Date of intake:: 10/30/2025

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray; history unknown

Date of assessment:: 1/3/2026

Summary:: 12/05/25: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Hard pulls Reactivity to humans: inconclusive - did not pass Reactivity to dogs: inconclusive - did not pass Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Social-seeks attention from the handlers, wiggly, sits for treats Call over: Readily approaches- wiggly body , sits often for treats gives paw cue Sociability comments: jumps on handler for treats Handling Soft handling: Allowed- leans in, soft body Exuberant handling: Allowed- leans in, soft body Handling comments: Arousal Jog: follows-sniffs, distracted Arousal comments: Knock: barks Knock Comments: Toy: grips, moves away Toy comments: 11/2/25: Please inquire about prior handling assessment for more details. 11/1: Unable to complete assessment due to becoming aroused with petting and mouthing hands 10/31: Unable to conduct assessment due to being sedated for medical exam

Summary:: Due to entering the facility as a stray, there is no prior dog-to-dog history recorded. 11/06/25 Mike is introduced to a novel female dog and novel male dog on two separate interactions. When Mike meets the female dog, Mike and the female dog will engage in chase play, exchanging little to no body contact. Mike is a cooperative player, giving space when needed, naturally separating on his own. Mike maintains a loose, wiggly frame and wagging tail when approaching the female dog, running away from her as they continue to chase each other. The female dog is returned to kennel, and he is introduced to a male dog next, while at the gate. Mike approaches the gate tense, hard barking as the male dog approaches the gate and Mike is moved away to decompress. Mike is returned to kennel, concluding his interactions for the day. 11/02/25 Mike is introduced to a novel female dog while off leash at the care center. Mike will approach the gate with a high wagging tail, standing presently on their tip-toes. Mike is moved to the back of his pen allowing the female dog into his pen after she offers a series of bounces and play bows. They will approach each other, sniffing each other remains loose and wiggly. Mike smells her genitals and begins to chatter, appearing sexually motivated, following the female dog around the pen. Mike is bouncy, play bowing at the female dog and they engage in chase play, making very little to no contact. Mike and the female dog will naturally separate as their interaction comes to an end, both exploring away from each other. Mike is returned to kennel, concluding the interaction.

Summary (5):: 2/12/26: Mike is at the back of the kennel chewing on his rawhide when approached, and originally did not want to leave his kennel even when coaxed. Mike is wagging his tail but still chewing on it. Mike is left alone and the handler comes back in 10 min and is at the front, easily leashed and walked out of kennel. Mike does not pull, explores his surroundings and is a bit aloof. Mike is taken around the block and explores his surroundings. Mike put back into his kennel and the handler notices salvia marks all over the bottom of his kennel door and water bowl pooled inside of the bowl. 2/5/26: Mike is jumping and barking at his kennel door as handler approaches. He is able to be leashed with ease and he pulls hard on the way outside for a walk. On the walk, he has a loose body frame as he pulled ahead to sniff and explore. He would hard stare at dogs that would pass by and is able to be redirected with treats. He pulls towards a dog that was going up the ramp with a tense body and on his hind legs on the way back to his kennel. He is able to be taken away and he takes treats. He is able to return back to his kennel with no issues. 1/31/26: Mike is at the front of his kennel barking with saliva smeared across his kennel. 1/22/26: Mike greeted handler at front of kennel with a loose and wiggly body. He was easily leashed and pulled from kennel. Mike pulled hard for most of the walk, trying to walk in front of handler. When he saw trash or recycling on the street he would pull and do his best to get as close as he could. When a person walked past Mike would turn around with head high in the air sniffing. Mike would stop often to sniff and investigate his surroundings on his walk. Mike was returned to kennel with no issue.

Summary (6):: 01/08/26: Mike is standing at the front of his kennel with a neutral frame and allows the handler to leash him with ease. He is escorted out for an enrichment walk. While outside, Mike maintains a neutral body posture, explores the neighborhood, engages in deep sniffing of various environmental items, and relieves himself appropriately. When the session is complete, Mike is escorted back to the Care Center and returned to his kennel safely without any issues. 12/31/25: Mike is standing at the front of his kennel and allows the handler to escort him to the assessment room for enrichment. Once inside, a drag leash is placed on him, and he roams the room freely, exploring his surroundings. The handler provides a snuffle mat filled with treats, which Mike engages with happily until all treats are found. Afterward, the handler introduces place board training. Mike requires a few repetitions but successfully learns to position himself on the board and is rewarded for compliance. When the session is complete, Mike is returned to his kennel safely without any issues. 12/24/25: Mike is standing at the front of his kennel and allows the handler to leash him with ease. He is escorted to the assessment room for enrichment, where a drag leash is placed on him. Mike roams the room freely and is provided with a wobble bowl filled with treats. He engages eagerly, persisting until all treats are dispensed. When the session concludes, Mike is returned to his kennel safely without any issues. 12/21/25: Mike was with handler returning to his kennel when another dog was able to get loose from their unsecured kennel door. The dog ran towards the door as a staff member had Mike on leash. Mike became excited at the sight of the dog running towards them. Staff used the door as a barrier between the two dogs, but as the dog approached Mike stuck his head through the cracked door and bit and held onto the dogs ear. Mike let go and staff closed the door between the two dogs. Staff checked both dogs, the other dog had a small puncture on his ear. The other dog didn't bite Mike at any point. Mike was placed into his kennel without any issues by handler. 12/5/25: Mike is siting on his bed at the back of his kennel as handler approaches. He comes forward with a loose body and is able to be leashed with ease. He then pulls hard on the way to the behavior room for his assessment. In the room, he has a loose and wiggly body and would jump on the handlers to receive pets and treats. He pulls hard during the jog and barks when the handler knocks on the closet door. Please see behavior assessment notes for more details. He pulls hard on the way back to his kennel and enters with no issues.

