Date of intake:: 2/4/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray, with history

Bite history:: Please refer to the ‘Other Notes’ box

Other Notes:: Skipper was surrendered along with two other dogs who sustained multiple puncture wounds. It is unclear whether Skipper was involved in the altercation, as he did not have any bite injuries and only small smears of blood on his fur. **Previous assessment available upon request**

Date of assessment:: 2/27/2026

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Moderate Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: Inconclusive Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Highly social Call over: Approaches readily Sociability comments: Stays near handlers, accepts treats and allows petting, jumps softly on handlers soliciting pets Soft handling: Seeks contact Exuberant handling: Seeks contact Comments: Loose and soft bodied, leans into handler seeking pets Arousal Jog comments: Follows exuberantly, jumps up at handler once Knock Knock comments: Approaches readily jumps lightly on handler Toy Toy comments: Grips, disengages

Summary:: 2/22/26- (unfamiliar dog)- Skipper gate greets another dog with a neutral body, he sniffs with a medium wagging tail then disengages. He is coaxed to greet again and has a softer body and gives a little, low whine. 2/22/26 (familiar dog)- Skipper gate greets another dog with a slight tense body/ face with a low wagging tail sniffing at the gate. He disengages and walks around then engages again, he softens with a medium wagging tail.

Summary (4):: 3/13/26: Skipper is at front kennel, loose body, panting mildly as handler approaches. Handler attempts to use cheese to leash but skipper refocuses quickly on the leash. Another staff member comes to assist, second staff member uses cheese and verbal cues to keep skipper distracted while being leashed. Skipper is leashed, pulls hard out of kennel, vocalizes and turns head toward neighboring kennels but is kept on a short leash out of the room. Once outside Skipper walks with mild pull, is no longer panting after a few minutes. Skipper is neutral bodied as handler walks him around the block. Skipper is treat receptive and allows petting. Skipper is walked back to kennel and kept on a short leash, re-enters kennel safely. 03/12/26: Skipper is at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He barks and jumps at the kennel door exuberantly, handler unlocks the door and offers treats which Skipper accepts. He quickly turns and begins mouthing the leash but lets go for more treats. He is leashed and removed from kennel, Skipper attempts to pull toward dogs in kennel he passes and pulls till out on the street. Once outside he slows down and begins accepting treats from handler. Skipper stops to relieve himself outside and walks with handler pulling mildly. He passes people on the street without issue and walks with handler uneventfully for a while, he allows handler to pet him and jumps socially on handler leaning on them and soliciting social interaction. After a bit he is brought back inside and allows handler to clip his leash before being returned to kennel without issue.

Summary (5):: 3/9/26: Skipper is at the front of the kennel when the handler approaches. A secondary handler has to spray cheese on the kennel door. As the primary handler approaches with the leash Skipper begins to fixate on it. He is able to be leashed with the distraction of the spray cheese. Once out of kennel he begins pulling hard towards the other dogs in the kennel room and jumping towards them. Skipper is taken to the driveway where he jumps at the handler and up high in the air. Skipper is taken to the street where he walks with mild leash pressure and does not react to people. He is receptive to treats and checks in with the handler. When returning to kennel, he pulls hard and jumps towards the other dogs in the kennel room. The handler has to keep him on a short leash and against the wall to keep him away from the other dogs. Skipper readily enters kennel. 3/9/26: The handler approaches Skipper who is lying down at the front of his kennel. Skipper gets up and sits then stands. The handler sprays cheese on the bars to distract Skipper before opening the kennel and presenting the leash. Regardless, Skipper grabs the leash as soon as it enters the kennel, yanking it quickly all the way back to the back of the kennel, banging the handlers hand into the door. The handler lets go of the leash and retrieves it when Skipper is distracted by more cheese. The handler tries again, this time Skipper bites the leash close to the handler's hand and yanks it back again. He cannot be distracted with cheese and plays with the leash for 30 seconds. Then the leash is retrieved and a secondary handler is called in to help distract Skipper for leashing (see above note). This attempt is successful.

