Date of intake:: 12/3/2024

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

Previously lived with:: 2 adults, 2 children ( 7 and 8 Y/O)

Behavior toward strangers:: friendly and outgoing around strangers.

Behavior toward children:: friendly, outgoing, and playful

Behavior toward dogs:: friendly, outgoing, and playful with familiar and unfamiliar dogs.

Behavior toward cats:: Unknown

Resource guarding:: No reported resource guarding.

Bite history:: No reported Bite history.

Housetrained:: Yes

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

Other Notes:: Hammer is a very playful dog, while on walks he will become excited when he sees other dogs and will pull hard in order to greet them. He is fearful when held. He is not bothered by being woken from sleep, being startled, being pushed off furniture, having his collar touched, or having his paws touched.

Date of assessment:: 12/6/2024

Summary:: *** End of the handling assessment attempted to mount the hand and light leash biting when released, easily distracted with treats and squeaker.*** Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Loose Reactivity to humans: Ignores Reactivity to dogs: None Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Explores room- sniffs Call over: Readily approaches- jumps, allows petting, loose body, panting Sociability comments: gently takes treats Handling Soft handling: Allows- jumps on handler, Stiff, lip licks, Exuberant handling: Allows- Stiff, lip licks, Handling comments: distracted with squeaker, arousal, panting Arousal Jog: Jumps on the handler, heavy panting, distracted with squeaker Arousal comments: heavy panting Knock: Approaches- panting, sniffs Knock Comments: Toy: Bouncy, playful, loose body Toy comments:

Summary:: According to Hammer's previous owner(s), Hammer has interacted with different dogs and is often described friendly, outgoing, and playful with familiar and unfamiliar dogs. 12/08/24 Hammer is introduced to a novel female dog while off leash at the care center. Hammer will greet her at the gate will a loose frame, appearing sexually motivated as he marks in her direction, spreading his scent. Hammer will paw at the gate, standing on his tip toes to appear larger. Hammer is taken to greet her face to face. Hammer enters the pen immediately walking over to the novel female dog to scent her. She does the same. The two will exchange body contact and continue. As they exchange body contact, the novel female dog becomes aroused, and it increases with each form of contact. The novel female dog's frame becomes more tense, and she became more vocal. The body contact is excessive and neither dog disengages to shake off, so both dogs are moved away. Hammer is returned to kennel. 12/06/24: When off leash at the Care Center is introduced to a novel female dog. At the gate Hammer approaches with a soft and wiggly fame. Hammer scents the novel female. He proceeds to offers play bows before briefly drooling. The novel female is moved to the back of the pen to make space for Hammer's to enter. Once in the pen Hammer pulls over to the novel female, who approaches cautiously and they greet face to face. As Hammer scents the novel female she displays mild whale. Both dogs are separated to avoid further stress. After Hammer shakes off he turns his back and looks at the handler, the novel female re approaches cautiously, with a low head. She scents the Hammer but when he spins around to investigate, the novel female attempts to make space growing stiff. She licks her lips before hard barking and snaping towards Hammer. Both dogs are immediately separated. Due to Pocky's discomfort both dogs are separated and the interaction was ended.

Summary (6):: 01/03/24 (staff report): It is reported that while Hammer is out in the play yard, he is clipped to a drag lead and free to roam. He is playing by himself with a toy as another dog is walked by on the street. Hammer sees the other dog and then slowly approaches handler in the yard, growling. He jumps up, mouthing handler's elbow, letting go immediately before jumping up again and grabbing their sleeve in his mouth. Handler lifts their knee to create space, and Hammer jumps forward nipping their knee. (no broken skin for all) Handler is able to grab his lead and stiff arm him. Hammer is returned to kennel safely. 1/2/2025: Hammer is reported by ACS to mount on the handler while on the walk displaying heavy panting when the handler stiff-armed the leash he began to leash bite. They quickly brought him back into his kennel.

