Date of intake:: 3/15/2025

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner Surrender (10 months)

Previously lived with:: 2 adults, 1 child (9y/o)

Behavior toward strangers:: hard bark or actively avoid when strangers for visitors approach. After a few minutes he will be ou

Behavior toward children:: shy and hides at fist until introduce. He will become playful after warming up. play roughly

Behavior toward dogs:: hard bark and/or lunge at unfamiliar.

Behavior toward cats:: no experience

Resource guarding:: No known history of resource guarding.

Bite history:: No known reports of a bite history.

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Jaxson is reported to have a high energy level.

Other Notes:: Jaxson is known to be mouthy when his plays. He jumps up often or non-stop. Has general anxiety, shaking, and whining when left alone. He pulls hard on the leash during walks. Is known to be fearful of loud noises like fireworks, thunder and storms. Can get overly excited. Will bark when strangers approach, other dogs large or small, bikes/skateboard/motorcycles, cats and other small animals. Is not bothered when pushed/pull-off furniture is fearful when restrained, paws or collar is grabbed. Jaxson knows cues such as sit, paw, high-five, down, drop it, stay, wait, out, and move.

Date of assessment:: 3/18/2025

Summary:: 3/18/25: Jaxson is taken to the behavior office for a handling assessment he avoids the handlers in the room and displays a tense body with high hackles. The handler approaches and tosses treats which ignores and begins to huff at the handler sniffing their legs and begins to grumble. Jaxson remains tense body and begins to pace in the room. Due to this a handling assessment will not be conducted at this time. ***3//15/25: Once outside, Jaxson shows some anxiousness and will become tense and attempts backing out of lead. Handler coaxes Jaxson forward with a soft tone and he is lured forward. After a few feet, he begins backing out of lead again and thrashing. When a handler attempts to collar him for play group he begins to head whip. Jackso is given more time to decompression.***

Summary:: According to Jaxson's previous owner(s), he will hard bark and/or lunge at unfamiliar dogs. Has no experience with familiar dogs. 03/21/25: When off leash at the Care Center Jaxson is introduced to a novel male dog. At the gate Jaxon approaches with his ears back and a flagging tail. Jaxson is stiff as he scents the novel male. Jaxson offers a prey bow before displacement scenting and walking away. The novel male displays hackles as he grumbles at the gate. The novel male escalates to hard barking as he the handler attempts to guide him away he rushes the gate and continues hard barking. Both dogs are separated, ending the interaction. 03/16/25 Jaxson is introduced at the gate to a novel female dog while on leash at the care center. Due to Jaxson not allowing the handler to collar him, he is kept on lead. Jaxson can't focus, as he explores the pen displaying a muscular, tense frame and hard face. Jaxson will begin chattering after stumbling upon a certain smell. He will remain scenting one spot out of the pen, unwilling to approach the gate. Jaxson is aloof, ignoring the novel female dog as they remain self-present in their pen. Jaxson is returned to kennel, concluding the interaction.

Summary (6):: 3/27/25: Jaxson is sitting at the front of his kennel on his bed when approached and begins to stiffen and bark at the kennel glass when approached. Jaxson backs away for a second and begins to stare at the handler, and is leashed with treats to which he will sniff but no eat, which was enough for the handler to put the leash over his head. Jaxson when outside is heavily panting, pacing, darting around on leash and unable to settle and at loud sounds begins to pancake and scurry away. Jaxson will begin to eat treats that are tossed n the floor, and after his brief walk is returned to kennel with no issue. 03/27/25: Jaxson is observed to lunge at his kennel glass when staff pass his kennel. 03/26/25 (trainer note): Jaxson is sitting in the back of his kennel with a stiff body. Handler tosses treats towards him, which he eats. Handler continues to toss treats at shorter distances, so he comes closer to be leashed. When leashing is attempted, Jaxson ducks his head and retreats to the back of his kennel. Handler is able to lasso him and walked him to the behavior office while strongly pulling. When in the room, Jaxson stayed on leash and would frantically pace around and not settle. Handler would toss treats which he would eat but then immediately returned to pacing. Jaxson strongly pulled on his way back to kennel. 3/26: ACS staff report Jaxson is kennel fighting and is pancaking on walks. 3/22/25: ACS reports that Jaxson would become fearful of cars while on the walk.

