Date of intake:: 9/17/2024

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

Previously lived with:: 1 adult

Behavior toward strangers:: Barking, will warm up and be outgoing

Behavior toward children:: unknown

Behavior toward dogs:: Unknown

Behavior toward cats:: unknown

Resource guarding:: No known history of Resource guarding.

Bite history:: No known Bte history.

Housetrained:: No

Energy level/descriptors:: Milo is reported to have a high energy level

Other Notes:: When Milo is disturbed during sleep, she may bark or growl. It is unknown how Milo will react when restrained, startled, pulled or pushed off furniture, or if her paws are touched or collar is grabbed. Milo is an affectionate and social female dog. She enjoys playing constantly and loves car rides. Milo goes for walks and tends to pull on the leash most of the time. With her high energy, Milo requires space to run and enjoys chasing balls in grassy areas. She still needs training in house manners. Milo likes to be close to her people and becomes vocal when seeking attention.

Date of assessment:: 8/14/2024

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Loose Reactivity to humans: Ignores Reactivity to dogs: Inconclusive-Didnt walk pass dogs Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Stays near handler, timid quickly warms up when given treats. Call over: Comes when coaxes- soft body, zoomies Sociability comments: Handling Soft handling: Tolerant- Stiff body Exuberant handling: Tolerant- shakes off, soft body Handling comments: Arousal Jog: Folow- panting, bouncy Arousal comments: Knock: approaches- panting, wags tail Knock Comments: Toy: Approaches - wags tail bounces off Toy comments:

Summary (6):: 09/30/24 Milo is vocalizing and spinning in her kennel when she sees the handler she's familiar with. Milo has her collar clipped with a lead and is taken for a walk. Milo will hop out, barking at the other dogs in their kennels, followed by a spin exiting the kennel room. Milo displays a loose, wiggly frame as she scales the handler to solicit pets. Milo will look up and stare at the handler during the process, receiving pets to her chin. The two will commence their walk. Milo goes on a lengthy walk where she is visibly relaxed, less tense and calmly exploring in different areas they stop at. Milo is returned to the facility where she enters the building as well as her kennel with no issue. 09/26/24: Milo is laying down sleeping in kennel upon handler’s arrival and will excitedly jump up and run to the front of her kennel pawing at the glass as she wiggle her body waiting for handler to leash her. The slip lead will be clipped to Milo’s collar and she’s brought out to the play yard where a drag leash is placed on her and handler will begin squeezing and tossing soft toys for Milo to retrieve. Milo will run back and forth retrieving the toys for an amount of 12 times making her tired and she will eventually lay down. Milo will be brought back into the care center and returned to her kennel safely with no issues. 09/25/24 Milo is in the front of her kennel door vocalizing at the handler with a loose, wiggly body. Milo is leashed but due to her wiggles, has the loop around her body. The handler adjusts it and proceeds outside for a walk. Milo maintains a loose, wiggly frame as she trots alongside the handler. Milo climbs the handler to solicit pets as well as pawing at the handler. Milo and the handler will commence their walk, returning back to the facility as she enters it with no issue. Milo will enter her kennel quickly.

Summary (7):: Previous stay at ACC: 09/04/24 Milo is standing on her bed with a wagging tail. She exuberantly jumps onto her kennel door before being leashed and taken for a walk. Milo displays a loose, wiggly frame while prancing alongside the handler. Milo will take treats gently and sit firmly when wanting one. Milo will allow touch as she scales the handler to be pet. She will remain standing on the handler as she receives pets to her head. Milo is returned to the facility where she enters the building as well as her kennel with no issue. 08/25/24: Milo is observed to hard bark, and jump up on kennel door whenever a dog is walked past. Behavior staff has placed a cover on the side of her kennel closest to exit door until a better kennel location can be secured. 08/25/24: Milo is loose and wiggly in kennel and will be leashed and brought for an enrichment walk, while walking the perimeter Milo will remain soft and loose practicing sit ques When there are dogs passing by for her dog reactivity, Milo will listen to the sit que when there’s a dog passing and will receive her reward happily, handler will also reward Milo with head rubs and tell her “good girl” with a soft exciting voice. Milo will be walked back to the care center and returned to her kennel safely with no issues. 08/15/24: Milo is observed hard barking and lunging at the kennel door each time a dog is walked past. 08/08/24: Milo is loose and wiggly in kennel upon handler’s arrival and will be leashed with ease and brought out for a walk. Milo will demonstrate a loose form as she takes a long walk to dunkin with her handler and will walk on a loose and take cheese treat from handlers hand. Milo will sit as she’s ask of when approaching a red light and wait until handler says “OK” then will walk along side of her handler maintaining a neutral form checking in with handler periodically when she walks to far ahead. Milo will eat cheesy bread with handler on the walk back to the care center passing plenty of people and dogs and remaining non-reactive. Milo will be brought back into the facility and returned to her kennel safely. 08/06/24: Milo is laying at the back of kennel with a neutral body as handler approaches. Once he sees handler, his body becomes slightly tense. Handler speaks to Milo in a soft voice and kneels down with kennel door slightly open. They toss treats in to Milo's kennel and he sniffs but does not eat them. Milo begins trembling and comes forward briefly, sniffing the handler's hand and leash before backing away. He retreats to the back of kennel again and begins growling and chuffing at handler. Handler closes kennel door and exits room. 8/4: Staff report being unable to remove Milo from her kennel due to lunging, growling, and snapping at leashes or handlers.

Date of intake:: 9/17/2024

Date of initial:: 9/17/2024

Summary:: nervous but 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 Milo's high level of fearful and defensive behavior we recommend Milo be placed in an adult-only home at this time. Place with a New Hope partner- Milo came into the care center as an owner surrender after being recently adopted and was returned due to her being hyperactive and barking. In her previous home, Milo was reported to growl or bark if disturbed while sleeping. An incident occurred where Milo’s owner tried to stop her barking by forcefully saying "NO." This frustrated Milo, leading her to snap at the owner’s right wrist. When the owner repeated "NO," Milo again went for the wrist but did not bite down or cause any wounds. In his prior stay at the care center, Milo showed significant fear, often growling and cowering away from handlers. Milo has shown to become social with staff members and enjoys treats and toys offered to her. To help Milo overcome his fearfulness, it is important to use gradual desensitization techniques alongside positive reinforcement. Milo is available for adoption/foster through one of our new hope partners.

Potential challenges: : Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful/potential for defensive aggression-In his previous home, it was reported that Milo would bark or growl if disturbed while sleeping.The prior owner reported that they were trying to get Milo to stop barking when the owner forcefully said "NO" to the dog. At the point it frustrated Milo and she snapped at the owner going for their right wrist. The owner again told Milo "NO" and the dog went for the wrist a second time making contact but did not bite down or cause any wounds.In Milo previous stay exhibits significant fear, growling, and cowering away from handlers. To help Milo overcome her fearfulness, use gradual desensitization and positive reinforcement. Identify the specific triggers that cause her fear and introduce them at a low intensity while pairing them with high-value treats. Gradually increase the intensity of the trigger while ensuring Milo remains comfortable. This process will help her build positive associations with previously fearful stimuli. Always allow Milo to approach new situations at her own pace, and never force her into uncomfortable situations. Using a calm and patient approach will help reduce her fearfulness and build her confidence. Please see the handout on Fearful/potential for defensive aggression. On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration- Milo is observed hard barking and lunging at the kennel door each time a dog is walked past.