Date of intake:: 9/20/2024

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

Previously lived with:: Children (8, 13), Adults

Behavior toward strangers:: Playful, Friendly & Outgoing

Behavior toward children:: Playful

Behavior toward dogs:: Hard barks and/or growls, Playful

Behavior toward cats:: No experience

Resource guarding:: Pepper finds toys, food, treats of a high value. He has a tense body or hovers over them.

Bite history:: No bite history

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: High

Other Notes:: Goes potty on: Wee-wee pads, Designated area in home Accident frequency: Never Behavior concerns: Escapes house/yard, Jumps up and bites/chews leash during walks Reacts to on walks: Strangers that approach you/family members, "Moving objects (bikes, skateboards, cars, etc.)" Reaction type: Other Additional info: Typically gets excited and runs faster or sniffs around the area. How this dog reacts when... - Held/restrained: Snaps - Disturbed while resting/sleeping: Isn't bothered - Startled: Isn't bothered - Pushed/pulled off furniture: Isn't bothered - Paws are touched: Isn't bothered - Collar grabbed/touched: Isn't bothered

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Moderate Reactivity to humans: None - ignores Reactivity to dogs: None - ignores Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Moderately social Call over: Approaches with coaxing Sociability comments: Handling Soft handling: Accepts contact - leans in, soft body Exuberant handling: Accepts contact - leans in, soft body, stress yawns Handling comments: Arousal Jog: Engages in play, rough/exuberant Arousal comments: Knock Knock Comments: Approaches, loose Toy Toy comments: Grips, moves away

Summary:: 9/24: Pepper has a high tail, neutral body when greeting M LMB dog. He walks away on his own.

Summary (1):: Pepper is described as very active, playful, vocal, social and affectionate. Pepper avoids water and can be difficult to groom. He walks nicely on leash. Pepper is reported to get car sick. He knows the cue sit. His previous owner's favorite thing about him is he is energetic and adorable. He loves squeaky toys and chew toys.

Summary (5):: 11/25: Pepper is jumping up and down in his kennel. Once secured he hops as he leaves the room. He is brought to the yard and stands up against the toy bin. She allows the staff member to reach in and grab a soft toy. He engages in play, trading toys. He leans into pets, appreciating attention. At the end of the session, he begins jumping up and becoming mouthy with no pressure. One handler holds his leash as he is perched on her and the other secures a slip lead. Once they start walking, he redirects his attention and returns without issue. 11.17 Pepper is easily leashed and led out to the yard. Toys are thrown and he follows running back and forth with treats in his mouth. After a while he begins to get zoomie, beginning to jump up and mouth staff's elbow. Treats are thrown to redirect him and his leash is grabbed and he stops. Treats are used to leash him and he is brought back to his kennel. 11/12: Pepper was jumping up and down. It took several attempts to leash him. Once out of the kennel, he was jumping on his back legs to exit. On the walk, he was pulling hard. Mid-walk, he saw someone across the street and became fixated on him. The handler attempts to redirect his attention. Pepper began to thrash and bite the leash. He was stiff-armed and then bit the handler's wrist, and elbow and grabbed his jacket by the shoulder. The handler stiff-armed him again and he began to spin. He eventually tired out and was able to be walked back without further issue.

Summary (6):: 11/10: Pepper is jumping up and down on approach. He pauses briefly and is secured by handler. He is exuberant leaving the room, jumping from side to side. He finds a soft toy on the grass and engages in play. He carries it a few steps, drops it, then returns to pick it up and carry it with him. He eventually leaves it and continues on the walk. He pulls on and off to get to scents. He returns without issue. 11/03 As staff member approaches, Pepper is jumping around in his kennel. A treat is used to rope him and walk him out of the room. When outside Pepper begins to pull towards the gate. Staff member proceeds to take pepper on a walk. While walking Pepper is highly observant and sniffing around. Pepper is then walked back to his kennel and walked in with ease. 10/21: Pepper is jumping up and down in his kennel. He is directed to four on the floor and quickly leashed. He attempts to look into other dog's kennels but is moved along into the hallway. He is rope-harnessed at the door and brought on a walk. He checks in with handler often. He seeks attention from staff members he passes in the hall and returns without issue. 10/13: Pepper is jumping up on the kennel door. Once secured he walks out and pulls on the end of the leash. He is brought to the yard and let off the leash. He keeps to himself exploring on his own. He approaches staff and leans into pets looking up at her with an open mouth. As staff walk towards the door to end the session, Pepper zooms about the yard. He runs between their leg and bites onto their sweatshirt. Staff grabs Pepper's drag leash and holds him still as he recovers. The slip lead is put over his head and he is returned without further issue.