Summary (6):: 03/08/26: Skipper is at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He is leashed while distracted with a treat and removed from kennel. He pulls mildly toward the kennels he passes before being brought out to the street for his walk. Outside he accepts tossed treats and walks with handler pulling mildly. He shows mild curiosity in passing people but passes them without issue. When seeing dogs he stares at them briefly from afar but is easily redirected. Skipper relieves himself outside and walks for a while until being brought back inside. He allows handler to clip his leash and he returns to kennel without issue. 3/6/26: Skipper has reportedly been very "fixated on the leash when going to leash him". He also kennel fight, as he pulls very hard towards the dog in the crate outside the room; as the dog in crate (MacOlie) was reacting back, Skipper "almost bit him through the crate bars" since both parties were reacting. Later in the afternoon, Skipper continuously leash bit when being removed from kennel and wasn't able to be redirected. he also kennel fought exiting the room. 3/5/26: Skipper is jumping at the front of the kennel with a wiggly body. When trying to leash, he briefly mouths the leash but releases it when the handler lures him with treats through the kennel bars and is successful with leashing. Once out of the kennel, he moderately pulls towards neighboring kennel dogs but handler is able to short leash and bring him out of the room where he continues to pull hard towards dogs in pop up crates. Handler short leashes again and is able to bring him inside the elevator where he is asked to sit for treats which he does and is given a treat which he takes gently. Once downstairs, Skipper pulls moderately through the hallway and into the driveway before exiting onto the street. He sniffs the ground and is walking forward with a loose body. While walking, he continuously looks back at handler. He sniffs the ground before relieving himself and continues to walk with a loose body. The handler asks him to sit one last time which he does, he is given a treat which he takes gently and they head back inside the building. Once inside the building, they head upstairs where Skipper begins pulling moderately towards dogs in pop up crates and barks at them before being short leashed and brough back inside the room where he barks at the dogs in the kennels. He is brought back inside the kennel with no issue.

Summary (7):: 2/27/26: Skipper is at the front of his kennel with a soft body, jumping on the kenne doors. He is easily leashed and brought out the room Initially, Skipper pulls moderately while relieving himself, but on the street, he walks ahead with mild leash tension. He shows no interest or reactivity to passersby. Skipper also solicits pets and receive that and treats from the handler. Skipper is then brought inside for his assessment (see notes), and returned to his kennel afterwards. 2/18/26: Skipper is at the front of his kennel with a soft body and wiggly tail as the handler approaches. Handler offers a treat and Skipper gently takes it. He is easily leashed and slowly exits the room and walks down the hallway. Outside Skipper sniffs around and relieves himself. He allows petting and is social with the handler. Skipper sees another dog on the driveway and starts slightly pulling towards them. Handler can redirect him with treats. After Skipper follows the handler's command "sit"; his body is neutral but he still keeps staring at the dog. On the way back, handler was able to clip the leash and bring Skipper back to the kennel with no further issues. 2/6/26: Skipper is at the front of his kennel with a soft body as the handler approaches. He is easily leashed and brought out the room. The handler brings Skipper to the yard. As the handler sits on the bench, Skipper slowly approaches them and sits very close to them. He then slowly places himself on the handler’s lap. Skipper allows pets from the handler. He also doesn’t display any dog reactivity as other dogs walk past. Upon entry, the handler clips their leash and, with a little leash pressure, returns Skipper to kennel. 02/05/26: Skipper is at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He is tense but is leashed while distracted with treats and taken to the yard for his walk. He is slow when walking down the hallway but is coaxed forward past the staff in the hallway. He accepts treats from handler and walks out to the yard, outside he is slightly tense and walks with handler for a while around the perimeter of the yard before settling in the front play yard. He accepts more treats and solicits pets from handler, he jumps up on handlers lap and leans of them for a bit allowing more pets. After a bit he is brought back inside and brought to the behavior office while his kennel is cleaned. He accepts more treats and spray cheese inside before being brought back to kennel without issue.

Date of intake:: 2/5/2026

Summary:: Barking, hard barking, low stiff body and pinned ears

Date of initial:: 2/5/2026

Summary:: Tail tucked and whale eyed. Allows all handling for exam, tails remains firmly tucked

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Skipper so we cannot be certain of their behavior in a home environment. However, they will need daily mental and physical activity to stay engaged and exercised. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in additional to physical exercise, to positively direct their energy and enthusiasm.

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 fearful behavior and bite history we recommend an adult only home. Single Pet Home/No Dog Parks: Due to bite history, we recommend a 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: : Basic manners/poor impulse control,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Multiple-bite history/risk of future aggression,Leash-biting,Other,Bite history (dog)

Potential challenges comments:: Basic Manners/Poor Impulse Control: During his assessment Skipper was observed to jump on handlers in a social manner seeking social interaction. It is recommended that default behaviors such as "Leave it", "Sit/Stay", "Down" are reinforced to substitute any frustration and teach him to control his impulses instead of simply reacting; proper management is also advised. Force-free, reward based training only is recommended. Please see handout on Basic Manners and Poor Impulse Control. Fearful Defensive: Skipper has been observed to be tense during his stay in care. During intake he was observed to hard bark and have a stiff low body. It is important to move slowly with Skipper, 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. Leash Biting: Skipper has been observed to be highly rope reactive. Noted to bite and tug the leash into kennel, during one instance almost catching the handlers hand. We recommend walking them with a toy to dissuade them from grabbing the leash. Positive reinforcement, force-free training is advised to teach them to focus on you rather than grabbing the leash. Please see handout on Leash Manners. Other: It is unknown whether Skipper was involved in an altercation with the two other dogs due to the lack of injuries and minimal blood. However, out of an abundance of caution, Skipper should be closely monitored when greeting other dogs.