Date of intake:: 8/17/2024

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray (limited history; spent time in caretakers home)

Behavior toward strangers:: Hercules is outgoing with strangers and visitors.

Behavior toward children:: Hercules is friendly around children but prefers contact on his own terms

Behavior toward dogs:: Hercules will lunge at unfamiliar dogs on or off leash. It is unknow how He reacts to familiar dogs.

Behavior toward cats:: unknown

Resource guarding:: None Reported

Bite history:: None Reported

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Medium

Other Notes:: Goes out for walks on cement, grass, and dirt Hercules is fearful of loud noises Moderate to hard pulling while walking on leash He isn't bothered when held or restrained, disturbed while sleeping, is pushed off furniture or is touched by collar and paws. Hercules is a sweet and loving teddy bear who likes to snuggle and belly rubs. He like greenies and beef chews. Hercules pulls hard on the leash and goes on 4 walks at day for 30 minutes at a time.

Date of assessment:: 8/19/2024

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: loose Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: Inconclusive- didn't walk pass dogs Leash walking comments: hx of lunging at other dogs on leash Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Moderately social Call over: Approaches with coaxing- neutral body, panting Sociability comments: gently takes treats, allowed petting, timid, tucked tail when entering room, seeking exit, warms up with treats Handling Soft handling: Allowed handling- neutral body panting Exuberant handling: Allowed handling- neutral body panting Handling comments: Arousal Jog: Follows with 2 passes, Arousal comments: slow movement (bad hips) Knock: Ignores Knock Comments: None Toy: Sniffs walks away Toy comments: None

Summary:: Due to Hercules entering the facility as a stray, there is no prior dog-to-dog history recorded. 9/3: Hercules is taken for an adoption interaction with potential adopters and their resident small dog. Hercules initially greets the potential adopters and the small dog with a soft body. Hercules will sniff the little dog's genitals and remain neutral. While the handler is speaking to the adopters, Hercules pins down the little dog. However, the handler reacts, restraining Hercules and immediately moving him away before anything escalated further. 08/22/24 Hercules is introduced to a novel female greeter while off leash at the care center. Hercules doesn't greet, ignoring the greeter dog and walking away. Hercules will seek attention from the handler before being returned to kennel.

Summary (6):: 9/13/24: Hercules is jumping at the from his kennel door before even being approached, barking at the kennel door but very faintly due to losing his voice from barking and panting heavily in between barking. Hercules is easily leashed and brought out of his kennel where he is panting heavily and jumping on the handler repeatedly in a social manner, being refocused with treats but continues to be exuberant. Hercules outside comes into close proximity with other dogs, and stares but does not react further then that. Hercules is engaged in a BAT exercise when he sees other dogs to be rewarded at different distances that he does not react from. Hercules is very engaged, and begins to lean his body in for petting and throughout the walk begins to slowly loosen his body language and pant less. Hercules is taken back to his kennel with no issue. 09/05/24: Hercules is jumping on the glass of the kennel as the handler approaches. He repeatedly attempts to bark, but has lost his voice. He is easily leashed and pulls moderately to the play yards where he is placed on a drag leash. Hercules engages readily with the LATTE enrichment items, maintaining a loose, soft body throughout. He quickly understands orienting to the handler to move to the next item and does so readily. Hercules leans into contact with a soft body. He is easily leashed pulls moderately. As Hercules and the handler walk back towards the care center, another dog is being walked on the opposite side of the fence. Hercules initially shows minimal interest, but lunges as the dog comes within five feet. Hercules is easily redirected and returned to kennel without issue.

Summary (7):: 09/03/24 While on an interaction with a little dog, Hercules greets the little dog and their owners with a soft, relaxed body. Hercules will sniff the little dogs genitals and remain neutral. While the handler is speaking to the owners, Hercules pins down the little dog, however, the handler acts fast, stiff-arming Hercules and immediately moving him away. Hercules is returned to kennel as a result. 9/1/2024: Hercules stood and jumped up on the front of his kennel as handlers approached. He allowed a novel the handler to leash him and pulled hard out of the room. In the behavior room, Hercules allowed staff to attach a drag leash, and was observed panting and pacing the room while sniffing in corners. He briefly engaged with the LATTE enrichment items and followed staff around, gently taking treats from staff. Hercules sat next to staff at the computer and would whine when staff stopped petting him. When it was time to leave, Hercules avoided being leashed and began jumping up at staff. He allowed a familiar staff to leash him and returned to his kennel without incident. 08/19/24: Hercules is standing at the front of kennel with a loose body as handler approaches. He jumps up on kennel door excitedly and is leashed with ease. Hercules walks with a loose leash to the Canine Behavior Office for assessment (see Behavior Assessment for further details). Hercules will initially begin exit seeking but after a few minutes settles. He is social with handlers throughout. Hercules is leashed and returns to kennel safely.

Date of intake:: 8/17/2024

Summary:: loose, allows handling, fearful walking down hallway

ENERGY LEVEL:: Hercules is described by his previous owners as having a medium energy level. He will need daily mental and physical activity to keep him engaged and exercised.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: Level 3

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),Single-pet home,Recommend no dog parks

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Hercules fearfulness and anxiety displayed in care, we recommend he goes to a home without children. Single-pet home/Recommend no dog parks- Due to Hercules's reactivity to other dogs in care, we recommend for him to be the only dog in the home and not attend dog parks.

Potential challenges: : Fearful,Anxiety,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Strength/leash pulling

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful: Hercules in care is a bit fearful in care. We recommend going slow with him and allowing him to solicit attention and interactions on his own accord. See handout on Decompression Period. Anxiety: Hercules is anxious in care, panting and seeking exit during interactions. We recommend long walks and puzzle toys to help control his anxiety. See handout on Generalized Anxiety. On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration: Hercules is noted to lunge at dogs on leash. Hercules may need positive reinforcement, reward based training to teach him to look at you rather than other dogs. We recommend a front clip harness or head halter to help manage this behavior. Strength/leash pulling: Hercules is a very large, strong dog with the capability to pull over an average adopter. His adopter must be prepared and able to handle a dog of this size and strength. It is recommended that he be walked on a front clip harness or head halter, which help diminish his strength through leverage, and that he be trained using positive reinforcement, reward based training to not pull on leash.