Date of intake:: 11/22/2024

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

Previously lived with:: 2 Adults 2 children (2 & 3 y/o)

Behavior toward strangers:: friendly, playful, and outgoing with strangers.

Behavior toward children:: friendly, playful, and tolerant with children.

Behavior toward dogs:: Bruno will bark and pull towards other dogs to play with them.

Behavior toward cats:: Bruno will bark at stray cats

Resource guarding:: No history of resource guarding.

Bite history:: No bite history

Housetrained:: Yes

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

Other Notes:: Bruno was noted to have general anxiety and will wine. Bruno is anxious when left home alone. Bruno has destructive tendencies when his harness is left on him. During Walks, Bruno will lunge, chase, and bark at small animals (squirrels, birds, and raccoons). During the fall season, Bruno loves to chase falling leaves. Bruno isn't bothered when held, restrained, disturbed while sleeping, startled, pushed/pulled off furniture, feet/paws touched, or when their collar is grabbed. The owner stated that he jumps very high and is wonderful around children.

Date of assessment:: 11/26/2024

Summary:: 12/17: While Bruno was able to get through a handling assessment, his arousal remians very apparent and he is still unable to settle on his own. Leash Walking Strength and pulling: pulls moderately hard Reactivity to humans: none - ignores Reactivity to dogs: did not pass dogs at this time Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): paces, heavy pants, red/wide eyes, distracted, accepting of treats Call over: approaches in coaxing Sociability comments: Handling Soft handling: flinches, pants, head whips with mouth open, teeth make contact with hand, little pressure Exuberant handling: flinches, pants, head whips with mouth open, teeth make contact with hand, little pressure Handling comments: difficult to position, skin ripples with contact, jumps up with mouth closed towards handler's face Arousal Jog: follows, stops to cough, distracted Arousal comments: stops to cough throughout jog Knock: no response Knock Comments: Toy: grips, moves away Toy comments: 11/24- Bruno is taken to the Behavior room for a handling assessment, when taken to the room he begins to show on leash reactivity when seeing other dogs. When in the room he begins to become aroused displaying heavy panting, and jumping, and begins to leash bite. Due to this Bruno, is not a good candidate for an assessment at this time. 11/23-Bruno is taken to the Behavior room where he displays heavy panting and pacing. Bruno begins to head whip when attempting to collar. Bruno is given an extra day to decompress.

Summary:: According to Bruno's previous owners, Bruno becomes excited around other dogs and will want to play with familiar dogs and unfamiliar dogs on and off-leash. Bruno will bark and pull towards other dogs to play with them. 11/25/24 Bruno is introduced to a novel female dog while off leash at the care center. Bruno doesn't greet the novel female dog at the gate, he ignores her. Bruno will displace sniff moving away from the gate in which the novel female dog stood, avoidant of her. Bruno will return with a more tense posture, snarling at the novel female dog. Bruno is quickly moved away and returned to kennel.

Summary (6):: 12/17/24 (Trainer Note): Bruno is jumping repeatedly up onto the kennel door as the handler approaches. The kennel is smeared with saliva and Bruno's chin is soaked. He is easily leashed with a treat lure and pulls moderately to the canine training room. He allows the handler to attach a drag leash and moves around the room with his nose down to the ground, seeking treats. He completes a handling assessment without issue (see behavior assessment for details), but maintains a moderate pant and dilated pupils throughout the interaction. Handler switches him to LATTE and Bruno engages readily, shaking off, decreasing the intensity of his panting, and releasing tension from his musculature. He is returned to kennel without issue. 12/10/24: Bruno is jumping up on kennel excessively as handler approaches. Handler tosses treats to the back of kennel which Bruno eats quickly before returning to the door. Bruno is leashed with ease and pulls hard out to the play yard. When passing other dogs, Bruno pulls extremely hard in their direction to the point of standing on hind legs and once shortening his lead more, swiping his feet into handler's legs and feet as they are attempting to usher him past. After dog has passed, Bruno fixates on them and will try to turn around and pull towards them still. Once in the yard, Bruno settles and spends time scenting along the grass and relieves himself. He takes treats roughly from hand, so handler tosses them to him. After his session in the yard, he pulls hard towards passing dogs and is kept on a short lead, bunny hopping back towards the building. Bruno is returned to kennel safely.

