Date of intake:: 3/17/2025

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray, No known history

Other Notes:: *Previous assessments can be given upon request*

Date of assessment:: 7/8/2025

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Moderate Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: Inconclusive Leash walking comments: Reluctant to go to the street, pulls back to the shelter Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Distracted Call over: No approach Sociability comments: Sniffing around the room, mouths handlers hands with light pressure Soft handling: Over aroused Exuberant handling: Over aroused Comments: Begins head whipping back and forth with an open mouth Arousal Jog comments: Follows handler readily Knock Knock comments: Approaches handler readily, mouths hand Toy Toy comments: Sniffs toy, mouthes the assess-a-hand with hard pressure three times

Summary:: 3/26/25: Dig Dug greets another dog at the gate with a soft body. Off leash, he engages in soft play, playbowing and bouncing around. 4/1/25: Dig Dug greets another dog at the gate with a loose and wiggly body. However, once off leash, he jumps up, standing on his hind legs, paws around the other dog who is also standing on their hind legs and Dig Dug growls and shows teeth.

Summary (3):: 7/10/25: Dig Dug is reported to be mouthy with the leash in the yard. 7/8/25: LATE ENTRY: Dig Dug is at the front of the kennel with a loose and wiggly body and a wagging tail, he is easily leashed and pulls hard out of the room. Handler's leash is clipped to his harness, he briefly turns his head towards the handler's hand as the slip leash is removed around his neck. He is brought to the elevator where he sits down at the handler's feet and takes treats gently. Dig Dug occasionally nudges the handler's hand, slightly nibbling it. Handler opens their hand and Dig Dug stops. He is walked to the driveway where he begins to walk slowly behind the handler. Handler tosses treats and he walks forward before attempting to retreat. Handler tosses treats again and he chases after them. Handler walks with Dig Dug a short distance before he is brought to the assessment room. His collar is clipped and he briefly head whips. After he is easily re-leashed and returned to kennel without issue. 7/9/25: ACS report that Dig Dug was jumping up and biting the leash in the yard. This behavior was able to be redirected using treats. 7/8/25: ACS reported that Dig Dug was pulling towards a staff members with an open mouth. Noted to be in a manner that he was attempting to mouth them.

Summary (4):: 7/6/25: Dig Dug is at the front of the kennel with a loose and wiggly body. Easily leashed and pulls very hard out of the room. Handler scatters treats and clips their leash to his harness. He is brought towards the stairs where he plants and refuses to move forward. Handler brings him to the elevator and he sits by their feet taking treats. Dig Dug is brought to the driveway and as they approach the street he begins to slow down. Handler tosses treats and as they approach the street and wait to cross a car passes and he quickly pulls back. Handler continues to feed him treats off to the side. They approach the street again to cross and as more cars pass Dig Dug pulls away. Dig Dug is pulled back to the shelter and he is then brought to the backyard. He is walked around the perimeter sniffing around and ignoring dogs that are in the passing pens. He is then walked back to his kennel and returned without issue. 6/29/25 (Trainer Note): Dig Dug is laying down on his kuranda as handler approaches. He comes to the front and is easily leashed using a treat as a lure. He is brought out to the street for brief training session. When walking over the threshold he quickly retreats with a low body. Handler uses baby voice and treats to coax him forward. Once crossing the street handler begins to place treats on the floor in a zig zag manner, in order for Dig Dug to engage with his surroundings. He was engaged but would occasionally quickly look up and dart his head in the direction of the care centers. Handler solely stuck to a small part of the sidewalk and focused on walking back and forth whilst doing the same thing as mentioned above. Handler then proceeds to being the '1,2,3' pattern game which Dig Dug is receptive and engaged with. He remains soft bodied with a relaxed tail wag as he walks along side handler. He is returned to his kennel without issue and given in kennel enrichment. 6/22/25 (Trainer Note): Dig Dug is standing at the front of kennel with a neutral body as handler approaches. He is leashed using a treat as a lure and removed from room. When approaching the stairs he hesitates and retreats quickly. Handler has to slowly coax him using baby voice, treats, and crouching down. Once on the street he relieves himself. He appears slightly frantic, pacing and pulling very hard back to care centers. Handler continues training and confidence building. He engages in the 1,2,3 pattern game and remains engaged and receptive. Dig Dug is able to make it all the way down the street and back, maintaining his attention on handler for the most part, and engaged with both handler and his surroundings. He does not react to people or dogs passing by. When in the yard, Dig Dug plays in the pool and remains near handler. He sits without being prompted and is rewarded. Dig Dug is returned to his kennel without issue.

