Date of intake:: 6/10/2025

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray( Limited History)

Date of assessment:: 6/12/2025

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: loose Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: None Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Anxious-Paces in the room, heavy panting, whining Call over: readily approaches- tucked tail, heavy panting, pacing, allows petting Sociability comments: Handling Soft handling: Allowed- leans, heavy panting, whining Exuberant handling: Allowed- leans, heavy panting, whining Handling comments: Arousal Jog: Follow- tucked tail, heavy panting, whale eyes Arousal comments: Knock: No response Knock Comments: Toy: No response Toy comments: **6/11/25: Due to not receiving vaccinations, a handling assessment will not be conducted at this time.***

Summary:: Due to Mints entering the facility as a stray, there is no prior dog-to-dog history recorded. 08/04/25 Mints is introduced at the gate to novel male dog while off-leash at the care center. Mints will approach the gate on the first interaction with a soft, wiggly frame. As the novel male dog approaches the gate barking hard with a tense frame, Mints does not react. When greeting each other once the gate was opened, both dogs walked around the pens by their handlers as a precaution. Mints quickly becomes frustrated, but when attempting to separate Mints and the other male, Mints begins thrashing as a handler maneuvers him out of the pen. 07/28/25 Mints is introduced face-to-face to a small mixed breed male dog while on leash at the care center. Mints watches the small mixed breed dog enter the pen, displaying a loose, wiggly frame, panting heavily, appearing slightly aroused. This makes the small mixed breed dog nervous, displaying a tucked tail, whale eyes and a stiff posture. Initially the small mixed breed dog creates distance, attempting to get as far away from Mints as possible, while Mints continues to pull in the small mixed breed dog's direction, hyper-salivating and panting heavily, with wide dilated eyes. The small mixed breed dog will hide behind their handler while Mints begins thrashing on lead due to not being allowed within the vicinity of the small mixed breed dog. Mints does not pick up on the small mixed breed's discomfort as they display social cues indicating said discomfort. The small mixed breed reaches their threshold, hard barking at Mints at this point and must be moved away from Mints. As the handler pulls Mints away to create space, he begins to thrash again, attempting to pull towards the small mixed breed dog. The small mixed breed dog is returned to kennel, followed by Mints, concluding the interaction.

Summary (1):: 07/21/25 Mints is introduced at the gate to a novel male dog while off leash at the care center. Mints approaches the gate with a soft, wiggly frame, offering bounces along the gate line, as the novel male dog approaches the gate neutrally. The novel male dog will appear conflicted as Mints solicits play, panting along the gate line while Mints remains soft and wiggly. Both dogs will stand adjacent form each other and scent each other through the gate. Mints will muzzle lick the novel male dog through the gate, making the novel male dog uncomfortable. The novel male dog will begin to growl at Mints and is moved away from the gate as Mints remains at the gate maintaining a wiggly frame. Mints is introduced initially at the gate to another novel male dog while off leash at the care center which will later become a face-to-face interaction. As Mints initially approaches the gate, he maintains a soft, wiggly frame while the novel male dog will approach the gate the same way. As they mirror each other's movements offering bounces and play bows along the gate line, soliciting play, the handler will move Mints to the back of his pen in order to allow the novel male dog in to greet him face-to-face. Mints will immediately pull towards the novel male dog, remaining soft and wiggly but makes the novel male dog uncomfortable as they start to create space from Mints. Mints doesn't pick up on the social cue being displayed by the novel male dog and is excessive, attempting to scent the novel male dog's genitals. The novel male dog will continue to move away from Mints, blocking their genitals until he becomes frustrated with Mints, growing tense in frame. As Mints attempts to mount the novel male dog, the novel male dog becomes frustrated whipping around and snarling at Mints. Mints still doesn't pick up on the social cues being displayed and will pull and thrash, attempting to make contact with the novel male dg. Mints is moved away as the novel male dg is escorted into his pen in order to decompress. Mints is returned to kennel, concluding the interaction. 06/13/25: While off-leash at the Care Center, Mints is introduced to a novel female dog. He approaches the gate with a soft, relaxed posture. Both dogs engage in mutual scenting through the gate. Mints begins to whine and display lip licking, while the novel female responds with chattering and play bows. As the interaction continues, Mints appears to grow increasingly frustrated, with his whining intensifying. The novel female mirrors this behavior, beginning to whine as well, indicating conflict on both sides. The dogs are then separated, concluding the interaction

