Date of intake:: 12/31/2024

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

Previously lived with:: 1 Adult, 1 Cat

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

Behavior toward children:: tolerant, friendly, outgoing and playful with the children he grew up

Behavior toward dogs:: stops and turns to look at his owner. His owner tells him no and allows him to leash him.

Behavior toward cats:: tolerant, friendly, and playful with the DSH he lived with

Resource guarding:: Noted to resource guard food and treats when the cat he lived with approached him while eating food/treats.

Bite history:: No known reports of a bite history.

Housetrained:: No

Energy level/descriptors:: Siah is reported to have a medium energy level.

Date of assessment:: 1/4/2025

Summary:: 01/04/2025: Siah displayed arousal behaviors thrashing on leash, heavy open mouth panting, red eyes. He has allowed minimal handling, due to this a handling assessment will not be conducted at this time.

Summary (4):: 1/14: A staff member requested assistance from canine behavior due to Siah's behavior when off leash in the play yard. Siah was reported to become aroused and started to leash bite intensely when the staff member attempted to leash him or pick up the drag leash. When the other handlers reached the yard, Siah was heavily panting and visibly aroused but he was distracted by the presence of new people which allowed a handler to leash him successfully. He did jump up once with his mouth open after being leashed but did not continue leash biting. He was taken to the assessment room while his kennel was being cleaned and offered a lick mat and higher-value treats in an attempt to help him settle. Once his kennel was ready, he walked in without issue. 1/9/25: Staff report no issues with Siah on his AM walk. Described pulling towards kennels when passing through room as manageable. Sniffed around on short walk and pulled hard back to care center (below freezing temperature.) Earlier that morning Siah was observed soliciting attention from staff by pressing his body against kennel door with a loose, wiggly frame. 1/8/25: Siah is barking and jumping on the kennel door as the handler approaches. He is easily leashed and pulls towards the other kennels when exiting the room. In the hallway, he pulls hard while being walked to the behavior room and the handler stops a few times to let him breathe. In the room, Siah is aroused as he pants heavily and quickly moves around. 1/7/25 Siah is at the front of his kennel sitting neutrally. The handler will approach speaking to him in a high pitch voice, administering him some high value treats in which he takes gently. Siah is easily leashed and ran out of the kennel room. Siah will immediately exit the kennel room displaying a loose, wiggly body, pulling his way to the exit. Before exiting the facility, he allows for the handler to pet him. The handler will lightly stroke his back, and he leans in, getting his head pet as well. Siah is taken outside where he will maintain a loose, wiggly frame while slightly pulling his way to the yard. Once they arrive, Siah spends most of his time exploring. Siah will explore the first pen and proceed to seek an exit. He sniffs intensely with a stiff body and knot in the base of his tail. He is taken to the back pens as he begins to pant. He will begin to explore there, sniffing in multiple areas, visibly becoming a bit more relaxed. Siah's body softens and he even takes a treat when administered. He will become loose again, soliciting pets from the handler pressing his body against their legs. Siah is returned to the facility where he will trot moderately, pulling less than before. Siah enters the building quickly, pulling his way towards his kennel room. Siah, this time, runs with the handler to his kennel, intentionally pulling towards it. Once inside, Siah remains still and neutral watching the handler with a soft face. He is administered a treat and tossed another.

