Date of intake:: 11/15/2024

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Previously lived with:: Adults, Children

Behavior toward strangers:: Friendly & Outgoing, Alert barks

Behavior toward children:: Playful, Friendly & Outgoing

Behavior toward dogs:: No experience

Behavior toward cats:: Lunges

Resource guarding:: Morty finds toys, food and treats (bones, rawhides, etc.) of a high value. He has a tense body or hovers over them.

Bite history:: No bite history

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: High

Date of assessment:: 11/20/2024

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): Moderately social – checks in with handler; solicits attention but also explores room Call over: Approaches readily Sociability comments: Handling Soft handling: Accepts contact – soft body, leans in, panting heavily Exuberant handling: Accepts contact – soft body, leans in, panting heavily Handling comments: Arousal Jog: Follows handler (loose, neutral) Arousal comments: Knock: Approaches (loose) Knock Comments: Toy: Grips, firm/ body blocks Toy comments:

Summary:: 11.20.2024 Morty met an altered female medium mixed breed. Morty greeted the other dog with a high wagging tail, neutral body but then walked away on his own.

Summary (1):: Morty is described as social and affectionate, very active and playful. He spends most of his time in the living room or in his crate. He pulls moderately on leash and allows owner to bathe and brush him. Morty loves car rides. He is reported to know basic commands. The owner says he made a great companion in the home. He loves squeaky toys.

Summary (6):: 12/1: Morty is easily leashed with a long-lasting jerky treat. He is walked to the door and another leash clipped to his collar without issue. He is brought on a walk keeping neutral body. Another dog/staff member are out front and Morty keeps focus with forward facing body, but he is able to be coaxed along. He returns without issue.

Summary (7):: 11/26: Morty is hard barking and hovering over his kong. He tucks the kong behind himself. A jerky treat is offered, and he come forward right away and is secured and walks out. He is brought on a walk keeping a neutral body. He checks in with handler and returns without issue. 11/25: Morty alert barks on approach. A WAG treat is used to lure him through the loop of the lead, and he walks out of kennel. His body posture is forward facing as he walks the halls. Another staff member clips a second leash to his collar to help with strength and leash pulling. He has a neutral body on the walk and his torso sways side to side. He allows the leash to be unclipped, his slip lead to be safety clipped and returns without issue. 11/24: Morty is barking on approach. When the leash was presented, he briefly backs up. A long-lasting wag was used to lure him into the loop and the leash was secured. He walks out on his own and ignores staff in the hallway. He pulls hard on leash and allows a volunteer to take some photos. They stop at the bench and Morty allows to be pet on the head as he stands on the bench. He is brought into the yard with 2 staff members and a volunteer. He is let off leash and explores on his own. He will accepts higher value treats tossed. When a ball is thrown he engages in play, vocalizing with grunts. He allows staff to secure his lead and remove the drag leash with a tennis ball in his mouth. He drops the ball on his own and returns without issue. 11/19: Morty is hard barking and standing on his kuranda bed on approach. Staff attempt to lure him to neighboring kennel with hvt and toys but are unsuccessful to have him completely enter and the transfer door shut. 2 staff members decided to remove him from his kennel. He jumps up and grabs the leash, thrashing it once in his mouth. It takes repeated efforts to finally secure one leash. Another leash is secured and his kuranda bed moved so he can walk out of kennel. Outside he pants heavily, has a neutral body. He takes some time to relieve himself and he is brought into the yard and kept on leash. He walks over the A frame on his own and allows to be pet by one handler. A leash is removed by the handler's hand and he is tolerant of touch. He is clipped and returned. He begins to bark once back into his kennel. 11.17 Morty is in the front of his kennel with a soft body . He is easily leashed and led out for a walk. He keeps his nose to the ground and ignored handler when called over. After a few minutes he allows petting on his rear wagging his tail and slightly leaning in. He is brought back to his kennel and is easily unleashed. 11.16.24 Morty was at the front of his kennel when approached. He had a loose body and was easily roped. With a wiggly body he was walked out of the building and taken on a walk. he pulled a moderate amount and ignored people passed on the walk

Date of intake:: 11/15/2024

Date of initial:: 11/15/2024

Summary:: Friendly, wagging tail, high energy, sensitive to hind legs and abdomen touched

ENERGY LEVEL:: Morty 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 Morty.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: NO CHILDREN (UNDER 13) Due to behavior observed in shelter we feel that Morty would do best in an adult only home at this time. NO CATS Morty was described to lunge at cats by his previous owner, so we recommend a home with no small animals. PLACE WITH A NEW HOPE PARTNER Morty has not acclimated well to the kennel environment showing quick deterioration and a high level of kennel stress. We recommend placement with a New Hope partner who can provide any necessary behavior modification (force-free, positive reinforcement-based) and re-evaluate behavior in a stable home environment before placement into a permanent home.

Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Anxiety,Leash-biting,Kennel presence,Other

Potential challenges comments:: RESOURCE GUARDING Morty's previous owner notes that he may growl when his food treats or toys are approached. We recommend that Morty be left alone while eating, and that food guarding behavior modification steps (available at ASPCApro.org) be utilized if this behavior is problematic in his future home. Nothing should ever be taken directly out of Morty's mouth, and any time something is removed he should be rewarded with a high value treat or toy. He should be taught the "drop" cue and trade-up games. Please see handout on resource Guarding HANDLING/TOUCH SENSITIVITY Morty has been noted to be sensitive to having his hind limbs and underside touched. It is important to avoid touching Morty's paws at this time and to be cautious when touching him in other areas as we do not know where he may have other sensitivities. Positive reinforcement, reward based training should be used to pair touch with good things such as food rewards in order to teach Morty to be more comfortable with this. Please see handout on handling/ touch sensitivity. FEARFUL/POTENTIAL FOR DEFENSIVE AGGRESSION Morty has escalated to growling and lunging on multiple occasions, mostly when leaving his kennel. His signs of discomfort must be respected; Morty should never be forced to interact, he should always be given the opportunity to walk away from situations or people she finds uncomfortable. We recommend a slow approach and we recommend ONLY force-free, reward-based training methods for Morty. More aversive techniques are likely to increase fear, increase the risk of aggression, and decrease Morty's quality of life. Please see handout on fearfulness/ defensive aggression. ANXIETY Morty appears anxious at the care center, heavily panting during his assessment. If Morty displays anxious behavior in his future home, we recommend puzzle toys, long walks, and giving him other things to focus on to alleviate his anxiety. Positive reinforcement, force-free training only should be used. Please see handout on anxiety. LEASH-BITING When leaving his kennel, Morty is quick to bite and grab at the rope. He does not typically do this behavior once he is actually on the walk. recommend walking him with a toy to dissuade him from grabbing the leash. Positive reinforcement, force-free training is advised to teach him to focus on you rather than grabbing the leash. Please see handout on leash manners. KENNEL PRESENCE While we cannot be certain if this behavior will appear in any other contexts, in highly emotionally charged or stressful environments Morty may show behavior similar to what he is currently demonstrating in his kennel. We recommend potential adopters be comfortable managing this behavior and keeping themselves safe in any similar future situations. OTHER Prey drive Morty has been reported to lunge at cats while on a walk. Morty may need positive reinforcement and reward based training so they look at you rather than any small animal.