Date of intake:: 2/9/2025

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner surrender( called police to remove the dog)

Previously lived with:: atleast 1 adult, 1 child ,1 dog

Bite history:: Sassy arrived at the QUACC following a bite incident inside the home, and the owner called the police to remove the two dogs in the home. Sassy bit the owner's child face leaving a small circle on the right cheek.

Date of assessment:: 2/14/2025

Summary:: 2/19/25: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Moderate pulling - on and off leash pulling Reactivity to humans: none - ignores Reactivity to dogs: inconclusive - did not pass Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): loose, wiggly, solicits attention from a familiar handler, approaches unfamiliar assessor slowly, accepts treats with soft mouth Call over: approaches readily Sociability comments: Handling Soft handling: leans in, seeks contact, lip licks Exuberant handling: leans in, seeks contact, lip licks Handling comments: Arousal Jog: follows, bouncy Arousal comments: Knock: huffs, slightly tense Knock Comments: relaxes when sees familiar handler Toy: grips, moves away Toy comments: 2/14/25: Sassy arrived at the QUACC following a bite incident inside the home, and the owner called the police to remove the two dogs in the home. Sassy bit the owner's child face leaving a small circle on the rightcheek. The child was taken to the hospital where it was cleaned but did not need stitches or any further treatment. Sassy is intensely fearful in the care center, growling, lip quivering, and backing away from handlers when approached. She has shown to warm up a little to selective handlers. Sassy is not a candidate for a handling assessment at this time.

Summary (5):: 02/18/25 (AM+PM) Sassy's behavior remains consistent with the morning and afternoon. Sassy will solicit pets from the handler, exposing her belly for belly rubs. Sassy is taken to the play pens in the morning and live room in the afternoon, where all she would want to do is be rubbed. While outside in the morning, she will watch dogs with novel handlers maintaining a soft frame. When in the live room in the afternoon, she doesn't leave the handler's side. As far as her walking to and from kennel, there are no issues. When returning to kennel she will quickly and willingly enter her kennel.

Summary (6):: 02/17/25 Sassy will approach the front of her kennel slowly as the handler approaches. Sassy will display paw raises with a slight wagging tail. She will allow for the handler to leash her as they slowly guide the loop of the lead onto her. Sassy is taken for a walk. Sassy will display a stiff, hunched like frame and she slowly makes her way out of the building. She is checking in frequently, displaying a tucked as they head towards to play pens. She will enter the play pen quickly, exploring upon her arrival. She will collect any treats she can find, while also being administered treats by the handler in which she takes gently. Sassy will lean in and solicit pets from the handler, receiving belly rubs as well as chin rubs. The handler and Sassy will spend their time in the pens, as Sassy is pet for majority of the time. Sassy is returned to kennel where she enters the building as well as her kennel with no issue. 02/16/25: Sassy greeted handler at front of kennel and was leashed with ease. She walked to the yard and relieved herself once outside the building (seems housetrained.) Sassy would observe other dogs that passed by but did not otherwise react. Due to not yet being collared, Sassy was kept on a slip leash for duration of interaction. After some time in the yard, Sassy was brought to the BA room while waiting for her kennel to be ready. She appeared relaxed as she walked beside handler as they moved around the room. After a short time Sassy's leash was clipped to a figure 8 and she was returned to kennel with ease. 02/14/25: Sassy is at the front of kennel growling as handler approaches. Handler offers treats through the kennel door which she shows no interest in. Sassy stops growling as handler cracks open the kennel door to leash her. She stays at the front of kennel and will push at the door to exit. Once leashed, Sassy walks with a neutral frame to the Canine Behavior Office. She is kept on slip lead, but free to explore the space. Handler sits on the couch and Sassy immediately sits in front of them, leaning into their legs to solicit attention. She will nudge handler to initiate contact again and will lay on the floor in front of them. A second handler enters the room, and Sassy becomes tense and low growls at them. Handler calls to her and she will nudge them to solicit petting before turning to hard stare second handler and growl again. Second handler tosses Sassy treats, but she shows no interest, so they exit the room. A third handler enters, and Sassy readily approaches with a loose frame. She leans into them to solicit petting and will nudge them to initiate contact whenever they stop petting. She remains loose and social with both handlers throughout her time in the room and is returned to kennel safely.