Summary (7):: 12/31/24 (Trainer Note): Hammer is standing at the front of the kennel with a neutral body as the handler approaches. He is lured through the leash and pulls moderately to the canine training room. Hammer allows the handler to attach a drag leash and explores the enrichment independently. Once he has found all of the treats, he approaches the handler to solicit more. Handler places some more in the various enrichment items and he continues to engage with a neutral body. Hammer then once again approaches the handler to solicit more treats. Handler lightly touches his chin and he initially doesn't respond, but leans in as the handler takes their hand away. He leans into contact, allowing the handler to scratch his chin, neck, and chest before turning around and allowing them to scratch his back. After a few moments, he jumps up onto the handler. Handler stands to redirect him but he jumps up again. Handler turns and he slides off. Handler then throws a handful of treats into the enrichment to redirect him. Hammer responds readily. He relaxes again, releasing tension from his body. Hammer is easily leashed and returned to kennel without issue. 12/17/24 (Trainer Note): Hammer is standing at the front of the kennel with a neutral body. He refuses to put his head through the leash, but responds to a lure. Hammer shows initial fearfulness with the enrichment items, leaning away from them as he sniffs. Handler plays the up/down game with him and Hammer intermittently engages. He becomes more interested in the treats and softens, shaking off. Hammer then engages tentatively with the various enrichment items. He accepts scratches on his neck and chest, but head whips when the handler touches his back. Hammer walks slowly back to kennel and enters. 12/13/24: Hammer is a front of the kennel with a neutral body, is able to be leashed and brought out to the street where Hammer will explore his surroundings, lean into the handler for petting and becomes a bit mouthy as the petting goes on. Hammer is regulated with treats scatters, and allowing him to sniff big patches of grass. Hammer pulls mildly on leash, does pull towards other dogs but bounces back and forth bowing at the dogs when close. Hammer is refocused with a squeaker and brought back to kennel with no issue. 12/6/24: Hammer was at the front of his kennel as handlers approached. He was leashed with ease and was walked to the behavior room for his assessment with no issues. He became very aroused and leash biting in the room. The handler had to stiff arm him, before he calmed down. Please see behavior assessment notes for more details. He pulled on the way back to his kennel.

Date of intake:: 12/3/2024

Summary:: friendly and social with staff. He walked easily back to his kennel.

Date of initial:: 12/3/2024

Summary:: Very friendly for intake! Excellent for all medical tasks.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13)- Due to Hammer potential behavior challenges we recommend he is placed in an adult-only home at this time. Place with a New Hope Partner: Due to the concerning level of arousal displayed in care and escalation towards staff, we recommend that Hammer to be placed with a New Hope Partner who can address his challenges with the use of a certified positive reinforcement trainer.

Potential challenges: : Basic manners/poor impulse control,Social hyperarousal,Mouthiness/poor bite inhibition,Fearful,Leash-biting,Low threshold for arousal

Potential challenges comments:: Mouthiness/Basic manners/poor impulse control/Social hyperarousal- During Hammer handling assessment he began to become mouth, leash bite, excessively jumping and attempt to mount the helper, he was able to be distracted with treats an squeakers. In dogs is a state of heightened excitement and alertness triggered by social interactions or environmental stimuli, leading to behaviors like excessive barking, restlessness, jumping, mouthing, and pacing. Managing this condition involves consistent training with positive reinforcement, maintaining a structured routine, minimizing exposure to triggers, ensuring ample physical exercise, and providing mental stimulation through puzzle toys and interactive games. For severe cases, consulting a veterinary behaviorist or professional dog trainer is recommended. Please see the handout on Basic manners/poor impulse control/Social hyperarousal Mouthiness/poor bite inhibition. Fearful- He is reported to become fearful when held in the prior home. It’s important to approach him with patience and gentleness. Creating a safe and calm environment can help him feel more secure. Please see the handout on the decompression period. Leash-biting- During Hammer handling assessment he shown light leash biting.