Date of intake:: 3/22/2024

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: stray, history unknown

Date of assessment:: 3/25/2024

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: mild-moderate pulling; hypervigilant and easily startled Reactivity to humans: avoids Reactivity to dogs: ignores - avoids Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): pacing, seeks exits but accepts chicken Call over: no approach; fearful Sociability comments: huffs at assistant from across the room with low, crouched body Handling Soft handling: trembles, accepts contact, tense, tail tucked, pants Exuberant handling: trembles, accepts contact, tense, tail tucked, pants Handling comments: Arousal Jog: follows, body low, tail tucked Arousal comments: Knock: no respnse Knock Comments: Toy: grips, drops, scurries away from prop hand Toy comments:

Summary:: Due to Melda entering the facility as a stray, there is no prior dog-to-dog history recorded. 04/02/24 Melda is introduced to a novel male dog while off leash at the care center. Melda greets the novel male dog bashfully with a soft body. Melda walks away ending the interaction. 03/24/24 Melda is introduced to a novel male dog while off leash at the care center. Melda is avoidant, reluctant to greet the novel male dog. She approaches the gate cautiously, making an effort to greet the novel male, but her fearfulness prevents her from doing so. Melda maintains her distance away from the gate in which the novel male dog is.

Summary (6):: 06/10/24 Melda's behavior remains the same. Her leash biting has increased when in kennel, biting the lead before being able to be leashed. Once leashed however, the biting stops. 06/03/24 As the handler attempts to leash Melda, she begins to bite the lead. Melda will bite and pull on the lead as the handler attempts to leash her several times. Melda is finally leashed when another handler approaches and assists by waving a treat in her face, distracting her while she is leashed. They proceed outside for a walk. Melda displays a loose, wiggly frame while slightly pulling on leash. Melda will jump and spin exuberantly and pull in different directions. Melda take treats moderately as they are administered to here. She doesn't care much whether she is touched or not displaying her wiggly frame while being pet. Melda is returned to the facility where she enters the building and her kennel with no issue. 5/27/24: Melda was leashed with ease and taken outside for a street walk. Melda walked confidently ahead of handler at a moderate pace, occasionally stopping to sniff in grassy areas. Melda would check in with handler by looking back at them and gave a low tail wag when handler spoke to her. Melda remained calm and loose-bodied throughout interaction. Melda and handler walked briskly back inside as it was beginning to thunderstorm. She was returned to kennel with ease. 05/20/24 The handler approaches Melda's kennel and she is standing on the kennel door with a loose frame and wagging tail. Melda drops down to all fours and attempts to dodge the lead, however, the handler is able to lassoes her with no issue. Melda is taken for a walk. Melda displays a loose, wiggly frame while moderately trotting beside the handler. Melda will sit firmly when wanting a treat, taking them gently when administered. Melda is exuberant and playful, play bowing at the handler and spinning. Melda is returned to the facility where she enters the building and her kennel with no issue. 05/13/24 Melda's behavior remains the same, aside from her dodging the leash. Today she will take an administered treat while the loop of the lead is placed onto her. Please refer to (05/08/24) note for more details.

Summary (7):: 05/08/24 Melda is at the front of her kennel jumping exuberantly. The handler attempts to leash Melda, but she ducks, dodges and jumps in and out of play bow. Melda will continue to do so as the handler makes attempts, and the handler administers her treats. In the process of administering treats the handler leashes her and they proceed outside for a walk. Melda is taken to the yard first, displaying a loose, wiggly body, trotting beside the handler. The handler places a drag leash onto her and she free roams around the yard. The handler and Melda engage with a ball as she chases it and then leaves it. The handler and Melda leave the property and proceed to walk. Melda will relieve herself and she is returned to the facility. Melda enters the building and her kennel with no issue. 04/21/24: Melda greets the handler lying in the back of her kennel. As the handler removes the kennel blocker Melda gets up and approaches. The handler leashes her with no issues and guides her out of the kennel. Melda would hard pull through out walks ahead of the handler. She pull towards what ever arouses her interest. With Sudden noises Melda will go into a flight/ fear response and attempt to run forward to escape. Melda is escorted back to their kennel where she is unleashed without any issues. 04/16/24: Melda greets the handler lying in the back of her kennel. As the handler removes the kennel blocker Melda gets up and approaches. The handler leashes her with no issues and guides her out of the kennel. Melda would hard pull through out walks ahead of the handler. Melda is escorted back to their kennel and Melda is unleashed without any issues. 04/05/24: Melda is laying at the front of her kennel low growling at the handler when he approaches, handler administer treats to melda and slowly opens kennel gate to leash her, melda is easily leash and proceeds to outside for her relief walk, melda hard pulls the whole walk with a a tucked tail, ears back, forward motion while on a loose leash. Meld is walked back inside of the facility and returned back to her kennel with no issues safe and secure. 03/24/24: Melda greets the handler sitting on a cot in the back of the kennel. The handler leashes her with no issues and guides her out of the kennel. Melda cautiously approaches the handler and follows. Melda was led to the play yard. Melda would explore the yard scenting here and there. She is leashed and escorted back to her kennel. Melda was unleashed with no issues.

Date of intake:: 3/22/2024

Date of initial:: 3/23/2024

Summary:: seeks exit, pace, pant, tense

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history of Melda so we cannot be certain of her behavior in a home environment. However, she is a young dog who will need daily mental and physical activity to keep her engaged and exercised. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in addition to physical exercise, to positively direct her energy and enthusiasm.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: Level 4

Recommendations:: No children (under 13)

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to the level of fearfulness, anxiety, and avoidance Melda has displayed during her stay and throughout her assessment, we recommend an adult-only home for her at this time.

Potential challenges: : Anxiety,Fearful,Leash-biting

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful & Anxiety: Melda has been intensely fearful and anxious during her stay and throughout her assessment. She paces, pants, and seeks exits, avoiding most interactions with handlers. Her body remains tense, low to the ground, and she is easily startled by most movements and sounds. It is important to always go slow and give Melda the option to walk away from any social interaction. She should never be forced to approach anything that she is uncomfortable with or to submit to petting or handling. It should always be Melda’s choice to approach a new person or thing. Melda would do best in an initially calm and quiet home environment and should be given time to acclimate to her new surroundings. Please see the handout on the Decompression Period and Generalized Anxiety.