would pull hard towards trees to mark his territory. He has no reactions to dogs or people and has no interest in treats. He pulls hard on the way back to his kennel and has to be muscled inside due to not wanting to go back in. 6/4/26: Atlas Axel was at front of kennel with a neutral body as handler approached. Atlas is very leash avoidant and was not interested in treats. Handler was finally able to leash him as he started to push on kennel door. He was taken for a street walk. While on walk he walked next to handler occasionally pulling moderately. He stopped to sniff and investigate several times. He was returned to kennel with no issue. 06/01/26: Atlas Axel is laying down in the back of his kennel and initially remains there while hard staring at the handler with visible whale eye as the handler speaks softly to him. Atlas then suddenly jumps up and charges toward the front of the kennel, colliding with the gate and snapping. He continues to avoid the leash as handler attempt to leash him, Handlers offer treats and high value food items in an attempt to coax him forward but Atlas remains avoidant. Due to his continued avoidance, handler utilize a lasso technique, which successfully allows him to be leashed on the first attempt. Once leashed, Atlas is brought out and taken for his walk without any further issues.

Date of initial:: 5/30/2026

Summary:: tense, growling and hard staring in crate, sedated due to behavior

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),Recommend no dog parks,Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to the behaviors observed during his stay in care, we recommend that Atlas Axel be placed in an adult-only home. Place with a New Hope partner: Atlas Axel has not acclimated well to the kennel environment and has allowed only minimal handling since intake. We recommend placement with a New Hope partner who can provide any necessary behavior modification (force-free, positive reinforcement-based) and re-evaluate behavior in a stable home environment before placement into a permanent home. Recommend No Dog Parks: Due to the concerning behaviors that Atlas Axel has shown during playgroup (see DOG-DOG SUMMARY), we feel that he should not visit dog parks. The Behavior Department recommends that he be socialized in a more controlled setting until his behavior towards other dogs can be further addressed. Reward-based, force-free training can be utilized to help Atlas Axel associate dogs with things he enjoys like toys or treats.

Potential challenges: : Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression

Potential challenges comments:: Handling/touch sensitivity | Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Atlas Axel is noted to whale eye, hard stare, and charge at handlers while in his kennel. When attempting to leash him, he dodges the lead. During his medical exam, he escalated to growling and hard staring in his crate, prompting the need for sedation for him to be safely removed. Please see handouts on Handling/touch sensitivity & Fearful/potential for defensive aggression.