Summary (7):: 02/13/25 (PM): Sassy approached handler at front of kennel and stood with a neutral body, often moving her ears around. Sassy did not take a treat offered but remained at front of kennel as handler placed leash over head. Sassy was taken outside for a relief walk as she appeared to be housetrained. Sassy's littermate Sparkles was walking by the pen and the two greeted each other through the fence. They sniffed each other nose to nose and Sassy's tail became untucked. She was taken to the BA room where she was placed on a slip leash with stopper to give her freedom of choice. Sassy followed handler over to the fridge where she ate ham and cheese hand fed. Sassy quickly warmed up and began soliciting treats from handler 2 as well. When handler 1 introduced squeaker toys Sassy immediately loosened up and became playful. She would bound across the room to retrieve toys and gave a loose tail wag. Handler 2 distracted Sassy with ham while she was put back on the slip leash. Sassy displayed mild tensing and gave a whale eye but was tolerant and continued eating ham the whole time. She was returned to kennel with ease. Sassy growled as another staff member slid her meal tray into kennel. 02/12/25: Sassy is growling in her kennel when the handler approaches, the handler gives her high-value treats which she takes through her kennel bars. She displays a low body and whale eyes still making low growls. Sassy begins to hover over her treats and food growling. The handler opens up the kennel door easily leashes her and takes her out of the kennel room, in the hallway she displays whale eyes, looking back at the handler, and with a low body tucked tail she is distracted with treats. Once in the behavior office, she seeks exit with a low body and tucked tail. Sassy doesn't take treats offered to her and begins to whine and tremble. Once her kennel is clean she is taken back to her kennel without issue. 02/12/25 (KSV): Sassy stands at the front of her kennel with raised hackles and will continually hard bark while whale-eyeing the handler, who maintains a distance from the kennel door. The handler will walk away, and Sassy will be left in her kennel safely and securely. 02/11/25 (KSV): Sassy growls at the handlers as they approach. Handler throws a treat and Sassy ignores it. She begins to hard bark with a forward, tense body and hard stare. Her feet come off the ground due to the intensity of her barking. Handler throws a handful of treats and walks away. 02/10/25: When approached in kennel, Sassy is sitting in front of her kennel door low growling, backing away and quivering his lip as the handler approaches. Due to her FAS in kennel, the handlers gives her her space. 02/09/25 (KSV): Sassy is sitting curled into herself at the front of kennel. She is low growling and tense as handlers walk through the room. Handler places a kennel tag at Sassy's door and she hard stares and continues to growl. Handler exits the room.

Date of intake:: 2/9/2025

Date of initial:: 2/10/2025

Summary:: fearful, allowed handling for exam

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Sassy high level of fear and potential for defensive aggression we recommend she is placed in an adult-only home at this time. Place with a New Hope partner- Sassy arrived at the QUACC following a bite incident inside the home, and the owner called the police to remove the dogs in the home. Sassy bit the owner's child face leaving a small circle on the right cheek. The child was taken to the hospital where it was cleaned but did not need stitches or any further treatment.Sassy has displayed significant fear, anxiety, and stress in the care center, often growling, hard staring, and barking intensely when approached in her kennel. She has been hesitant to take treats and has shown food-guarding tendencies, hovering over her food while growling in kennel. When leashed, Sassy remains tense with a low body, tucked tail, and whale eyes, seeking exit and showing discomfort in new environments. However, during a recent socialization session, Sassy demonstrated the ability to warm up, engage in play and take treats after being given space and freedom of choice. She responded positively to squeaky toys, and displayed a loose body. Sassy is available for reuse through one of our new hope partners.

Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Kennel presence,Bite history (human)

Potential challenges comments:: Resource guarding- Sassy has shown food-guarding tendencies, hovering over her food while growling.Gradually approach her while she eats, tossing high-value treats from a distance to create positive associations with your presence near her food. Slowly decrease the distance over time, ensuring she remains calm and relaxed. Avoid taking her food away or disturbing her while she eats to prevent reinforcing guarding behavior. Please see the handout on Resource guarding. Fearful/potential for defensive aggression- Sassy has a history of biting in her prior home and in care has shown to growl, hard staring, and barking intensely when approached in her kennel.Use positive reinforcement to reward calm behavior and gradually desensitize her to handling and approaching people by starting with less sensitive interactions and slowly working towards more challenging situations. Pair these interactions with high-value treats to build positive associations. Please see the handout on Fearful/potential for defensive aggression. Bite history (human)-Sassy arrived at the QUACC following a bite incident inside the home, and the owner called the police to remove the dogs in the home. Sassy bit the owner's child face leaving a small circle on the right cheek.Work with a professional trainer or behaviorist to develop a tailored plan that includes desensitization and counter-conditioning techniques. Kennel presence- Sassy has displayed significant fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS) in the care center, often growling, hard staring, and barking intensely when approached in her kennel. She has been hesitant to take treats and has shown food-guarding tendencies, hovering over her food while growling.