Date of intake:: 8/28/2025

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray(Unknown History)

Date of assessment:: 9/3/2025

Summary:: Due to Rusty's avoidance of touch and displaying a tense body, a handling assessment is not conducted at this time.

Summary:: Due to Rusty entering the facility as a stray, there is no prior dog-to-dog history recorded. 09/04/25: During collaring, Rusty will hard stare and lunges briefly at the novel female who is present at the gate, When she walks away Rusty will loosen but during collaring, the novel female will return to the gate and proceed to hard bark at Rusty. Rusty will respond by low growling. When the handler steps away Rusty will proceed to lunge and air snap at the handler. Both dogs are separated concluding the interaction.

Summary (7):: 9/9/25: Rusty greeted handlers at front of kennel and was leashed with ease. He walked to the yard where he was kept on a slip leash for duration of interaction due to ill-fitting collar and touch sensitivity. A second handler was present to film video of Rusty. Rusty did not take treats and was disinterested in toys. He walked on a loose leash as he scented around the yard. Rusty was alert to his surroundings and oriented his ears to noises outside or raised a front paw. Rusty would stand or sit near handlers with a neutral frame but did not solicit touch. He walked back to kennel on a loose leash without issue. 09/04/25(playgroup): Rusty is lying at the front of the kennel with a neutral frame as handler approaches. His body tenses as he notices handler and will back away from the kennel door. Handler lures him forward with treat scatter and he grumbles lightly as he is leashed. Rusty pulls moderately to the play yard. When another dog passes by, Rusty's body tenses slightly and he pulls towards the dog while grumbling but is easily guided away. Once in the play yard, handlers guide him to the side of the yard to limit visibility to the dog in the neighboring pen. Rusty is slightly tense but will eat treats tossed onto the ground. Second handler is able to slowly collar Rusty while he is eating treats. He becomes tense and vocalizes as he notices the dog in the opposite yard. Handlers redirect him with treat scatter again as the other dog is moved out of sight. As second handler slowly reaches to adjust his collar, Rusty notices the dog again and becomes tense and grumbles. As second handler disengages and moves away, Rusty lunges toward second handler and snaps at the back of their leg. Second handler quickly moves out of the way as handler pulls Rusty away. He is slightly tense as he walks back to kennel, returning safely. 9/1/25: Rusty is siting at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He begins to bark at the door as the handler unlocks it. He would continue to bark as the handler tries to leash him. He is able to be leashed while being distracted with treats. He is then taken outside for a walk. On the walk, he would pull hard with a tense body. He was comfortable approaching the handler for treats. He would have a tense body and begins to pull and bark towards dogs as they passed by. He pulls hard with a tense body with his hackles raised as he barked at a truck backing up into a parking spot. He is able to return back to his kennel with no issues. AC 8/31/25: Rusty was leashed while distracted with a treat scatter and walked to the yard where he was clipped to a drag leash. Rusty spent time scenting and marking on the way up the yard and throughout interaction. He was mostly aloof and spent time exploring. Rusty was returned to kennel without issue.

Date of intake:: 8/28/2025

Summary:: Officers indicated that the dog tried to bite, and initially resisted to place in crate

Date of initial:: 9/3/2025

Summary:: Tense, leans into petting, offers paw. Snaps during exam, does not allow oral exam, sedated

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),Recommend no dog parks,Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): We reccomend Rusty be placed in an adult-only home at this time. Place with a New Hope partner: Rusty arrived at the care center as a stray, so his behavior in a home environment remains unknown. Upon intake, officers reported that he resisted crating and attempted to bite. Rusty exhibits a heightened arousal response during handling. He barks persistently at handlers during leashing attempts and requires treat-based distraction to be secured. On walks, he pulls strongly with a tense body and has demonstrated reactivity toward passing dogs.During his medical exam, Rusty showed sensitivity to handling. He became tense, growled briefly, and escalated to head whipping and snapping when touched with a stethoscope. He then jumped up on the handler but did not attempt to bite again. Rusty would benefit from placement with a New Hope partner experienced in managing these behaviors. A structured training plan, safe handling protocols, and ongoing behavioral support will be essential to help Rusty succeed.

Potential challenges: : Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Strength/leash pulling,Kennel presence,Low threshold for arousal

Potential challenges comments:: Handling/touch sensitivity/Low threshold for arousal/Fearful/potential for defensive aggression:During his medical exam, Rusty displayed handling sensitivity, becoming tense, growling briefly, and escalating to head whipping and snapping when touched with the stethoscope.He then jumped up on the handler but did not snap again. Upon intake, Rusty was reported by officers to have resisted crating and attempted to bite. These behaviors suggest a low threshold for arousal and fear-based reactivity, requiring slow, trust-building handling and desensitization to physical contact. Please see the handout on Handling/touch sensitivity/Low threshold for arousal/Fearful/potential for defensive aggression. Strength/leash pulling/On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration:On walks, he pulls hard with a tense body and has shown reactivity toward passing dogs with barking, pulling, raised hackles, and a stiff frame.These behaviors indicate barrier frustration and on-leash reactivity, and he would benefit from structured leash training and controlled exposure to other dogs. Please see the handout on Strength/leash pulling/On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration. Kennel presence: Rusty is noted to bark hard in the kennel when handlers attempt to leash him.