Summary (5):: 1/7/25: Siah greeted handler by jumping up on kennel door and was not redirected by treats. He was leashed and pulled towards other kennels on his way to the BA room. Siah pulled hard towards enrichment items in the room and was clipped to a drag leash by a second handler. Siah was loose bodied and social throughout interaction, soliciting frequent pets all over. Siah climbed up on couch beside handler but was unable to settle in one place. He picked at the treats in the enrichment puzzles but did not stay engaged. He was returned to kennel with moderate pulling down the hall and towards other kennels. He entered kennel willingly and leash was removed without issue. 01/06/25 (PM): Siah is standing at the front of kennel with a wiggly body as handler approaches. He jumps up on kennel door with a wide panting mouth and shows no interest in tossed treats. Siah is leashed with ease and pulls hard out to the play yard. He spends time scenting and relieves himself. As dogs walk past, he will stop and stare but is easily redirected with light directional leash pressure. Siah does not take any offered treats. After his session in the yard, he pulls hard back to the Care Center. He attempts to pull towards kennels but is kept on a short lead and returned to kennel safely. (AM) Siah is standing on his kennel door hyper salivating, vocalizing, with wide red eyes as the handler approaches. Siah will drop down and after a few attempts is leashed. Siah wouldn't stay still, making it hard to leash. Once on the lead, Siah forces his way out, lunging for the kennel in front of his. Siah will then pull towards another kennel, closest to the exit. Siah is redirected out of the kennel room as he pants heavily, attempting to pull his way back into the kennel room. The handler will jog him to the exit. Siah will exit the facility displaying a loose frame while pulling on lead. Siah is panting heavily, with red eyes, appearing to seek out other dogs. When the handler will yell "dog", Siah hyper-vigilantly, will scan the area with a knot in the base of his tail as his tail is high and flagged. Siah is returned to the facility after their walk. He doesn't take any treats while on the walk. When entering the facility, he stands up straight and square, huffing, seeking out other dogs. As the handler reaches the kennel room, Siah is ran into his kennel to avoid his kennel fighting. Siah will jump onto his kennel door and vocalize with a loose posture. A blanket is placed on his kennel to reduce stress.

Summary (6):: 1/5/25 (AM): Siah is lying down in his kennel as handler approaches. He then walks up to the front door with a loose wiggly body and wagging tail. He was leashed with ease and taken outside for a walk. He would pull on the lead hard and would have a tense body whenever there was a dog passing by. He was able to be taken to the play yard while still on lead and he explored around. He would watch all the dogs that passed with a tense body frame and stiff tail. He pulled hard on the way back to kennel, and would grumble due to getting frustrated on the lead. He was able to enter his kennel with no issues. 1/4/25 (PM): Siah was at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. While being leashed, he would try to shove his snout out to get out quickly. He pulled hard out the kennel and the handler was able to reset him in the kennel and come back out. He pulled on the way outside and was alert on every dog we passed with a tense body, but will continue to walk with a loose body after shaking off. He was able to be taken to the play yard and he explored with a loose body and watched a few dogs pass. He pulled hard on the way back to kennel and was able to enter with ease. 1/4/25: Siah is loose in kennel, wagging his tail and jumping on the door while panting as the handler's approach. Handler 1 offers treats which Siah ignores, but handler 2 is able to easily leash him. When exiting the kennel, Siah quickly pulls towards other dogs in their kennels while growling and becoming stiff. The handler is able to pull him away and walk outside. Once outside, Siah pulls mildly while walking with a loose frame and sniffing. When walking past an industrial area, a gate moves and makes noise in the wind that startles Siah as he tucks his tail and jumps away. The wind blows hard from behind them as they walk and that also makes Siah nervous as he jumps forward and looks behind him. When returning Siah to his kennel, he begins to kennel fight in the room, lunging and barking at the other dogs. He is returned to his kennel and be begins barking right away.

Summary (7):: 1/2/25 Siah is loose and wiggly in kennel, jumping onto his kennel door and vocalizing at the handlers as they approach. Siah is administered high value treats from one handler as the other leashes him. Once Siah is leashed he is taken for a walk. Siah will pull on the lead while maintaining a loose frame. Siah will see other dogs with novel handlers and become tense, musculature with a thick knot in his tail. Siah will see another dog with a novel handler and this time become aroused, slightly thrashing and will attempt to bite the lead. The handler stiff arms him and redirects him on the walk, proceeding forward. Siah will pant heavily with wide red eyes , while hyper-salivating. He continues to pull as they return to the facility, Siah remaining tense with a knot in the base of his tail. Siah enters the building quickly and will enter his kennel with no issue. Siah will come forward in kennel, press his face against the kennel door and solicit pets, remaining loose and wiggly. When the handler stops, he will demand bark, soliciting attention. 01/01/25: A member of staff requests behavior help walking Siah. They report that once out of kennel, Siah pulls hard out to the hallway and then begins launching up, biting on the lead. Another staff member was able to assist in guiding Siah back into kennel. When behavior handlers approach kennel, Siah is circling and panting heavily with wide, dilated eyes. Second handler uses a squeaker to distract Siah as he is leashed, and he pulls hard out to the hallway. As he is walked through Meet & Greet he becomes very tense and lunges toward the crated dogs. He is guided into the Canine Behavior Office where he is offered multiple high value treats. He takes a few pieces of ham but loses interest quickly. Siah paces, maintaining a wide panting mouth, red dilated eyes, and a tense frame. He does not settle. Siah begins circling the handler and fixating on their legs, having to be stiff-armed to create space. He is walked back to kennel, on the way pulling hard towards crated dogs again. Handler is able to clip their lead into a figure 8 and Siah is returned to kennel safely.