Summary (7):: 3/21/25: Jaxson is standing at the front of his kennel when the handler approaches. Jaxson displayed dilated pupils, a stiff body and a tucked tail. Jaxon is leashed easily and brought out of his kennel where he pulls hard, hypervigilant and briefly stopping on walks refusing to walk. Jaxson is encouraged with brief leash pressure where he will begin to walk again up to the pens. Jaxson is brought to greet another dog (See Dog-Dog summary) and Jaxson is brought back to his kennel still pulling hard and avoiding handlers. 03/18/25: Jaxson is jumping up on the front of kennel panting heavily as handler approaches. Handler tosses treats to redirect him from the kennel door and he is leashed with ease. Jaxson pulls moderately to the Canine Behavior Office. He paces the room and maintains a tense frame throughout his time in the room. Handlers offer treats but he shows no interest. Jaxson becomes increasingly tense and will head whip and back away as handlers attempt to slowly collar him. Due to his discomfort, an assessment is not completed at this time. 03/15/25 (playgroup): Jaxson is standing at the front of kennel with a neutral frame as handler approaches. He begins jumping up onto the kennel door and is easily redirected with tossed treats. Jaxson is leashed with ease and pulls moderately out of the building. Once outside, Jaxson shows some anxiousness and will become tense and attempt backing out of lead. Handler coaxes Jaxson forward with a soft tone and he is lured forward. After a few feet, he begins backing out of lead again and thrashing. Handler loosens leash pressure, and he is lured forward again. Jaxson becomes tense and square when passing a dog in the play yard. He is walked to the back yard for playgroup (see Dog-Dog Summary for further details). Jaxson begins to fixate on urine spots and will lick them, hypersalivating as he does so. A second handler attempts to collar him twice, but Jaxson remains tense bodied and will head whip and back away to avoid collaring. On his way back to kennel, Jaxson maintains a square, tense frame and will fixate on the dog behind him, pulling hard and lunging forward. A second handler walks in front of Jaxson to distract him, and he will pull hard in their direction, attempting to jump up onto them. Jaxson is returned to kennel safely. 3/15: ACS reported to low growl when in the kennel and will retreat toward the back of his kennel. he was able to be leashed but remained fearful during the walks.

Date of intake:: 3/15/2025

Summary:: first saw staff he barked and gave a soft growl when entering but then warmed up fast. began to beco

Date of initial:: 3/15/2025

Summary:: VERY food motivated and easily distracted with treats

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Jaxson's potential challenges we recommend he is placed in an adult-only home at this time. Place with a New Hope partner: Jaxson was surrendered to the care center due to moving to a smaller space and barking at the other 2 small dogs in the home. Jaxson prior to home it is noted knows cues such as sit, paw, high-five, down, drop it, stay, wait, out, and move. He enjoys car rides and searching for toys that are hidden as a game. The previous owner loved when he gave "kisses" on command called Kissis. In the care center, he struggles to self-regulate, often jumping on the kennel door and panting heavily when approached. He has been observed pacing with a tense frame and showing no interest in treats when in a quieter setting. During walks, he has displayed anxiety, attempting to back out of his leash and thrashing. Due to this Jaxson would benefit from placement with a New Hope partner who can provide structured training, behavior modification, and a low-stress environment to help him build confidence.

Potential challenges: : Basic manners/poor impulse control,Social hyperarousal,Mouthiness/poor bite inhibition,Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful,Separation anxiety,Anxiety,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Strength/leash pulling

Potential challenges comments:: Social hyperarousal/Basic manners/poor impulse control/Mouthiness/poor bite inhibition: Jaxson frequently jumps up and is quite energetic. He has a tendency to be mouthy and plays in a rough manner. During intake, when Jaxson first encountered the staff, he barked and gave a soft growl upon entering but quickly warmed up once introduced. After spending some time in the room and receiving treats, Jaxson became aroused and mounted the staff twice, while owner directed him to stop. Throughout the interaction, Jaxson had a relaxed body and wagging tail. Please see the handout on Social hyperarousal/Basic manners/poor impulse control/Mouthiness/poor bite inhibition. Fearful/Handling/touch sensitivity: Is known to be fearful of loud noises like fireworks, thunder and storms.is fearful when restrained, paws or collar is grabbed. With stranger is reported to hard bark or actively avoid when strangers for visitors approach. After a few minutes, he will be outgoing and playful.Use positive reinforcement to build his confidence when restrained or when his paws and collar are touched. Approach him slowly and calmly, avoiding sudden movements that may startle him. Allow him to warm up to strangers at his own pace, rewarding him for calm behavior and interactions. Please see the handout on decompression period and Handling/touch sensitivity. Anxiety/Separation anxiety: In the prior home it was reported to have general anxiety, shaking, and whining when left alone. Provide engaging toys or puzzles to keep him occupied when alone, and use calming aids like pheromone diffusers or anxiety wraps if needed. Consistency and positive reinforcement are essential in helping Jaxson feel more comfortable when left alone. Please see one generalized anxiety and Separation anxiety. On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration: Jaxson Will bark when strangers approach, other dogs large or small, bikes/skateboard/motorcycles, cats and other small animals. Start at a distance where he notices the trigger but does not react, rewarding him for calm behavior. Gradually decrease the distance over time. Teach him alternative behaviors, such as focusing on you with cues like "look" or "watch me," and practice these in low-distraction environments first. Please see the handout on On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration. Strength/leash pulling: In the prior home Jaxson is note to pulls hard on the leash during walks. Reward him for walking calmly beside you without pulling, and practice loose-leash walking in low-distraction environments before gradually introducing more challenging settings. Please see the handout on Strength/leash pulling.