Date of intake:: 4/9/2025

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray (No Known History)

Date of assessment:: 4/12/2025

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Did not conduct Reactivity to humans: Reactivity to dogs: Leash walking comments: Refused walk due to fearfulness, initially walks forward out of building, tense bodied and retreats back inside. Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Moderately social Call over: Approaches with coaxing Sociability comments: Initially unresponsive when called and offered treats, eventually accepts treats from handler Soft handling: Accepts contact Exuberant handling: Tolerates contact Comments: Turns head toward handler for exuberant handling Arousal Jog comments: Follows, neutral bodied Knock Knock comments: No response Toy Toy comments: Hovers, tenses up briefly but softens and relinquishes.

Summary:: 4/15/25: Blaze greets another dog at the gate with a loose and wiggly body. She play bows and is bouncy. OFf leash, she remains loose and wiggly but when the other dog is exuberant, she offers appeasement behaviors such as showing belly.

Summary (5):: 4/20/25: It was noted on the whiteboard that Blaze refused her third walk the night before. 4/16/25: ACS report that Blaze is charging the front of the kennel and snapping at handlers. After a few attempts at leashing they came back to report that they were able to get Blaze out of kennel. 4/13/25: Blaze is curled up and sleeping in the back of her kennel as handler approaches. Handler has to toss treats near her muzzle to catch her attention. She stands up and approaches the front with a soft and wiggly body. She dodges the leash a couple times, but eventually keeps her head steady to be leashed. She is removed from kennel and she scurries out of the room. Blaze is taken to the street for a walk where she remains soft bodied with handler. She crouches and tuck her tail when there's loud noises, but she quickly recovers with the use of baby voice and pets. When handler crouches down, Blaze enthusiastically approaches with a very wiggly body, approaching at an angle. She continues to wiggle as handler gently pets her torso. She does not react to people passing by besides staying close to handler, and when spotting dogs, she will briefly fixate and point her ears forward but is easily pulled away with light leash pressure. Upon returning to the care centers she walks along side handler. When reaching the entrance of her room, she begins to flail and retreat backwards. Handler loosens leash pressure and does not attempt to drag or run her in. Handler crouches down and Blaze crawls to them with a loose body. Handler begins a high value treat trial and she follows, still with a crouching body. Handler continues using baby voice and tossing treats, she hops right into the kennel.

Summary (6):: 4/12/25: Blaze (FKA Keyboard) is curled up sleeping in her kennel when handler approaches. The handler crouches down and talks softly to her. Treats are tossed into kennel and she slowly leans forward and sniffs and eats them. Handler continues talking to Keyboard and feeding her treats. She eventually approaches the front with a tense body and a low wagging tail. She takes treats gently from handler in the kennel. Handler opens the kennel and presents the leash and goes to place it over her head. She backs up and handler uses a treat lure and is able to easily leash her that way. She is lead out and walked down the hallway towards the backyard. When Keyboard stops handler crouches down to encourage her and she approaches the handler with a soft body and wagging tail. Handler opens the backyard door and she stops and backs up. Turning around to head in the opposite direction. Keyboard is then brought to the driveway. Treats were used to lead Keyboard to the driveway. In the driveway she has a soft body and wagging tail and jumps on handler socially. She is walked around the driveway before she is walked back into the building. She is brought to the room where she stops refusing to walk forward. Treats are used to encourage her forward and she stops and backs up. Handler calls for assistance from another familiar handler which Keyboard greets with a soft body and wagging tail, jumping up on them exuberantly. Handlers attempted to use treats and squeakers to encourage Keyboard into the room. This was unsuccessful and a sling was used to lift Keyboard into the room and her kennel. In kennel she thrashed the leash off her head.

Summary (7):: 04/11/25: Blaze (FKA Keyboard) is at the front of her kennel as handler approaches. She is offered treats by handler and initially ignores them, she approaches the front and attempts to push her head out but she quickly jumps back when the leash makes contact with her. This process repeats a few times with her flinching or jumping away when close to the leash. After a bit Keyboard begins barking at handlers, she also begins eating the previously tossed treats on the ground. Handlers attempt to use a hook to crane the leash in and over her head, she is weary of the hook and continues to back away and dodge the leash, but begins progressively coming closer toward the front when second handler begins using squeaky toys and treats which both catch Keyboards interest. She approaches but continues to dodge the leash and bark intermittently, second handler produces their leash and begins attempting to leash her. While initially unsuccessful she becomes progressively more comfortable with the leash making contact with her. Eventually she is successfully leashed and taken to the yard for her walk. During the walk, Keyboard follows handler hesitantly and stops when seeing a dog in the first play yard. She stares at them for a bit but is redirected and continues to walk with handlers. She briefly stops and whips her head around while pulling back when attempting to walk into a play yard. Handler gives her a moment before continuing on around the perimeter of the yard, Keyboard approaches handler and begins jumping on them and pawing at them. She is redirected by second handler using a squeaker and continues on. She is eventually walked into a play yard and is observed coninuing to jump softly on both handlers and begin pawing at them but is redirected using squeakers and treats which she does not accept. After a bit she is clipped and brought back to kennel where she returns without issue. 04/10/25: Blaze (FKA Keyboard) is at the back of her kennel laying down as handler approaches. She evades the leash initially and does not accept treats tossed by handlers. She is eventually leashed and exits kennel with handlers for her walk. Once outside she briefly thrashes on leash, after being given a moment she continues forward with handler. This behavior is repeated multiple times when passing thresholds and doorways. Keyboard will thrash and baulk briefly before continuing to walk with handler. She stops at certain points and begins to shake and look up at handlers so handlers continue walking with her to redirect her anxiety and stress. She is walked around the perimeter of the yard multiple times and in/out of play yards. She walks for a bit more before being brought back. Keyboard baulks briefly when passing through the hall in the kennel and briefly thrashes when entering the kennel room. She is slightly muscled into kennel and interaction is ended.

Date of intake:: 4/9/2025

Summary:: Friendly with staff, growled at pop-up when entering, thrashed till placed in kennel

Date of initial:: 4/10/2025

Summary:: Sedated for medical exams

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Blaze so we cannot be certain of her behavior in a home environment. However, she will need daily mental and physical activity to keep her engaged and exercised. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in additional to physical exercise, to positively direct her 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 fearful behaviors 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,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful/Potential for Defensive Aggression: During multiple instances in care Blaze has displayed fearful behaviors such as hard barking at handlers when attempting to leash. It is important to move slowly with Blaze, to build positive associations (treats/toys/praise), and to allow Blaze to initiate interactions with new people. She should never be forced to greet or to interact if she is not comfortable and soliciting attention. Please see handout on Fearful and Defensive Aggression. On-Leash Reactivity/Barrier Frustration: When initially entering the care centers and walking to kennel with handlers, Blaze was observed to begin growling at a dog in a pop-up when passing which escalated to her thrashing on leash until eventually secured in kennel. Blaze may need positive reinforcement, reward based training to teach her to look at you rather than other dogs. We recommend a front clip harness or head halter to help manage this behavior. Please see handout on On-Leash Reactivity and Barrier Frustration.