Date of intake:: 12/31/2024

Date of initial:: 1/2/2025

Summary:: anxious, sedated as precaution

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13)- Due to Siah Potential challenges we recommend he is placed in an adult only home at this time. Place with a New Hope partner- Siah was surrendered by his owner due to financial hardship, as they could no longer afford to care for him. His owner mentioned that Siah enjoys picking up sticks during walks and bringing them home. He also loves rope toys and will catch them when thrown, although he doesn't bring them back. Siah displays a mix of social and energetic behaviors but shows significant reactivity, especially towards other dogs. He often greets handlers with a loose and wiggly body, but he can become highly aroused and has leash-biting issues during walks. He also exhibits stress responses to environmental stimuli, such as heavy panting, wide red eyes, and hyper-salivation.Given these behaviors and his need for structured training, decompression opportunities, and consistent behavior management, Siah is available for rescue through one of our New Hope partners.

Potential challenges: : House soiling,Resource guarding,Fearful,Separation anxiety,Anxiety,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Leash-biting,Strength/leash pulling,Low threshold for arousal

Potential challenges comments:: House soiling- He has accidents in the home depending on how much he eats and how often he goes outside.If he has an accident, he relieves himself in front of the entrance/exit door of the home.E stablish a consistent feeding and outdoor schedule for him. Take him outside to relieve himself immediately after meals and at regular intervals throughout the day. Praise and reward him when he eliminates outside to reinforce positive behavior. If he has an accident, clean the area thoroughly to remove any scent markers and avoid punishment, as this can increase anxiety. Resource guarding- Noted to resource guard food and treats when the cat he lived with approached him while eating food/treats. Fearful/Anxiety/Separation anxiety- In the prior home it is reported that Siah is fearful of loud noises such as cars, fire trucks, and a loud bang. He will hide behind his owner. He has general anxiety when left alone; he barks, whines, and cries. Gradually desensitize him to loud noises by playing recordings at a low volume and slowly increasing it over time, rewarding him for staying calm. For separation anxiety, establish a routine that includes short periods of separation, gradually increasing the duration as he becomes more comfortable. Provide engaging toys and activities to keep him occupied when alone. Practice leaving and returning home calmly to avoid heightening his anxiety. Please see the handout on the decompression period and general anxiety/Separation anxiety. On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration- In care Siah has begans to kennel fight in the room, lunging and barking at the other dog and one walks he will hard pull and lunge towards others dogs while on lead.During walks, maintain a safe distance from other dogs and reward Siah for calm behavior with treats and praise. Use a front-clip harness to reduce pulling and improve control. Practice focus exercises, such as "look at me," to redirect his attention away from triggers. Please see the handout on On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration. Leash-biting/Strength/leash pulling- In the prior home it is reported that Siah is not trained to walk on a leash/harness. If a leash is placed on him, he pulls hard.To address Siah's leash-biting and pulling, start by introducing him to a front-clip harness, which provides better control and reduces pulling. Begin leash training in a quiet, distraction-free environment, rewarding him with treats and praise for walking calmly beside you. Use a consistent cue, like "let's go," to encourage forward movement. If he bites the leash, redirect his attention with a toy or treat.Please see the handout on Leash-biting/Strength/leash pulling. Low threshold for arousal-To help Siah with his low threshold for arousal, focus on teaching him self-control and impulse management. Start with basic obedience training, using commands like "sit," "stay," and "leave it" to build his ability to focus and remain calm.