Date of intake:: 1/11/2025

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Date of assessment:: 1/14/2025

Summary:: During his stay in the care center Tommy has been observed to quickly escalate to hard barking, baring teeth, snarling, snapping, and muzzle punching the kennel door. When handlers offer treats Tommy is receptive and will take them with a soft mouth. Then he will resume the prior behavior. Due to the detailed behaviors a handling assessment will not be conducted at this time.

Summary (6):: 1/21/25: Tommy is at the front of the kennel when handlers approach. He has a neutral body and soft wagging tail. Tommy dodges the leash and handlers use treats to guide his head through the loop. He is double leashed for safety. In the kennel room Tommy pulls towards the other dogs with a tense body. Tommy scrambles forward in a swimming motion while walking to the yard. Once outside Tommy quickly relieves himself, and he pulls hard towards smells. In the pen Tommy frantically pulls around the yard and turns in circles. He is selective when taking treats and does not take them consistently. For a moment Tommy jumps up on the bench and stands on his hind legs. He begins sniffing along the top of the fence, he makes a motions as if to jump and the handlers call him away. When another staff member pauses near the pen, Tommy becomes tense and makes a huffing sounds repeatedly. This behavior is not able to be redirected until the staff member moves further away. When returning to kennel Tommy pulls very hard towards the other dogs in the kennel room. When Tommy is about to reenter his kennel he lunges towards the neighboring dog with a tense body. Tommy has to be muscled into kennel. 1/20/25: Tommy is standing at the front of kennel with a neutral body as handler approaches. He begins to very slowly wag his tail, in a flagging manner (displaying FAS). He whale eyes up at handler and closes his mouth as handler reaches hand out towards kennel bars. He does not sniff, becomes stiff, ceases tail wag, and continues whale eyeing up. Tommy begins to bark, but stops when handler offers treats. He takes treats gently through the bars. He shakes off, stretches whilst yawning, and his body frame becomes softer with a relaxed tail wag. He is given a frozen peanut butter enrichment, and he engages with it as handler ends interaction.

Summary (7):: 1/13/25( PM): Tommy is laying at the front of the kennel when handlers approach. Tommy begins hard staring at the handler. Tommy immediately muzzle punches the kennel door and begins hard barking, baring teeth, and snapping. When handler speaks in a soft tone, Tommy continues the same behavior. handlers end interaction due to FAS. 1/13/25: Tommy is laying down at the front of kennel with a neutral body as handler approaches. He begins to low growl and hard stare the longer the handler lingers. Handler uses baby voice and kisses, Tommy springs to his feet with a very tense body, whale eyeing, growling. Handler extends hand to kennel bars and Tommy begins growl louder, snarl, bare teeth, and escalates to muzzle punching to bars multiple times. As handler goes to "unlock" the door Tommy lunges for handlers hand. Handler aborts interaction and tosses some treats into his kennel. 1/12/25: Tommy was left in an airline crate in the behavior office due to intake behavior (growling, snapping, and snarling). When approached Tommy shows whale eye and begins hard barking towards the handler. Handler offers a treat and Tommy is receptive, quickly taking the treat with a soft mouth. Once tommy is finished with the treats he begins baring teeth, snapping and hard barking loudly at the handler. Handler offers another treats, tommy is receptive. Handler turns away and Tommy muzzle punches the crate door. Handler ends interaction to lower FAS.

Date of intake:: 1/11/2025

Summary:: Growling, snapping and snarling

Date of initial:: 1/12/2025

Summary:: Accepts cheese but snaps/lunges/hard barks as soon as food reward is removed. Opted to sedate

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Tommy 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:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to defensive behavior such as muzzle punching, snapping and snarling we recommend a home with no children. 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: : Fearful/potential for defensive aggression

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful Defensive: During intake Tommy was observed to hard bark, snap and snarl towards handlers. During his stay Tommy has been observed to escalate to muzzle punching the kennel door while baring teeth and snarling. Guidance from a professional trainer/behaviorist is recommended to assess behavior after decompression in a new home environment. Force-free, reward based training is advised when introducing or exposing Tommy to new and unfamiliar situations. Please see handout on Fearful and Defensive Aggression.