Summary (7):: 10/2: Pepper was jumping at the kennel door as staff arrived. A second staff member uses a treat to lure him through the loop and he is roped. Pepper pulls hard on the leash as he is brought out to the yard. A drag leash is secured to him and he runs around the yard, exploring. Pepper allowed staff to rope harness him and was walked around the yard as well. He was let loose again and accepted pets to his head and body, leaning into them. Throughout the session, Pepper had a high tail, perked ears, open mouth, and a loose body. When it is time to go back inside, Pepper was avoiding being leashed. He shows displacement behavior: moving away from staff, sniffing around. Once leashed and being walked in the halls, Pepper frequently lays down and refuses to move. He is motivated to walk by another staff member using sausages. Pepper goes into his kennel and is unleashed without issue. 9/26: Pepper was at the kennel front pacing back and forth on approach. Once secured he walks out and pulls into the hall. He is brought to the yard and a drag leash is attached. He explores on his own, engaging in play, running up to staff play bowing, leaning into pets, and then running off. He gets the zoomies and runs right under the staff members legs as they sit on the bench. When ending the session, Pepper zooms about the yard then runs around staff member's leg and stands up against her. She grabs his leash and removes him, holding him away from herself to read his body language. He is soft-bodied, open mouth, panting. She walks him to the gate, secures her slip lead and he is returned without issue.   9/22: Pepper is easily leashed and exits his kennel. He is brought to the yard and a drag leash is attached. A staff member sits on the bench, and Pepper is hesitant to walk under the tent. Treats are tossed on the floor and he walks over to inspect. He eats select treats. Staff pets him on the back, and he remains aloof with a neutral body. At the end of the session, he is lured through the loop with a treat and receives pets on his back and shoulder. He attempts to greet dogs when being returned to the kennel. 9.21 Pepper was at the front of his kennel when approached. He was easily roped and taken on a walk. When leaving the dog room Pepper ignored the other dogs. On the walk Pepper had a loose body and pulled a moderate amount. Pepper was then taken into the yard. Pepper wandered the yard and when called would approach staff and accept pets. He would occasionally stress yawn in the yard. He met a medium mix breed through a gate, and Pepper approached with a neutral body and was alert just sniffing at the other dog and was easily walk

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: Level 4

Recommendations:: No children (under 13)

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Pepper is initially fearful. He does well with a slow considerate approach. We believe he would do best in a home with no children (under 13).

Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Basic manners/poor impulse control,Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful,Leash-biting,Bite history (human)

Potential challenges comments:: Resource guarding: Pepper finds toys, food, treats of a high value. He has a tense body or hovers over them. We recommend never taking anything directly from Pepper, but always trading for something of an equal or higher value. Please see handout on Resource Guarding. Basic manners/poor impulse control: Pepper lacks basic manners. He is reported to jump up often. We have seen this behavior in the care center as well. It is recommended that default behaviors such as "Leave it", "Sit/Stay", "Down" are reinforced to substitute any frustration and teach him to control his impulses instead of simply reacting; proper management is also advised. Please see handout on Basic Manners and Impulse Control. Handling/touch sensitivity: Pepper is reported to snap if held or restrained. During his first couple of days, he would flinch when pet by staff. He is warming up and appreciating attention more, but he requires a slow approach from new people. Please see handout on Handling and Touch Sensitivity. Fearful: Pepper is fearful at times in his new environment. He was backing away from novel objects. He can be unsure when in new situations, meeting new people, or visiting new places. Please see handout on Fearful. Bite history (human): While on a walk with staff, Pepper became aroused. He began to bite the leash and when staff tightened the slip lead and escalated to biting their wrist and elbow with moderate pressure. Pepper did not leave bruising, broken skin, or marks however, adopters should be aware that he may escalate to mouthing with pressure when aroused. Please see handout on Bite History. Leash-biting: Pepper is reported to leash bite while out on walks. We 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.