Date of intake:: 10/4/2024

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Date of assessment:: 10/6/2024

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Moderate Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: Moderate Leash walking comments: Leash biting, mouth handler, Vocalises and jumps up towards the leash when seeing another dog Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Highly social Call over: Approaches readily Sociability comments: Jumps up on handler persistently Handling Soft handling: Over aroused Exuberant handling: Over aroused Handling comments: Difficult to position, head whipping with open mouth, jumping up on handler Arousal Jog: Follows handler readily Arousal comments: Vocalizes Knock Knock Comments: Approaches handler readily, jumps up Toy Toy comments: Grips light, relinquishes

Summary:: 10/18/24: Dolphin greets another dog at the gate with high tail and tense body. He then play bows. When off leash, he engages is play behavior, play bowing, spinning but is still tense bodied and will periodically place his face/neck over the other dogs neck.

Summary (6):: 11/12/24: Dolphin is laying down on the side of his kennel as handler approaches. Dolphin is easily leash and when handler goes to remove him from the kennel he jumps out and the handler catches him. Dolphin is taken out to the yard and placed on a drag leash. Handler attempts to engage dolphin with toys and pattern games, but he is uninterested. In the yard dolphin remains aloof until another dog enters the yard, he begins to fixate on them becoming tense but is easily called back to the handler. Dolphin allowed to be pet and sat for treats, taking them gently. When returning to his kennel, Dolphin allowed himself to be picked up but was squirming around. 11/7/24: Dolphin is laying down curled up in the middle of his kennel as handler approaches. He is easily leashed and removed from the top kennel, he allows all handling whilst squirming. He pulls hard towards pens but handler directs him to driveway. His trot is confident and bouncy up until the threshold to step outside. With some baby voice and coaxing he hesitantly follows handler. Handler remains in the driveway with Dolphin with entirety of walk. Hand targets were attempted to be introduced, but Dolphin remained hyper-vigilant of hi surroundings. His body was tense and his ears perked up, he would dart in all directions and then stare off into the sky. It was challenging retaining his attention, even with treats. He would be focused briefly but would notice another stimuli and begin staring once again. For about 5 minutes, handler managed to play popcorn pattern game before losing his interest again. When handler kneeled down, Dolphin would become loose and wiggly and attempt to crawl into handlers lap. Towards end of walk, handler began tossing treat scatters on the floor. This allowed Dolphin to remain engaged and loose while consuming the treats. He was easily returned to kennel. 10/24/24: Dolphin is standing on his feet at the front of kennel as handler approaches. As the door opens he walks forward, but retreats as handler attempts to remove him from the top kennel. He is brought out to the yard and put on a drag leash. He was quite aloof in the pen, was only mildly and occasionally interested in treats, toys, and pets. He would engage briefly but would then become alert, his darting in the direction of different stimuli such as loud noises, and dogs passing by. Handler attempts to play popcorn game and other pattern games but Dolphin is uninterested and remains alert. He is easily leashed and returned to kennel.

Summary (7):: 10/17/24: Dolphin is standing in the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He begins pawing and jumping at the kennel door as handler begins opening his door. He is leashed and lifted out of kennel and carefully placed down and taken to the yard. Once out in the yard Dolphin uses the bathroom and pulls hard forward to the first play yard where Dolphin takes part in a dog on dog interaction. Dolphin approaches the gate standing adjacent to the other dog and briefly approaches. He sniffs the other dog and jumps back when the other dog attempts to lick him through the fence, he reapproaches and stands with a wagging tail and hackles raised but begins play bowing and excitedly jumping up. Handler clips a drag leash to Dolphin and continues jumping until handler opens the gate separating both dogs to allow a face to face interaction. Both dogs approach quickly and Dolphin attempts to jump on top of the other dog, they immediately begin chasing each other in a playful manner. Dolphin will attempt to stand over the other dog with a slightly stiff body and the other dog begins seeking exit, so handlers end interaction and separate the dogs. Dolphin is then walked around the perimeter of the yard where they use the bathroom and pull moderately. Dolphin allows handler to lift them and they are returned to kennel without issue. 10/6/24: Dolphin is at the front of the kennel with a neutral body and slight tail wag. He is easily leashed and backs away when the handler tries to lift him. He retreats and reapproaches a few times before the handler is able to lift him. He flails slightly as he is lowered to the ground. He is taken for a street walk where he pulls moderately to hard, walks in circles around the handler, and sporadically begins to bark and vocalize while staring at the handler. He jumps up and leash bites briefly before mouthing the handlers arm as he continues to jump and vocalize. He stops after a few moments and continues walking but randomly will rush towards the handlers legs. He does not react to strangers and when he sees other dogs he begins vocalizing and jumping up and down towards the leash. He is brought for his assessment where he is frantic, tense, exuberant, jumpy, and takes treats hard. He mouths fingers and objects presented to him (leash, collar, clip) and occasionally vocalizes at the handlers. He allows all handling but is tense, head whips, and squirms while held by the collar. He is releashed and on return to kennel allows the handler to lift him and place him in the kennel. He is unleashed without issue.

Date of intake:: 10/4/2024

Summary:: Social, wagging tail

Date of initial:: 10/4/2024

Summary:: Social, wagging tail

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Dolphin 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 children (under 13): Due to social hyperarousal and lack of basic manners we recommend a home with no children.

Potential challenges: : Basic manners/poor impulse control,Social hyperarousal,Mouthiness/poor bite inhibition,Leash-biting

Potential challenges comments:: Social hyperarousal/ Basic Manners/ Mouthiness: Dolphin has been observed to become overaroused quickly, jumping up on handlers, mouthing their hands and arms, and leash biting. Positive reinforcement, force-free training should be used to teach Dolphin to remain calm when people and other exciting things are around. Dolphin should be rewarded with treats when calm. If they escalate to jumping or mouthing, people should immediately walk away from and separate themselves from Dolphin. Please see handout on Arousal. Please see handout on Basic Manners. Please see handout on Mouthiness. Leash Biting: Dolphin has been observed to jump up and mouth the leash. This behavior is able to be redirected using treats. We recommend walking them with a toy to dissuade them from grabbing the leash. 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.