Date of intake:: 12/31/2024

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner surrender (1 Year)

Previously lived with:: Adults, Children (aged 7, 10, 15)

Behavior toward strangers:: Shy/Contact on their terms

Behavior toward children:: Friendly & Outgoing

Behavior toward dogs:: Friendly & Outgoing

Behavior toward cats:: No experience

Resource guarding:: None reported

Bite history:: None reported

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Gax is reported to have a high energy level in the home

Other Notes:: Description of this dog most of the time: Social/Affectionate, Very active & Playful Where the dog spent most time: Where people are For grooming, this dog: Allows owner/family to bathe and brush Walks on leash rating: 4 - Hard pulling (pretty strong, somewhat difficult to manage) Walk Frequency: 3-4 times per day Walk length of time: 15 30 mins Crate trained: Used to be crated, does not need it now During car rides, this dog: Loves car rides! This dog knows the following cues: Sit, wait, bed , stay Previous owner's favorite things about the dog: He is so friendly and always so happy and ready to play. He always wants to be next to us and does really good with other dogs in parks This dog's favorite activities/toys/food/snacks: He loves parks and other dogs; He loves hard toys and balls He loves all types of treats Type of food the dog eats: Dry Food Brand of food: Kirkland beef and sweet potato

Date of assessment:: 1/4/2025

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Moderate – dog pulls on and off; to get to scent; out the building etc Reactivity to humans: None – ignores Reactivity to dogs: None – ignores Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Highly social – stays near handler for whole time; solicits attention Call over: Approaches readily Sociability comments: Handling Soft handling: Accepts contact – neutral body Exuberant handling: Accepts contact – neutral body Comments: Arousal Jog: Engages in play with handler (loose, soft) Arousal comments: Knock: Approaches (loose) Knock Comments: Toy: Grips, firm Toy comments: Has a neutral body in response tot he assessor hand.

Summary:: 1.4.2025 Gax met an altered female large mixed breed through a gate. He greeted her with a soft body and wagged his tail at her. He was able to be walked away from the gate.

Summary (6):: 01.15 Gax is easily leashed and pulls extremely hard on the leash. He jumps toward staff waiting in the hallway, and is pulled away by the handler. He is brought to the yard and a drag leash is attached. He franticly searches the yard for toys picking up random objects. Gax climbs behind the garbage can and a carrier, finds a ball, and begins to chew on the ball until he is returned to his kennel. 1.11 Gax is at the front of his kennel and is easily roped and is then taken on a walk. During the walk he pulls hard and appears anxious, panting with a tense body throughout the entire walk. he is easily returned to his kennel. 1/9: Gax is easily leashed and walks past staff in the hallways. He is brought to the yard and a drag leash is attached. He explores on his own with a relaxed body posture. He engages in fetch, trading items regularly. He responds to sit and drop it. He returns without issue. 1/6: Gax is easily leashed and brought out to the yard. One staff member uses treats to distract him while the other secures a drag leash. He is let off the leash to explore on his own. He follows handlers to the bench and sits in front of them seeking treats. He takes them nicely but enthusiastically. When they do not treat him, he will jump up towards them in a demanding manner. To not reward this behavior, they decide to walk him on a leash. A slip lead is used with the drag leash to walk him around the building due to his strength. When passing a staff member shoveling outside, his hackles raise, and he is alert. He returns without issue.

Summary (7):: 1/5: Gax was avoiding the slip lead but after remaining still and giving him a few moments, he was leashed and exits kennel, ignoring barking dogs. He is brought to the yard and kept on leash. He sits for treats and allows some touch under his chin. He returns without issue. Later he is brought out to the yard and another staff member passes with a cart and the sound of the wheels causes Gax to panic, spinning, hackles raised, wide eyes and alert ears and tail. He recovers well and will sit for treats. 1.3.2025 Gax is at the front of his kennel when approached. He is somewhat rope evasive but once roped is taken to the yard. Gax ignored the other dogs and walked nicely to the yard. In the yard the staff are able to collar him, Gax had a soft body while being collared and climbed up onto the staff member as they sat down and put his paw on their chest. Gax had a loose body and followed the staff around the yard leaning into pets and soliciting attention. He would occasionally jump up against staff members while in the yard. Gax showed that he knew sit and sat for treats, which he then took gently. Gax would occasionally jump up and nose at the staffs treat pouch. When returning Gax to the kennel he pulled very hard when leaving the yard, but then did not pull while in the building. He was easily walked into his kennel.

Date of intake:: 12/31/2024

Date of initial:: 1/3/2025

Summary:: tense but allowed handling

ENERGY LEVEL:: Gax is described as active and enthusiastic. He will need daily mental and physical activity to keep him engaged and exercised. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in additional to physical exercise, to positively direct his energy and enthusiasm. We recommend feeding with puzzle feeders and food-dispensing toys. And we recommend only force-free, reward-based training techniques for Gax.

IN SHELTER OBSERVATIONS:: 1.3.2025 Gax is at the front of his kennel when approached. he is somewhat rope evasive but once roped is taken to the yard. Gax ignored the other dogs and walks nicely to the yard. In the yard the staff are able to collar him, Gax had a soft body while being collard and climbed up onto the staff member as they sat down and put his paw on their chest. Gax had a loose body and followed the staff around the yard leaning into pets and soliciting attention. he would occasionally jump up against staff members while in the yard. Gax showed that he knew sit and sat for treats, which he then took gently. Gax would occasionally jump up and nose at the staffs treat pouch. When returning Gax to the kennel he pulled very hard when leaving the yard, but then did not pull while in the building. He was easily walked into his kennel.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: Level 4

Recommendations:: No children (under 13)

Recommendations comments:: NO CHILDREN (UNDER 13) Due to behavior seen at the shelter we feel that Gax may need an adult only home, due to his fearfulness and strength. He should never be forced to interact with new people, and should be allowed to greet and initiate an interaction at his own pace.

Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Basic manners/poor impulse control,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Strength/leash pulling

Potential challenges comments:: RESOURCE GUARDING Gax has begun to show signs of resource guarding. He will collect toys in the yard and hide them in the corner. He has become increasingly fixated on finding items to collect. This is a behavior which developed with a short stay in care and we are unsure if this will continue out of care as no guarding was reported in the home. Any adopter should be mindful of this and leave him alone when engaged with toys or high value items. Please see handout on Resource Guarding. BASIC MANNERS/POOR IMPULSE CONTROL It is recommended that default behaviors such as "Leave it", "Sit/Stay", "Down" are reinforced to substitute any frustration and teach her to control her impulses instead of simply reacting; proper management is also advised. Force-free, reward based training only is recommended. Please see handout on basic manners/ Impulse control FEARFUL/POTENTIAL FOR DEFENSIVE AGGRESSION Gax gives clear warnings when he is uncomfortable and does seem to choose to avoid or retreat when given the opportunity, but if prevented from moving away there is a potential to escalate to higher-level warning behaviors and possible fear-based aggression. It is important to move slowly with Gax, to build positive associations (treats/toys/praise), and to allow Gax to initiate interactions with new people. He should never be forced to greet or to interact if he is not comfortable and soliciting attention. Please see handout on fearfulness/ potential for defensive aggression. STRENGTH/LEASH PULLING Gax is a very large, strong dog with the capability to pull over an average adopter. His adopter must be prepared and able to handle a dog of this size and strength. It is recommended that he be walked on a front clip harness or head halter, which help diminish his strength through leverage, and that he be trained using positive reinforcement, reward based training to not pull on leash. Please see handout on leash manners.