Date of intake:: 11/28/2024

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray, No known history

Date of assessment:: 12/4/2024

Summary:: Due to rope reactivity and the potential for redirection a handling assessment will not be conducted at this time.

Summary (5):: 12/10/24: Haystack comes to the front of the kennel with soft body and wagging tail. He waits patiently to be leashed. Once out he pulls hard to the street, stopping in the driveway a few times to jump up towards the leash, grabbing it with his mouth. A second handler calls to him and tosses treats. He stops and takes the treats. He is walked on the street by continuously tossing treats ahead of him to get him to keep moving forward. When treats stop he will jump up onto handler and attempt to grab the leash. Second handler offers him treats from their handler which he takes and when petted under the chin, leans his full bodies weight into handlers hand. He returns to kennel without issue. 12/5/24: Haystack is standing at the front of his kennel as handlers approach. He is offered treats as a distraction while leashing, he does not take the treats but is successfully leashed before being brought to the street. While walking in the halls he attempts to spin around and bite the leash, knocking over a wet floor sign in the process. He continues jumping and attempting to bite the leash but gives up momentarily after missing the leash a few times. While walking on the street Haystack pulls moderately and continue attempting to leash bite. A second handler present begins tossing treats and using a squeaker to redirect Haystacks leash biting. Initially he stops and smells the treats quickly before returning to leash biting, he does the same when hearing the squeaker, breaking focus before returning to the leash. He will barrel into handler when spinning and attempting to bite the leash. After walking for a bit he is returned to the building, he is clipped and returned to kennel without further issue.

Summary (6):: 12/4/24: Haystack is standing at the front of his kennel as handlers approach. He begins jumping and vocalizing at the door as handler unlocks kennel door. He will head whip when attempting to leash but is distracted with treats, he is successfully leashed and brought out to the street for his walk. While on the street he attempts to jump up at the leash and mouth it, treats are dispensed which he stops and sniffs but will not take them. He is redirected by a second handlers squeaker and walks down the street passing people while distracted with squeaker. He continues to intermittently jump at the leash and when clipping his leash he begins to attempt to bite, he is fed treats directly from second handlers hand. He is brought back to kennel and returned without further issue. 12/3/24: Haystack is at the front of the kennel jumping up when handler approached. Haystack attempts to mouth and bite the leash, Haystack is not able to be lured using a treat and the handler has to lasso him. Haystack is taken to the play yard where he relieves himself immediately. Haystack continuously jumps up and bites the leash. This behavior is able to be redirected using a squeaky sound and treats. Handler is waiting in the office for the kennel to be cleaned. Handler attempts to do up down training with a chair. Haystack then begins to jump up on the handler while biting the leash. Handler straight arms Haystack to move him away from them, due to holding the leash up Haystack is not able to reach the leash. This behavior was not able to be redirected using squeakie sounds. Haystack then jumps towards the handler's thigh with an open mouth. Handler tosses a handful of treats and Haystack begins to eat them. He is able to be returned to kennel with no further issue. 12/1/24: Haystack is standing in the front of his kennel as handlers approach. He is leashed while distracted with treats and attempts to push his head out of the kennel intensely. He is brought out of kennel and taken to the yard for his walk, during which he walks in front of handler pulling moderately. He begins to jump on handler and begins biting the leash, a second handler uses a squeaker to distract him which works but he begins leash biting shortly after. Treats are also used and tossed to the ground which briefly distracts him but again he returns to biting the leash after a bit. He will stop after a bit and continue briefly before taking another break from biting the leash. He is brought back inside and placed on a double leash to return to kennel. He begins to thrash and tangle himself in the leashes and continuously bites on the leashes until back in kennel.

Summary (7):: 11/30/24: Hay stack is at the front of the kneel, jumping, barking with a loose and wiggly body language as handler approaches and begins unlocking gate. When handler tries to leash, Haystack pushes hard twice on the kennel door, with some time Haystack was able to be leashed. Haystack is taken out or a street walk where he jumps up on handler persistently but is redirected with treats. Haystack then begins leash biting the rope while jumping biting and releasing handler tosses treats it disrupts him for a moment and then he goes back to leash biting. Handler then squeaks a toy and throws it Haystack goes for it mouths it and then refocuses on the leash. Handler does a treat toss to the face with disrupts him momentarily. Then Haystack starts growling while biting and tugging on the leash still jumping. haystack bites and releases the handlers treat pouch and goes back to the leash, Handler calls for back up from K9 behavior, where haystack greets them with a loose and wiggly body and takes a treat gently from them. Haystack saw a dog and fixates on them, second handler stands in front of him feeding treats, he focuses on handler briefly then goes back to looking at the dog unable to be redirected. Second handler continued to body block. Going back to kennel, hay stack began thrashing and backing up so second handler tried to put a leash sling around him to assist with the return. Haystack began thrashing around and got out of the leash sling. Handler then jogs him back and places him in kennel. 11/29/24- Haystack is at the front of his kennel with a loose and wiggly body, one handler feeds him a treat and he takes it. The other handler easily leashes Haystack and he's taken to the play yard. He is social with handlers and gently takes treats. He relieves himself and doesn't react to a dog in the middle pen. He is easily clipped and when returning to the room, Haystack plants and leans back when pressure is applied to his leash. Another handler tosses treats ahead but he doesn't follow. They use a squeaker which he also doesn't follow. He enters the room a little then starts to baulk hard, going up on his hind legs. Other handler uses their leash to sling Haystack behind his hind legs and both handlers were able to return him without further issue.

Date of intake:: 11/28/2024

Summary:: Seeking attention, then begins leash biting, thrashed going into kennel

Date of initial:: 11/29/2024

Summary:: Wiggly and seeking attention, but begins leash biting. When muzzle placed briefly thrashed

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Haystack so we cannot be certain of his behavior in a home environment. However, he is a young, enthusiastic, social dog who will need daily mental and physical activity to keep him engaged and exercised. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in additional to physical exercise, to positively direct his energy and enthusiasm.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to rope reactivity we recommend a home with no children. We recommend placement with a New Hope partner who can provide any necessary behavior modification (force-free, positive reinforcement-based) and re-evaluate behavior in a stable home environment before placement into a permanent home.

Potential challenges: : Leash-biting

Potential challenges comments:: Leash Biting: Haystack has been observed to jump up high, bite and tug on the leash. This behavior is not able to be redirected easily using treats, squeaky sounds, or toys. While leash biting Haystack has been observed to jump towards handlers with an open mouth. 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.