Date of intake:: 4/29/2025

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner surrender

Previously lived with:: 2 Adults, 1 Child

Behavior toward strangers:: friendly, outgoing and playful with strangers.

Behavior toward children:: friendly, outgoing and playful with strangers.

Behavior toward dogs:: friendly, outgoing and playful with strangers.

Behavior toward cats:: Unknown

Resource guarding:: No known reports of resource guarding.

Bite history:: On April 27, Polo bit a household member during a late-night gathering. According to the client, Polo was being greeted by guests with a loose body and wagging tail. When the secondary owner/spouse approached Polo from behind and hugged him around the torso, he growled and snapped, resulting in a bite to their head and ear that broke the skin leaving 2 puncture wounds which also required medical attention. The owner mentioned that Polo didn't give any warning, while some guests reported hearing him growl. It's unclear whether Polo actually gave a warning or not. Following the incident, Polo responded to a verbal cue and went to his kennel without issue.

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Polo is noted to have a high energy level.

Other Notes:: He is not bothered by being held, disturbed while sleeping, pushed off furniture, feet touched or collar grabbed. He does jump up on people.He is very social, affectionate and playful. He could play for hours. He likes to be where people are, he likes to feel included. He knows the cues sit, stay, down and drop it. He likes to play more than anything.

Date of assessment:: 5/2/2025

Summary:: On April 27, Polo bit a household member during a late-night gathering. According to the client, Polo was being greeted by guests with a loose body and wagging tail. When the secondary owner/spouse approached Polo from behind and hugged him around the torso, he growled and snapped, resulting in a bite to their head and ear that broke the skin leaving 2 puncture wounds which also required medical attention. The owner mentioned that Polo didn't give any warning, while some guests reported hearing him growl. It's unclear whether Polo actually gave a warning or not. Following the incident, Polo responded to a verbal cue and went to his kennel without issue. The owners report no prior bite history and describe Polo as affectionate and tolerant of handling, including by their 2-year-old child. However, they acknowledge the incident has caused trauma and fear, particularly for the secondary owner/spouse, who no longer feels comfortable having Polo in the home. Due to ongoing mounting behavior and concerns about the dog's size and behavior, the family opted to surrender Polo. During intake, Polo displayed mounting behavior toward the primary owner and they struggled to manage him.Due to this the behavior team believe Polo is not a good candidate for a handling assessment.

Summary (7):: 05/07/25 (KSV): Polo is standing at the front of his kennel and will take treats and squeeze cheese from the handler while displaying a wagging tail. He then begins to hard bark and fixate on the handler’s feet. An enrichment item is tossed into the kennel, and the handler walks away. Polo is left in his kennel safely with no issues. 04/30/15:Late Entry:(Kennel side visit) The handler approaches Polo kennel where he is in front of kennel watching acs clean the neighboring kennel next to him. When the handler approaches the softly talk to him and crouches down to feed him treats which he ignores. Polo begins to lunge in front of the kennel door baring teeth and growling. The handler continues to toss him treats which he sniffs and sniffs the spray cheese offered to him. He display and tense body and lip curls at the handler. The handler ends the socialization session when the handler walk away he hard barks and charges at the kennel door.

Date of intake:: 4/29/2025

Summary:: minimum handling was done, taken to medical for vaccines and placed into kennel

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Polo's bite history, we recommend he goes to an adult-only home. Place with a New Hope partner: Due to Polo's bite history, we recommend he is placed with one of our New Hope Partners

Potential challenges: : Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Bite history (human)

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Polo has escalated to growling and lunging during his time in the care center. His signs of discomfort must be respected; Polo should never be forced to interact, and he should always be given the opportunity to walk away from situations or people he finds uncomfortable. We recommend a slow approach and ONLY force-free, reward-based training methods for Polo. More aversive techniques are likely to increase fear, increase the risk of aggression, and decrease Polo's quality of life. Bite history (human): Polo bit a household member during a late-night gathering on the head and ear, drawing blood and leaving two puncture wounds.