Date of intake:: 2/19/2025

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Previously lived with:: 4 adults & 1 child(3yrs old)

Behavior toward strangers:: Benji will hard bark

Behavior toward children:: Benji is shy and prefers contact on his own terms

Behavior toward dogs:: No experience

Behavior toward cats:: No experience

Resource guarding:: Benji will resource guard food/treats & toys when in his possession. He will growl or hard bark when someone attempts remove those items from him.

Bite history:: It was reported that there have been 2 bite incidents in the home with benji. The most recent bite incident didn't break skin, the 1st incident did break skin. It was noted that on 2/10 while benji was eating from his food in the kitchen area, a 3y old child attempted to touch his food bowl while eating which caused benji to bite and release her on the left arm which didn't break skin but did swell up. Benji was resource guarding in that incident. The 1st bite incident occurred about 4 months ago when an adult in the home was getting off the bed when benji suddenly without any warning signs who was under the bed, bit him in the ankle which did break skin but wasn't severe. both incidents were bite & release. Both seeked medical attention to make sure they were okay.

Housetrained:: Partially

Energy level/descriptors:: Medium

Other Notes:: Benji is fearful when held/restrained. he hasn't never been disturbed while sleeping/resting, startled or pulled/pulled from furniture. It was reported by previous family he is fearful when someone touches his paws/feet but did Allow one female family member to touch her paws/feet. he isn't bothered when collar is touched. Benji's previous owner describes him as a quiet dog that prefers to spend time with his people. He may know the cue come

Date of assessment:: 3/17/2025

Summary:: Benji has shown improvement with select handlers at the care center over time. While a handling assessment was completed and Benji has shown the potential to do well with certain people, the below handling assessment is not a sole indicator of the behaviors they will display once they leave the care center as this assessment was done by a handler who has spent large amounts of time with Benji over the course of their stay. Based on Benji's history and their behavior at the care center, we recommend giving them ample time to decompress in a new home, always using a slow approach, and positive reinforcement when introducing them to new and unfamiliar situations and people. Consultation with a professional trainer/behaviorist is also advised for guidance to safely manage and modify any behavior they may present with outside of the care center. Leash Walking Strength and pulling: None Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: None Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Fearful Call over: Approaches with coaxing Sociability comments: Tense body Soft handling: Fearful Exuberant handling: Fearful Comments: Tense body, lip licking Arousal Jog comments: Follows handler readily Knock Knock comments: No approach Toy Toy comments: Grips toy lightly, become tense and hovers over toy, then bit, held, and hook the assess-a-hand

Summary (6):: 3/17/25: Benji is standing at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He then walks to the back of his kennel and to the opposite side as handle is unlocking the door. He then approaches the front again and is able to be leashed with ease. He is then taken for a walk outside. On the walk, he would pull ahead and towards the sides of the side walks to mark his territory. While passing a car, he was able to see his reflection and started to lunge and bark towards the car. He then started to thrash and hide behind the handler on the way back to the building due to being fearful of the people taking out the trash. He is then taken to the behavior room for his assessment. During the last section of the assessment and the toy was offered, he became tense and hovered over the toy as the assessment hand got closer to him. He turned his head and lip licked, then he lunged and bit and shook at the hand. The handler had to pull him away from the hand to get him to stop. When it was time to unclip him from the drag lead, the handler had to use animal handling cloves to unclip it. He would head whip and thrash as the handler got close. Once he was unclipped and only on the slip lead, he is taken back to kennel. Once in kennel he lunges towards the front as handler closes and locks the door. 3/17/25- Benji is laying in his bed with a neutral body when handler approaches his kennel, he doesn't move when handler leashes him. When handler calls to him but doesn't move, handler tosses a treat but he shows no interest. After a moment he gets up and moves into the other side of his kennel through his transfer door. Handler applies light pressure to the leash and Benji comes back to the other side, he's hesitant to jump out. Handler applies light pressure again and Benji jumps out. He is taken for a street walk where he walks on a loose leash, marking various spots on the street. Handler bends down and calls to him, he slowly comes over. Handler presents a treat, Benji just sniffs it but doesn't take it. He allows handler to slowly and gently pet his chin, he then moves away. Handler doesn't continue to pet and continue walking. He sniffs around some more and has no reaction to people passing. When handler goes to return to building Benji sees another dog, he stops and gives a low grumble to them with a high tail. Handler calls to him and he walks forward while still looking at the dog. Once across the street, he continues walking. Once in the building VS takes Benji from handler.

Summary (7):: 3/13/25: Benji is at the front of the kennel when handler approaches. He is easily leashed and then backs away from the handler, and attempts to back out of the leash. When reaching the ends of the leash Benji readily exits kennel. He is taken to the behavior office where he marks in the room. Benji is not receptive to treats. Benji will approach handlers and jump up on them and allows handlers to tentatively pet the top of his kennel. Benji then jumps off and shakes off. Benji is easily returned to kennel. 2/25/25: Benji is at the front of his kennel when handler approaches. He dodges the leash but is eventually leashed and walked outside with no issue. In the yard, he does not react to any nearby dogs and stands with a tense body. He sniffs both handlers but does not seek out attention. Handlers do not attempt petting/pickup as Benji seems aloof and uninterested. He is easily walked back to kennel without issue. 2/20/25: Benji is at the back of his kennel as handler approaches, he is laying down sleeping but is woken up by handler and leashed without issue. He exits kennel and is taken to the street for a walk, during which he baulks frequently and slowly walks forward with handler. He walks past people and dogs without issue and uses the bathroom outside. Once finished with his walk, Benji is taken to the behavior office for an assessment. During the assessment Benji is aloof and avoidant of handlers. He shakes violently and seeks exit throughout the majority of the interaction, food and toys are unsuccessful at coaxing him. He is successfully collared but his interaction is ended shortly after due to his clear fearfulness. He is brought back to kennel and returned without issue.

Date of initial:: 2/20/2025

Summary:: Trembling, very wiggly for restraint, head shy and cries when touched around face. Opted to sedate

ENERGY LEVEL:: Benji is described as medium energy. They will need daily mental and physical activity to keep them engaged and exercised. And we recommend using force-free, reward-based training techniques for them.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to his multiple bite history we recommend a home with no children. We recommend placement with a New Hope rescue partner who is able to provide an experienced, adult-only foster home. Force-free, reward based training and/or consultation with a professional trainer/behaviorist is highly recommended.

Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Multiple-bite history/risk of future aggression,Bite history (human)

Potential challenges comments:: Resource Guarding: Benji's pervious owner state that he will resource guard food/treats & toys when in his possession. He will growl or hard bark when someone attempts remove those items from him. During his assessment Benji was observed to escalate to biting, holding, and shaking the assess-a-hand. For this reason, we advise against ever removing items from Benji's possession without safely trading for an item of greater or equal value. Guidance from a professional trainer is highly recommended to aid in safely managing this behavior in a new home environment. Please see handout on Resource Guarding. Fearful Defensive: Benji has been observed to be highly fearful during his stay in the care center. Noted to have a tense trembling body and begins seeking exit when handlers attempt to interact. Benji has also been observed to thrash while on leash. It is important to move slowly with Benji, 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. Multiple bite History/ Bite History (Human): Please see bite history above for more details. Escalating to biting is a behavior that Benji has rehearsed repeatedly over their life. This behavior is likely to continue as it has become part of Benji repertoire, and will need careful management to work toward reducing triggers for Benji and reducing the resulting bites. Please see handout on Bite History and Potential for Future Aggression.