Summary (5):: 6/15/25 (Trainer Note): Dig Dug is at the front of kennel with a loose and wiggly body as handler approaches. He is easily leashed and removed from kennel. When reaching the stairs he quickly retreats and hesitates, handler opts out and takes elevator instead due to high traffic in the hallway. Once reaching the driveway he begins to pull back to care centers. Handler uses baby voice and treats to coax him forward, this continued throughout walk. Handler begins to play a pattern game and Dig Dug is engaged and receptive. Instead of pulling back to shelter he is engaging both with handler and his environment, maintaining a very loose and wiggly body with a relaxed tail wag. However, once he the pattern games cease, he becomes more frantic, pacing and pulling back very hard to shelter. Handler takes him to the play yard. He relieves himself and leans into handlers shins for pets. A couple more pattern games are played and he is returned to kennel without issue. 6/15/25: It is reported on the whiteboard that Dig Dug refuses to continue walking on the street. 6/9/25 (late entry)- Dig dug is at the front of his kennel with a loose and wiggly body, he is easily leashed. While in the elevator handler tossed treats on the ground and as Dig dug handler leashed his harness. He was taken for a street walk, he walks on a loose leash next to handler and slightly behind. He has no reaction to people passing or seeing other dogs. When walking further from the building Dig dug looks around with a low body and head, at moments planting. Handler would toss treats ahead and he would run forward to eat them. Handler would have to continuously toss treats ahead to encourage him to keep going forward. When crossing the street Dig dug has a moderate pull looking around. Once on a quieter street he walks again on a loose leash, handler continuously rewards when called and check ins with handler. When returning to the building Dig dug starts to pull hard and handler tries to do check ins but he keeps pulling back to the building while being aloof to handler. Handler is able to unclip his harness and releash with a slip lead. He is returned to kennel without issue.

Summary (6):: 6/7/25: while training a level 2 volunteer dig dug was easy to leash, pulled moderately during the walk and was mouthy with focus on hands. this behavior was redirected with treats. he had a loose body language with loose tail wags and open panting mouth. Dig dug mouthed staff handlers pointer finger and held onto their finger with moderate pressure. no skin broken. 5/27/25: It is reported on the behavior board that Dig Dug lunged towards a stranger when being walked on the street. 5/25/25: Dig Dug is at the front of the kennel with a loose and wiggly body and fast wagging tail. He is pawing at the door as the kennel is being unlocked. Dig Dug is easily leashed and pulls hard out of the room. He is taken to the street and the leash is attached to his harness. Dig Dug takes treats firmly and walks with a loose leash on the harness. He pulls moderately towards places to sniff and relieves himself. Dig Dug is then returned to the shelter and begins pulling hard in the building. He pulls hard back to kennel and returned to kennel without issue. 4/27/25: Dig Dug is at the front with a tense body and wagging tail. He is easily leashed and pulls hard out of the room, pulling behind the handler towards the passing kennels. He is switched to the harness, as the leash is removed from his head he begins head whipping and shaking his head rapidly. Handler goes slowly and leash is easily removed. He is taken to the street where he walks beside the handler pulling mildly. He will baulk and stop moving but treats are tossed to encourage him to walk. He chases after the dog treats to eat them, pulling hard. He stops to sniff and relieve himself. Dig Dug passes by people and other stimuli with no reaction. He is walked back to the shelter where he starts to pull more. Treats are used place the slip lead on him from his harness. Dig Dug is returned to kennel without issue.

