Date of intake:: 2/3/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: Yes

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Returned

Other Notes:: Gus was returned to the care center due to his reactivity, the owner stated that he was highly reactive towards other dogs while on leash. They also stated that Gus tried to "attack" the resident dog. Previous stay- 01/03/26: Stray, No known history. During his previous stay Gus was obsvered to be fearful and would thrash while on leash. **Previous assessments can be given upon request**

Date of assessment:: 2/3/2026

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: None Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: None Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Distracted Call over: No approach Sociability comments: Sniffing around the room, seeking toys Soft handling: Accepts contact Exuberant handling: Accepts contact Comments: Neutral body Arousal Jog comments: Follows handler, neutral body Knock Knock comments: No approach Toy Toy comments: Becomes tense, hovers, lunges towards the assess-a-hand and vocalizes

Summary:: 1/13/26: Gus greets another dog at the gate with a neutral body. He then begins to pace the pen. 2/5/26: Gus greets another dog at the gate with a tense body and growls.

Summary (5):: 2/8/26- Gus is at the front of his kennel with a neutral body, he is easily leashed. He allows handler to clip to his harness without issue and is taken for a street walk. He has a mild to moderate pull and gently takes treats. He jumps on handler with a soft body and he allows them to scratch his head, neck and back. He sniffs around and has no reaction to passing people. When returning to the building Gus continuously jumps on handler seeking treats and pushing his snout into their treat pouch. Handler zipped their pouch but Gus keeps pushing his snout into it. Handler has Gus sit and gives a scratch instead of using treats. He then goes to sniff around and stops jumping/ muzzle pushing into their treat pouch. He goes into kennel without issue and allows handler to unclip from their harness. 2/7/26: Gus is observed to be at the front of his kennel pacing back and forth. 2/5/26: Gus is at the front of his kennel pacing back and forth. He is easily leashed and brought out the room. The handler pets Gus and he begins to jump up softly to the handler’s face a few times. Once he stops, the handler walks Gus downstairs and brings him to the yard. He sniffs around and jumps up to another handlers face (see dog dog notes). Afterwards, the handler walks Gus inside. He jumps up to familiar handlers with a. Soft body. Afterwards, the handler clips their leash and returns Gus to kennel with ease. 2/3/26: Gus is standing at the front of his kennel as the handler approaches. He is easily leashed. Once outside, his body is relaxed and his tail is held high and ears forward (note that he is a husky). He sniffs around and checks in with and without prompting. He takes treats and allows petting on his head and back. He is easily returned to the building and kennel. 2/2/26: Gus is standing at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He is able to be leashed with ease and he is then taken outside for a walk. On the walk, he has a loose and wiggly body as he walks ahead of the handler to explore and mark his territory. He has no reactions to people and would stare a dogs that were across the street. He is comfortable taking treats and is able to return back to his kennel with no issues. 2/1/26: Gus is observed to be pacing back and forth while heavy panting while at the front of his kennel.

Summary (6):: 1/24/26: Gus is at front of kennel with a neutral body. As handler unlocks kennel Gus adopts a loose and wiggle body. He is easily leashed and escorted outside for a walk. Once outside Gus jumps into snow banks and mouths at the snow, eating a little. He continues to bounce in and out of the snow for the duration of his walk. He is returned to kennel with no issue. 1/22/26: Gus is at the front of his kennel with a soft body. He is easily leashed and brought out the room. On the street, Gus walks ahead and next to the handler with no leash tension. He takes treats softly and allows pets from the handler. Gus also doesn’t display any interest in passersby. The handler jogs Gus to the driveway; he attempts to pull towards a staff member, but the handler walks him inside. The handler clips their leash and return Gus kennel to his with ease. 1/14/26: Gus is at the front of the kennel pacing back and forth and heavy panting. He is leashed easily and taken out to the street. Gus relieves himself and pulls moderately. He continues to heavy pant on the street. Gus is walked to the assessment office. He jumps up onto the assessor still panting. A leash is clipped to his collar. After Gus' assessment, he jumps up onto the couch and sits, he does not want to get down from the couch. Handler opens the door and calls him over and he jumps down. Gus is walked to the kennel room and when the handler pre-clips his leash, Gus bucks and attempts to thrash. He is then successfully pre-clipped and stops. Gus is brought into the kennel room with gentle leash pressure and returned to kennel without issue. 1/14/26: Gus has been observed to be heavy panting and pacing in kennel. 01/08/26: Gus is at the front of his kennel sitting as handler approaches. He is offered treats but does not accept any, he is leashed and taken to the street for his walk. During the walk Gus frequently stops to sniff and to relieve himself outside. He passes people on the street without issue and when seeing dogs from afar shows no reaction, he walks with handler pulling mildly as he walks and is generally aloof when walking. After a while he is brought back inside, handler jogs Gus back to kennel, he stops at the front and enters with slight leash pressure, interaction is then ended.