Summary (6):: 08/05/25 (playgroup): Mints is lying at the front of kennel with a neutral frame as handler approaches. He is leashed with ease and pulls mildly to the yard for playgroup (see Dog-to-Dog Summary for further details). During face-to-face interaction, Mints becomes frustrated on lead and begins to thrash as handlers separate both dogs to give them a moment to decompress. Mints continues to thrash and attempt to back out of lead, so he is moved to the next yard over and will settle momentarily as handler kneels down. He allows handler to fasten their leash into a rope harness and as handler coaxes him forward to exit the yard, he begins to thrash again. Handler uses moderate leash pressure to quickly guide him out of the yard. When Mints notices another dog at the end of the hallway, he becomes frustrated again and will vocalize and pull towards the other dog. He is guided away with moderate leash pressure and is returned to kennel safely. 7/29/25: Mints had recently returned from a walk and was resting on floor of kennel when handler approached. He was leashed with ease and waited patiently to come out of kennel until dog traffic had passed. Mints walked with some pulling on the way to the yard where he was clipped to a drag leash. Mints spent time scenting and marking. He seemed curious about the pool but only stuck his nose in to have a drink. Mints had frequent, short bursts of zoomies. At times he seemed to be soliciting play with handler this way. Mints became wiggly when pet and leaned into handler. He pulled harder on the way back to kennel, however the ground may have been hot outside. He walked back into kennel and immediately engaged with the paper bag puzzle enrichment waiting for him. 7/23/25: Mints is observed to reach the corner of the sidewalk with an ACS staff members, and once reaching the corner will thrash and begin to try and back out of his leash. Mints walks back normally towards the care center.

Summary (7):: 7/19/25: Mints is at the front of his kennel with a loose body, and is easily leashed to be brought out for a walk. Mints on the walk will explore his surroundings, jump on the handler in a social manner and lean into contact. Mints does not react to any dogs that pass him while on the walk, and pulls mildly marking spots, and exploring the sidewalk. Mints will thrash a bit going into kennel, but otherwise is easily placed into kennel without any issue. 06/25/25 Mints is standing in front of his kennel with a loose body, toe-tapping in the process. Mints is easily leashed as he remains in front of his kennel. He is taken out for a walk. Mints maintains his loose frame as he jumps and spins while on leash, displaying exuberant energy. Mints pants heavily while slightly pulling on leash. Due to weather conditions, his walk is cut short, and he is returned to the facility. Mints will enter the facility as well as his kennel with no issue. 6/22: ACS staff report Mints pancaking and refusing to move, once reaching the top of the street for a walk. 06/13/25 (playgroup): Mints is standing at the front of kennel with a neutral frame as handler approaches. He is leashed with ease and walks with a slightly tense frame out to the yard for playgroup (see Dog-to-Dog Summary for further details). Mints allows handler to slowly clip his collar and spends time scenting along the yard. He will approach handler when called and accepts brief petting along his hind end with a neutral frame. After his session, Mints is returned to kennel safely. 6/12/25: Mints was standing at front of kennel, panting with a flushed face. He was leashed with ease and walked to the BA room for his assessment. Mints displayed exit seeking behavior with occasional whining and was unable to settle in place. Mints displayed conflicted behavior by jumping up on handlers' laps to solicit contact but appearing uneasy with touch. Mints walked back towards kennel room where he got startled by other dogs barking and began to pull back on leash, flailing. Handler backtracked a few steps to increase distance from the trigger and gave him a moment. His leash was clipped to a figure 8 and he was returned to kennel without issue. He remained at front of kennel, panting. Handler covered his kennel for his comfort.

Date of intake:: 6/10/2025

Date of initial:: 6/11/2025

Summary:: fearful, tail tucked, allowed gentle handling

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: Level 3

Recommendations:: No children (under 13)

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Mint's fearful behaviors, we recommend he is placed in a home with No children (under 13).

Potential challenges: : Fearful,Anxiety

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful/Anxiety: At the care center, Mints has exhibited signs of anxiety, including panting, a tucked tail, whining, and pacing within the behavior office. Training should focus on creating a calm, predictable routine, using gentle handling, and reinforcing relaxed behavior to help him feel more secure and reduce anxiety over time. Please see the handout on the decompression period/ generalized anxiety.