Summary (7):: 12/03/25: Mike is lying down in the back of his kennel and gets up as the handler approaches, allowing leashing with ease. He is brought to the assessment room for enrichment. A drag leash is placed on him, and he roams the room freely, sniffing and exploring. The handler provides a snuffle mat, asking for a sit before tossing treats inside. Mike engages until all treats are consumed. He also practices sit, down, and paw cues, responding well and earning rewards. He resumes exploring afterward. Mike is returned to his kennel safely without any issues. 11/06/25: Mike is standing at the front of his kennel and allows the handler to leash him with ease. He is brought to the play yard for a dog to dog introduction. Once inside, a drag leash is placed on him, and he waits calmly as his playmate arrives. Upon the female playmate’s arrival, both dogs meet at the gate for a nose to nose greeting, showing displacement sniffing and mild avoidance behaviors towards each other. Mike proceeds to mark around the yard, and when the female playmate sniffs his markings, she becomes aroused and begins running around with zoomies. Mike responds by approaching the gate with a loose and wiggly body, tail wagging, and offering play bows. The gate is opened, and both dogs engage in chasing and playful running around the yard. Video footage is provided on Mike’s profile, for information see Dog to Dog notes. 11/02/25 (assessment): Mike is standing at the front of kennel with a neutral frame as handler approaches. He is leashed with ease and pulls hard to the Canine Behavior Office for assessment (see Behavior Assessment for further details). Mike displays a high level of social hyperarousal and will jump up onto handlers, pant heavily with a flushed face and wide, dilated eyes. He demand barks and play bows when handlers attempt to lure him into a sit for treats. As assessor is positioning Mike for the handling portion of assessment, Mike will lightly bite the leash but is redirected with a squeaker. After his assessment, Mike is returned to kennel safely. 11/02/25: Mike is standing at the front of his kennel and allows the handler to leash him with ease. He is then brought to the play yard to meet a female playmate. Upon approaching the yard, Mike appears hesitant, crouching low and scanning his surroundings as he observes other handlers in the area. Once inside, a drag leash is placed on him, and he roams freely. When his playmate arrives, both dogs vocalize toward each other, then approach the greeting gate for a nose-to-nose greeting while displaying loose, wiggly bodies and offering play bows. When the gate is opened, they sniff and run around in circles. Mike chatters, showing signs of sexual motivation, but matches his playmate’s play style appropriately. When the session complete, Mike is returned to his kennel safely without any issues. For more information, see Dog-to-Dog Note.

Date of intake:: 10/30/2025

Summary:: tolerant but shy

Date of initial:: 10/31/2025

Summary:: timid, hanging head and tail low, low growls when approached, sedated as precaution

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: Level 4

Recommendations:: No children (under 13)

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Mike's potential for defensive behaviors and his social hypersarousal, we recommend an adult only home at this time.

Potential challenges: : Social hyperarousal,Mouthiness/poor bite inhibition,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Strength/leash pulling,Bite history (dog)

Potential challenges comments:: Social hyperarousal | Mouthiness/poor bite inhibition: Mike quickly becomes overaroused in the presence of people, jumping up and mouthing, and will take treats roughly. Positive reinforcement, force-free training should be used to teach him to remain calm when people and other exciting things are around. He should be rewarded with treats when calm. If he escalates to jumping or mouthing, people should immediately walk away from and separate themselves from Mike. Please see handout on Arousal and Mouthiness/poor bite inhibition. Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Mike was reported to be somewhat fearful upon pick up and began growling at staff during his medical exam. His signs of discomfort must be respected; Mike should never be forced to interact, he should always be allowed to walk away from situations or people he finds uncomfortable. We recommend a slow approach and we recommend ONLY force-free, reward-based training methods for Mike. More aversive techniques are likely to increase fear, increase the risk of aggression, and decrease Mike's quality of life. Please see handout on Fearful/potential for defensive aggression. Strength/leash pulling: Mike is a 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. Bite history (dog): Another dog got loose from his kennel and ran up to Mike when he was returning to his kennel. The shandler used a door to block both dogs. Mike was able to squeeze his head through the crack of the door bit and held onto the other dog ear. Mike let go and staff closed the door between the two dogs. staff checked both dogs and noted that other dog had a puncture wound on his ear which produced a small amount of blood. The other dog was reported to not have bitten Mike at any point.