Summary (7):: 4/26/25: It was reported by staff that when switching from clipping Dig Dug's harness to placing the slip lead around his neck, Dig Dug began leash biting at a high intensity and could not be directed with toys or treats. 4/13/25: Dig Dug is sitting on his bed when handler approaches. He gets off the bed and approaches the front with a soft body and wagging tail. He is barking. Dig Dug was easily leashed and taken to the street. The harness was clipped and he would pull moderately. Dig Dug stops walking to sniff his surroundings. Handler tosses treats encouraged him to continue walking. He eats the treats and walks beside the handler. Dig Dug relieves himself. He sees a dog on the street and stares at them with a tense body but is easily refocuses with treats. After sometime Dig Dug is brought back into the shelter and returned to kennel without issue. 4/7/25: Dig Dug is whining in his crate when he hears me arrive to the admissions office in the AM. He begins barking as I remove the linen from the top of his crate. He is removed and spends a few moments sniffing the ground and eating up stray pieces of kibble. A double leash is clipped to his harness with ease, his body loose/wiggling. He is walked on the street, pulling mildly throughout the walk. He stops to drink up each puddle we pass, but is fairly easily redirected by tossing a treat and increasing tension on the leash mildly. He shakes the rain off his body every few moments, and puts the brakes on every so often as I try to continue on our walk. I use baby talk and he continues walking. Once he's fully relieved himself, we turn around to head back to MACC. He pulls moderately harder towards MACC. He pulls hard once his crate is in sight, but is returned to crate without issue. 4/6/25: Dig Dug is sitting up in his crate with a soft body and face. He is taken out and staff are able to place a freedom harness on him with ease. A double leash is clipped with no issues and he is walked to the backyard, where he relieves himself. He sniffs around for a few moments before approaching me with a loose body and relaxed face. I offer treats, which he repeatedly sits and waits for. Gently accepts a toy into his mouth when offered, and plays on his own before focusing in on me again, sitting for more treats. I toss the toy into the air a few times, and each time he plays bows before jumping up to catch the toy and shake it around on his own. After each play session, he returns his attention to me, sitting and seeking treats. He pulls moderately hard through the hallways before pulling very hard towards his crate, but is otherwise returned to his pop-up crate with no issues. *** DUE TO LACK OF SPACE, PREVIOUS ENRICHMENT NOTES CAN BE GIVEN UPON REQUEST ***

Date of intake:: 3/17/2025

Summary:: Loose wiggly body

Date of initial:: 3/17/2025

Summary:: Moves open mouth towards staff hand during head exam

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Dig Dug so we cannot be certain of their behavior in a home environment. However, they will need daily mental and physical activity to stay engaged and exercised. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in additional to physical exercise, to positively direct their energy and enthusiasm.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: Level 4

Recommendations:: No children (under 13)

Recommendations comments:: No young children (under 13): Due to handling sensitivity and mouthy behavior we recommend a home with no children.

Potential challenges: : Mouthiness/poor bite inhibition,Handling/touch sensitivity,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Leash-biting,Low threshold for arousal

Potential challenges comments:: Mouthiness: Dig Dug has been observed to jump up and mouth handlers hands. During one occasion Dig Dug mouthed and handlers finger and held. Treats had to be tosses to get Dig Dug to let go. We recommend never playing with bare hands, always with a toy, and ending play or attention whenever Dig Dug puts teeth on skin. They should be rewarded with attention and treats when they stop and/or when they are seeking attention in alternate ways. Please see handout on Mouthiness. Handling Sensitivity: During his medical exam, Dig dug moved his open mouth towards the staff members hand during the head exam. Positive reinforcement, reward based training should be used to pair touch with good things such as food rewards in order to teach Dig Dug to be more comfortable with this. Please see handout on Handling and Touch Sensitivity. Leash Biting: Dig has been observed to jump up and bite the leash, this behavior was able to be redirected using treats. 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. On Leash Reactivity: Dig Dug has been observed to lunge towards a member of the public while on the street. DOG will need positive reinforcement, reward based training to teach them to look at you rather than other people. We recommend a front clip harness to help manage this behavior. Please see handout on On Leash Reactivity and Barrier Frustration. Arousal: During his assessment Dig Dug was observed to headwhip with an open mouth during the contact portion of the assessment. Dig Dug should be rewarded with treats when calm. If they escalate to jumping or mouthing, people should immediately walk away from and separate themselves from Dig Dug. Please see handout on Arousal.