Summary (7):: 1/7/26: Gus us at the front of his kennel panting, leaning against the kennel door. He is easily leashed and removed from kennel. Gus is walked on the street where he moves side to side in front of handler to sniff spots. He is not interested in treats and is slightly aloof, not checking in with handler. When returning to the shelter, handler jogs him into the kennel room and he goes into his kennel without issue. 1/6/25 (PM walks): Gus is at the front of his kennel with a neutral body. He is easily leashed and brought out the room. On the street, Gus walks ahead with mild leash tension, and at times, walks in a zig-zag pattern. Gus allows pets from the handler, but doesn't take treats. He also has slight interest in passersby, and relieves himself a few times. Before entering the building, the handler clips their leash and walks Gus inside. Once outside his kennel, Gus spins around to face the handler and slowly sits down. As the handler gently applies leash pressure, Gus snaps at the leash and begins to vocalize. When the handler tries again, he slightly thrashes. As the handler attempts to pull him out the room, Gus doesn't move. The handler then calls for assistance; once other handlers arrive, the handler closes the kennel door, and as they apply leash pressure, Gus finally walks out the room. The handler brings Gus into the office; there, he is panting non-stop, even while being petted. After a few minutes, a second handler places a sling under Gus, and both handlers walk him back to his kennel. They use pressure for Gus to enter, and once he is inside, they are able to remove their leash and sling with ease. 1/6/25: ACS report that Gus began thrashing and snapping at the handler when they went to return him to kennel. Gus has to be muscled into kennel. 1/5/26: ACS report that Gus did not want to return to kennel and began thrashing while on leash. A sling (belly band) was required to return him to kennel. 1/5/26- Gus is at the front of his kennel with a soft body, he is easily leashed and taken for a street walk. He has a mild to moderate pull at times, he sees another dog and he has a soft body with wagging tail, he disengages on his own and follows handler. He is social with them and gently takes treats. He has no reaction to any stimuli. He is taken for his assessment where he is social with handlers, gently takes treats. He stays by one handler, jumping on their chair seeking more treats with the occasionally whine. He is leashed and returned to kennel without issue.

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Gus so we cannot be certain of their behavior in a home environment. However, they will need daily mental and physical activity to stay engaged and exercised. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in additional to physical exercise, to positively direct their energy and enthusiasm.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: Level 4

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),Recommend no dog parks

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to fearful behavior and resource guarding we recommend an adult only home. No Dog Parks: Due to on leash reactivity we recommend no trips to the dog park.

Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Basic manners/poor impulse control,Fearful,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration

Potential challenges comments:: Resource Guarding: During his previous stay Gus was observed to become tense and hover over a toy in his possession. During his current stay Gus became tense, lunged at the assess-a-hand and growled. Nothing should ever be taken directly out of Gus' mouth, and any time something is removed they should be rewarded with a high value treat or toy. Please see handout on Resource Guarding. Basic Manners: Gus has been observed to jump up on handlers. It is recommended that default behaviors such as "Sit" and "Off" are reinforced to substitute any frustration and teach them to control their impulses instead of simply reacting; proper management is also advised. Force-free, reward-based training only is recommended. Please see handout on Basic Manners. Fearful: Gus has been observed to become tense during handling and contact. When being returned to kennel Gus is observed to escalate to thrashing intensely and snapping at handlers. It is important to move slowly with Gus, to build positive associations (treats/toys/praise), and to allow them to initiate interactions with new people. They should never be forced to greet or to interact if they are not comfortable and soliciting attention. Please see handout on Fearful and Defensive Aggression. On Leash Reactivity: Gus was returned to the care center due to on leash reactivity towards dogs. Gus will need positive reinforcement, reward based training to teach them to look at you rather than other dogs. We recommend a front clip harness to help manage this behavior. Please see handout on On Leash Reactivity and Barrier Frustration.