Summary (7):: 12/3/24 Bruno is jumping on the kennel door and drooling excessively as the handler approaches. He is easily leashed with treats but moves frantically while pulling hard and panting to the behavior room. He is left on the leash that one handler holds as the other handler attempts LATTE enrichment. Bruno is unable to focus initially, sniffing around the room and panting. One handler gets his attention with treats, and he slowly begins to focus. Bruno's face is extremely flushed, his pupils are dilated, and he pants heavily as he starts to engage with the enrichment. Another handler enters the room and Bruno becomes distracted, getting aroused once again. After more repetition of his enrichment, he is able to regulate, his tail wags slow, his panting decreases, and his face is less flushed. The handler kneels to initiate petting which Bruno leans into while remaining calm. He is returned to his kennel while pulling hard and goes in with no issues. AHC 11/29/24 (Trainer Note): Bruno is jumping repeatedly on the door and panting as the handler approaches. He is easily leashed and pulls hard to the canine training room. Bruno initially struggles to focus with dilated pupils, a flushed face, and incessant pant. He runs frenetically around the room sniffing intently. Handler redirects him onto the enrichment and he is able to engage with more focus. Bruno shakes off and the dilation in his eyes decreases. He is able to play a few rounds of TAB and relaxes further. Bruno pulls hard back to kennel and enters without issue. - JM 11/25/24 As the handlers approach Bruno's kennel, he is at the door jumping and panting. One handler threw treats on his floor as other handler was able to open door slightly to be able to leash him. Had a little trouble leashing due to arousal level (panting heavily, unable to focus, pupils dilated), kennel sign said to walk with a toy but he did not take it when offered. Bruno pulled hard all the way to the play yards, slightly reactive on leash when passing other dogs. After the play group, he was leashed easily and pulled hard back to his kennel where he was returned with no issues. 1/25/24 (staff report): Bruno is reported to jump up and dig at kennel door incessantly, making it difficult to leash him. Staff uses a toy on second attempt; he will grab the toy and is leashed, dropping the toy as soon as he exits. Bruno is also reported to pull very hard while on walks

Date of intake:: 11/22/2024

Summary:: very hyper, cheerful, curious, jumpy, and barked out of excitement.

Date of initial:: 11/23/2024

Summary:: immediately social, eager to get out of kennel, jumps up on counter in exam room, readily accepts tr

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Bruno's low threshold for arousal, anxiety, leash biting, and on-leash reactivity, we recommend for him to be placed in an adult only home at this time. No cats- in the prior home it is reported that during walks he will lunge, chase, and bark at small animals (squirrels, birds, cats and raccoons). Place with a New Hope partner- Bruno was surrendered to the care center because of a no-pet policy. In his previous home, he was described as social, affectionate, active, playful, and vocal, especially enjoying playtime with familiar children. However, Bruno has struggled to adapt to the care center environment, making it challenging for staff to walk him due to his leash biting. As a result, Bruno is available through one of our New Hope partners.

Potential challenges: : Destructive behavior,Basic manners/poor impulse control,Separation anxiety,Anxiety,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Leash-biting,Strength/leash pulling,Low threshold for arousal

Potential challenges comments:: Basic manners/poor impulse control- in the prior home and in care it is reported that Bruno will jump up. Consistent training to teach him to sit or stay when greeting people, using positive reinforcement and redirection, will help manage this behavior. Please see the handout on Basic manners/poor impulse control. Anxiety/Separation anxiety/Destructive behavior- In the prior home it is reported that Bruno exhibits general anxiety and tends to whine. He becomes particularly anxious when left alone at home and shows destructive behavior if his harness is left on him. On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration- In the prior home it is reported that Bruno becomes excited around other dogs and will want to play with familiar dogs and unfamiliar dogs on and off-leash. Bruno will bark and pull towards other dogs to play with them.Bruno will bark at stray cats.During Walks, Bruno will lunge, chase, and bark at small animals (squirrels, birds, and raccoons).Teach Bruno alternative behaviors, such as focusing on you or performing a "sit" command when he sees a trigger. Consistent training and positive reinforcement will help reduce his reactivity over time. Please see the handout on On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration. Leash-biting- Bruno displays leash bring behavior. Strength/leash pulling- In the prior home he it is reported that Bruno will hard pull on the lead while on walks. Low threshold for arousal- Bruno exhibits a low threshold for arousal, as evidenced by his behavior of jumping and leash biting. This indicates that he becomes easily overexcited and has difficulty controlling his impulses, leading to impulsive and potentially inappropriate behaviors. It's important to implement training and management techniques to help Bruno learn to regulate his arousal levels and redirect his energy appropriately. Consistency, positive reinforcement, and providing outlets for physical and mental stimulation can help address this behavior effectively.