Date of intake:: 8/15/2026

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner Surrender; 2 years

Previously lived with:: 1 adult

Behavior toward strangers:: Friendly & Outgoing

Behavior toward children:: unknown

Behavior toward dogs:: Familiar dogs: Tolerant Unfamiliar dogs - on leash: Tolerant; unfamiliar dogs - off leash; no exper

Behavior toward cats:: unknown

Resource guarding:: Valuable items: Toys, Food, Treats (bones, rawhides, etc.) Reaction: Snaps or attempts to bite

Bite history:: None reported

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Bruce reported to have a medium energy level.

Other Notes:: Goes potty on: Wee-wee pads Accident frequency: Never Additional info: Not reported Behavior concerns: General anxiety (paces, whines, unable to settle) Additional info: Not reported Reacts to on walks: Strangers that approach you/family members Reaction type: Growling/Hard barking Additional info: Not reported How this dog reacts when... - Held/restrained: Isn't bothered - Disturbed while resting/sleeping: Barks/Growls - Startled: Isn't bothered - Pushed/pulled off furniture: Isn't bothered - Paws are touched: Isn't bothered - Collar grabbed/touched: Isn't bothered For grooming, this dog: Allows owner/family to bathe and brush Additional info: Not reported Walks on leash rating: 4 - Hard pulling (pretty strong, somewhat difficult to manage) Walk Frequency: 1-2 times per day Walk length of time: 30 min

Date of assessment:: 8/16/2026

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: none - loose leash Reactivity to humans: ignores Reactivity to dogs: did not pass Leash walking comments: dodges leashing attempts Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): anxious - pants heavily, paces, maintains distance from handlers, does not take treats Call over: no approach Sociability comments: does not warm up or attempt to interact Handling Soft handling: tense body, skin ripples with contact Exuberant handling: tense, continues panting Handling comments: Arousal Jog: follows, focus on assessor's knees Arousal comments: Knock: no response Knock Comments: Toy: no response Toy comments:

Summary:: According to Bruce's previous owner(s), he is tolerant with familiar dogs. He is also tolerant of unfamiliar dogs on leash but has no experience with unfamiliar dogs off leash. 08/17/26 Bruce is introduced to a novel female while on a loose leash. He approaches the gate with a neutral frame, will briefly sniff the female before walking away. He does not show any response to female vocalizing.

Summary (6):: 09/15/26: Bruce is standing at the front of his kennel, jumping up on his hind legs, and will allow the handler to leash him. He will then be brought out for an enrichment outing. While heading to the yard, Bruce will become involved in kennel fighting with dogs in another room as he passes. Once inside the yard, a drag leash will be placed on him. He will roam freely around the yard, exploring and sniffing while maintaining a neutral frame and a relaxed tail. He will also lick the leaves growing through the gate. Once the session is concluded, Bruce will be brought back to his kennel safely without any issues. 9/10: It is written on the board that Bruce is jumping towards the second handler that is not the one walking him. He does not take treats or toys when they attempt to refocus him. 9/9: ACS staff report lunging at people and dogs on walks with some difficulty with breaking his fixation

Summary (7):: 08/27/26 (Trainer Note): Bruce is laying down in his kuranda bed with a neutral body as handler approaches. He comes to the front and sits down, he is easily leashed. Bruce is taken outside for a training session. He pulls towards people on the street, and when spotting other dogs will fixate and become tense. Handler begins working on "engage/disengage" level 1, using a reward marker to mark any time he would engage with the trigger. He readily participated and would only take high value treats gently. Handler moved on to working on the "touch" cue. Bruce was able to focus for brief periods of time, but would consistently place his snout on handlers palm at a close proximity. He remained neutral bodied and would occasionally lean into handler to solicit pets. He is returned to his kennel without issue. 08/19/26 (Trainer Note): Bruce is sitting down on his kennel as the handler approaches. He comes to the front as the handler approaches and attempts to push out. The handler is able to leash him and he pulls moderately to the canine training room. He is put on a drag leash and begins to sniff the room intently. He shows no interest in various treats or toys, but after a few minutes begins to lean into contact. The handler starts to brush him and he leans into the brushing. He is easily leashed and returned to kennel without issue. 08/17/26: Bruce is at the front of his kennel as the handler approaches. When the handler opens the door, Bruce continuously paws at it and tries to push out of his kennel. When the handler attempts to leash him, Bruce sticks his paw through the leash multiple times. He does not show interest in treats. The handler leashes him and brings him outside to the yard. Bruce pulls moderately through the building and outside. After his interaction, Bruce is brought back into the building. He pulls towards other dogs while passing them. Once in the kennel room, Bruce enters the kennel, but immediately rushes back out before the leash can be removed. The handler is able to use leash pressure to guide him back into the kennel. 08/16/26 (BA note): Bruce is standing at the front of his kennel and initially avoids the leash as handler attempts to leash him. He eventually allows himself to be leashed and is brought to the assessment room. Bruce displays anxious behaviors, including heavy panting and pacing. He allows handling with the assistance of a secondary handler providing distraction, but his hackles raise as he is touched. He completes the run without becoming aroused and does not react to the knock stimulus. During the toy portion, he sniffs the toy and then charges toward the handler twice. For more information, see Behavioral Assessment.

Date of initial:: 8/15/2026

Summary:: Able to examine with moving slow, very aroused and anxious, jumping up and not able to stay still,

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Bruce's reported resource guarding, potential for defensive behaviors, and lack of behavioral history in his previous home, we recommend that he be placed in an adult-only home. Place with a New Hope partner: Due to all noted concerns displayed in a home environment and during his stay in care, the behavior department recommends Bruce be placed with a New Hope placement partner who is able to provide an experienced adult-only foster home. A period of decompression is recommended to allow Bruce to acclimate comfortably to his new environment; force-free, reward-based training only is advised when introducing him to new and unfamiliar situations. Consultation with a professional trainer/behaviorist is highly recommended for guidance to safely manage/modify any behavior Bruce presents with outside of the care centers.

Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Anxiety,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Strength/leash pulling

Potential challenges comments:: Resource guarding: Bruce is reported to guard toys, food, and treats. He will snap or attempt to bite if approached/touched. Please see the handout on resource guarding. Handling/touch sensitivity: Bruce is avoidant of leashing when attempting to remove him from the kennel. Please see the handout on Handling/touch sensitivity. Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Bruce is noted to bark or growl when disturbed while sleeping. His owner also reported that he will growl and hard bark when approached by strangers. Please see the handout on Fearful/potential for defensive aggression. Anxiety: Bruce appears anxious at the care center, panting and pacing throughout his assessment. His owner described him as an anxious dog - pacing, whining, and unable to settle. If Bruce displays anxious behavior in his future home, we recommend puzzle toys, long walks, and giving him other things to focus on to alleviate his anxiety. Positive reinforcement and force-free training only should be used. Please see handle on generalized anxiety. On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration: Bruce is reported to hard bark and growl at strangers that approach on walks. Please see handout on On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration. Strength/leash pulling: Bruce's previous owner reported that he pulls hard during walks and can be difficult to manage for them. We recommend Bruce be desensitized to wearing a head halter or dressed with a front clip harness, which can help diminish his strength through Leverage. Please see handout on leash manners.