Date of intake:: 9/30/2024

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray (no known information)

Summary:: Leo is highly fearful in the care center. He is allowing for minimal handling but needs additional time to adjust to the stressful environment. Due to his stress levels, he is not a candidate for a handling assessment at this time.

Summary (6):: 10/8: Leo begins to bark when staff approaches and goes towards the back of the kennel. Once the kennel is unlocked, Leo continues barking but moves forward slowly allowing staff to leash him. Once in the yard, he begins to wander the yard and would accept pets from two staff member. When an unfamiliar staff member approached the yard, he began to bark at them. Once staff member walked away, Leo began to pace the yard seeking exit. After a few minutes, Leo was leashed and taken back into the building. Once in the dog room, he began to kennel fight until he reached his kennel.

Summary (7):: 10/3: Leo was cowering in the back of kennel and barking upon approach. He has a low head, whale eyes and is avoidant of the leash, racing back and forth. When the slip lead is tossed to attempt and lasso him, he is still and tolerant of it touching him. After a few failed attempts, a garbage can is used as a barrier. He begins to come forward to walk out and is secured. He is rushed past barking dogs and out to the yard. In the yard he paces on the end of the leash, often walking in circles. He has soft eyes and a neutral body. The second staff member pets him on the head and he remains still standing at her side. He lip licks and looks up at her so pets stop. He is walked around the building and pulls hard towards the street. He has to be coaxed along up the ramp. When returning to kennel, he reacts back to barking dogs, barking and jumping towards the kennels. He returns without further issue. He is later removed from kennel displaying the same avoidant, fearful, barking behavior. It takes a few attempts to remove him. In the yard, he tolerates a collar being placed on him and is allowed to explore on his own. He keeps his distance from handlers but checks in every so often. He begins to stand and scratch at the gate. He flinches when the slip lead is secured and allows to be unclipped. He walks slowly through the halls. In the room he becomes kennel reactive then runs into his kennel. 10.02 Leo was in the back of his kennel growling at handler. Handler was able to move his bed and and sheet out of the way. He sat at the back of the kennel with his tail tucked and a garbage can was used to secure a leash. He walked out of the kennel slowly, hackles raised while passing neighboring dogs. He was taken for a walk, while cars were passing by he began to pull away. He was brought to the yard and kept on leash. He walked around sniffing for a bit then would stand in front of the the gate pawing at it to leave. He was able to stand next to handler allowing his body to rub against handler. He was brought inside and easily unleashed. 09/30/24 3:21pm When handlers approached finders car with drag leash, the window to the car was cracked open and the dog stuck his head out of the window and was alert barking. One handler distracted the dog to get the first slip lead on, because they had to do it through the window and did not want to risk the dog getting loose a second slip lead was added. Upon exiting the car, the dog had a tense nervous body and did not want to continue walking forward. When pressure was applied with both drag leashes the dog started alligator rolling in distress, biting the rocks outside the shelter, holding onto the leash, and tried hiding in the plants. Handlers eased on the pressure and allowed the dog to calm down before continuing into the shelter. Once at the kennel door, the dog tensed up but was ultimately placed in kennel with no further issues.

Date of intake:: 9/30/2024

Summary:: alert barking, alligator rolling, panicked

Date of initial:: 10/3/2024

Summary:: nervous, but allowed some handling

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to high level of fear, we recommend an adult only home at this time. Place with a New Hope partner: Heid has not acclimated well to the kennel environment and has allowed only minimal handling since intake. 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: : Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Anxiety,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Strength/leash pulling

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Leo 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 Leo, to build positive associations (treats/toys/praise), and to allow Leo 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 Fearful Potential for Defensive Aggression. Anxiety: Leo is highly anxious in the care center environment. We have no history on his behavior in a home environment, so we do not know if this will occur outside of the care center. If it does appear in a 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 Generalized Anxiety. On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration: Leo can be reactive to staff and other dogs through a barrier. Please see handout on Barrier Frustration. Strength/leash pulling: Leo can pull hard, especially when he is in a high state of fear. He becomes fearful on walks and his foster or adopter must be able to manage his strength. Please see handout on Leash Manners.