Date of intake:: 5/24/2025

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner Surrender (4 Years)

Previously lived with:: 6 adults, 4 children(3-11)

Behavior toward strangers:: Leo is tolerant of strangers

Behavior toward children:: Leo is tolerant of familiar children

Behavior toward dogs:: Leo will hard bark and growl at dogs

Behavior toward cats:: Leo is tolerant with cats

Resource guarding:: No resource guarding

Bite history:: One bite incident reported. Owner was not sure of date but stated that it was not recent. Leo bit and quickly released a small dog leaving no broken skin or any bleeding. This was a new animal in the home, Leo did give warning signs such as tucked tail, flat ears and whale eyes. 6/16/25: Leo’s owner states that he was laying by the bathroom floor when the owner’s parent came out. Leo bit a held onto her calf. Later in an email Leo’s owner stated that the bite was a bite and release that left a puncture wound on each side of her calf. The parent went to the ER for medical treatment.

Housetrained:: Partially

Energy level/descriptors:: Medium Energy

Other Notes:: Leo is a independent dog that can be very quiet but very active and playful. Leo loves to go to the groomers, and allows for family to bathe and brush. He may know cues such as sit, down, and paw. Leo pulls really hard on the leash, jumps up often or nonstop, destructive tendencies. sometimes he will jump up during walks. unfamiliar dogs on leash: hard barks and growls Leo isn't bothered when held, started, feet/paws touched, collar grabbed. Leo is fearful when disturbed while sleeping. *Previous assessments can be given upon request*

Date of assessment:: 6/24/2025

Summary:: Leo was returned to the care center due to a bite incident. Leo’s owner states that he was laying by the bathroom floor when the owner’s parent came out. Leo bit a held onto her calf. Later in an email Leo’s owner stated that the bite was a bite and release that left a puncture wound on each side of her calf. The parent went to the ER for medical treatment. During Leo’s stay his owner states that he was mouthy. Noting that he nipped at their pant legs. Leo’s previous owner states that he had a bite incident with a new dog in the home. They stated that Leo bit and released the small dog leaving no broken skin or bleeding. His previous owner also stated that he will becomes fearful when disturbed while sleeping. During his previous stay in the care center Leo was observed to be aloof to handlers. Due to the multiple bite history, Leo is not a candidate for a handling assessment at this time.

Summary:: 5/29/25: Leo lunges and barks towards the other dog that is on the other side of the gate.

Summary (7):: 6/25/25: Leo is at the front of the kennel hard barking and growling at handlers that as passing by. A handler approaches Leo, they speak in a soft tone and toss a few treats. Leo is unreceptive and continues to hard bark and growl. When the handler goes to but his assessment in his kennel sleeve. Leo jumps up on the kennel door and continues to hard bark towards the handlers hand. Another handler approaches and offers Leo more treats and he is unreceptive. 6/23/25: Leo is laying at the front of the kennel when the handler approaches. He has a neutral body and glances up at the handler before looking away. The handler speaks in a soft tone and tosses treats. Leo is unreceptive and does not engage with the handler. Handler ends the interaction. 5/31/25: Leo is at the front of the kennel with a neutral body. He is easily leashed and walks besides the handler out of the room, pulling moderately out of the room. Leo is brought to the street where he pulls mildly and walks with a loose leash. He relieves himself and walks besides the handler. He is aloof with the handler, stopping to stiff spots before relieving himself again. Leo is walked back to his kennel and is returned without issue. 5/25/25: Leo is standing at the front of his kennel with a neutral body frame as handler approaches. He is able to be leashed with ease and is taken outside for a walk. He pulls very hard the entire walk where the handler has to walk him on a tight leash. He has no reactions to dogs or people. He would pull towards trees to mark his territory. He is then taken to the behavior room for his assessment. In the room, he had a neutral body frame and he did not engage with the handlers at all. Please see behavior assessment notes for more details. He is returned back to his kennel with no issues.

Date of intake:: 5/24/2025

Summary:: Allowed leashing, walks with handler to kennel without issue

Date of initial:: 5/24/2025

ENERGY LEVEL:: Her previous owners describe Leo as a moderate-energy dog. In the care center he has been active and enthusiastic. He may have a low threshold for arousal and needs guidance to learn how to appropriately channel that energy when he becomes overstimulated. He will need daily mental and physical stimulation and exercise, and force-free, positive reinforcement-based training may help him to learn impulse control and to train desirable behaviors that can be rewarded.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to a bite history we recommend an adult only home. Single Pet Home/ No Dog Parks: Due to a bite to a resident dog and hard barking and growling towards unfamiliar dogs, we recommend an single pet home with no trips to the dog park. 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: : Destructive behavior,Basic manners/poor impulse control,Social hyperarousal,Fearful,Multiple-bite history/risk of future aggression,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Strength/leash pulling,Bite history (human),Bite history (dog)

Potential challenges comments:: Destructive Behavior: Leo's previous owner states that he has destructive tendencies. We are unaware of what, if any, attempts were made to remedy this behavior but we suggest to future adopters that Leo will need to be provided with physical and mental stimulation and with a variety of appropriate and engaging chew toys so they can engage in necessary chewing behavior without damage to human objects. Please see handout on Destructive Behavior. Basic Manners: Leo's previous owner states that he will jump up often of non stop. It is recommended that default behaviors such as "Sit" and "Off" are reinforced to substitute any frustration and teach them to control their impulses instead of simply reacting; proper management is also advised. Force-free, reward-based training only is recommended. Please see handout on Basic Manners. Social Hyperarousal: During the jogging portion of his assessment Leo was observed to begin jumping toward the leash with an open mouth. Positive reinforcement, force-free training should be used to teach Leo 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 Leo. Fearful: Leo's previous owner states that he will become fearful when disturbed while sleeping. It should always be their choice to approach a new person or thing. Leo would do best in an initially calm and quiet home environment and should be given time to acclimate to their new surroundings. Please see handout on Decompression Period. Bite History (Human): Please see bite history above for more details. Please see hand Bite History (Dog): Leo's former owners described an incident in which he is reported to have bit and released a small dog that was being introduced into the home, this bite did not break skin. The Behavior Department recommends that he be socialized in a more controlled setting until his behavior towards other dogs can be further addressed. Reward-based, force-free training can be utilized to help Leo associate dogs with things he enjoys like toys or treats. Please see handout on Dog to Dog Introductions. On-Leash Reactivity/Barrier Frustration: Leo's owners reported that he will bark and growl when seeing dogs on walks. Leo may need positive reinforcement, reward based training to teach him to look at you rather than other dogs. We recommend a front clip harness or head halter to help manage this behavior. Please see handout on Leash Manners. Strength/Leash Pulling: Leo's previous owner states that he will pull very hard while on leash. 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, and that he be trained using positive reinforcement, reward based training to not pull on leash. Please see handout on Leash Manners.