Date of intake:: 4/12/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray, No known history

Bite history:: 4/22/26: An ACS was unlocking Couch Surfer's kennel. As the ACS was placing the lock on the kennel door, Couch Surfer jumped up with an open mouth and nipped their left index finger. This bite did break skin.

Date of assessment:: 5/26/2026

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Moderate Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: None Leash walking comments: Attempts to approach one person with slightly tense body and wagging tail, jumps up on handler Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Highly social Call over: Approaches handler readily Sociability comments: Jumps up on handler, receptive to treats Soft handling: Accepts contact Exuberant handling: Accepts contact Comments: Soft body wagging tail Arousal Jog comments: Follows handler exuberantly Knock Knock comments: Approaches handler readily, jumps up Toy Toy comments: Sniffs, No reaction

Summary:: 5/8/26: Couch Surfer greets another dog at the gate with tense body while methodically barking towards the other dog.

Summary (4):: 5/24/26: Couch Surfer was at front of kennel with a neutral body when handler approached. He was leashed using a treat lure based on the signage on his kennel. During his walk Couch Surfer pulled moderately and walked ahead of handler. He took treats with a soft mouth and leaned into pets from handler. When seeing other dogs on his walk he would get a tense body but kept moving. Couch Surfer was returned to kennel with no issue. 5/23/26: ACS reports that when taking Couch Surfer out for his PM walk, he jumped up and bit and released their finger as they were securing the lock onto the kennel bars before taking him out. No skin is broken. A second handler comes to distract Couch Surfer and the first handler is successfully able to leash him and continues the walk without issue. Later, another handler comes to take Couch Surfer and move him to a different kennel; as they approach his kennel, Couch Surfer is jumping up exuberantly at the kennel door with a loose, wiggly body, intermittently demand barking/whining. Couch Surfer jumps up very high against the kennel door and he jumps towards handler's hand as they go to put the lock on the kennel bars after unlocking. Handler uses their other hand to distract Couch Surfer away from where they are securing the lock to the door and they are able to successfully do so. Couch Surfer is very loose and wiggly as handler opens the door and presents their leash; he briefly bites the leash when it comes in front of his face but lets go when a leash is presented. He does this twice but handler is eventually able to successfully leash Couch Surfer using a treat lure. He pulls hard exiting the kennel room but does not react to the kennels he passes; while in the elevator Couch Surfer jumps up on handler socially but is easily redirected with treats. He is brought out to the street for a walk, pulling hard throughout the majority of the walk. He will briefly check in with handler when called, but is otherwise generally focused on exploring his surroundings. He allows handler to clip his leash and is returned to his kennel without issue.

Summary (5):: 5/23/26: It is noted on the behavior board that Couch Surfer is jumpy during leashing. 5/23/26: Couch Surfer is at the front of the kennel with a soft body and wagging tail. He is jumping up and down repeatedly above the handler's head. He is easily leashed with a treat lure and removed from the kennel. He pulls hard out of the room and taken downstairs. In the elevator, Couch Surfer jumps up exuberantly onto the handler. He rips their PPE with his paws. Handler directs him down with treats which is successful. Couch Surfer is taken to the street where he pulls hard. He can be heard coughing as he pulls. Handler is able to put Couch Surfer in a leash harness. He pulls less and walks besides the handler with very mild pulling. When observing dogs, Couch Surfer pulls towards them with a forward posture and tense body. He is called away and redirected with treats. Couch Surfer relieves himself a few times before he is walked back to the shelter. He is taken upstairs and returned to his kennel without issue

Summary (6):: 5/16/26: Reported via the whiteboard that Couch Surfer behaves well when using leash harness 5/8/26: Couch Surfer is at the front of his kennel, hard barking and exuberantly jumping as the handler approaches. When they attempt to place the lock on the kennel door, Couch attempts to bite either the lock or their finger, so they hold onto the lock. They feed Couch spray cheese while leashing him, and bring him out the room. In the elevator, Couch exuberantly jumps off the handler’s body. He is brought downstairs and into the yard for playgroup (see dog-dog notes). After the interaction, the handler brings Couch inside; by the elevator, Couch barks at and pulls towards a large dog, but the handler quickly brings him into the elevator. Then, the handler clips their leash and returns Couch to his kennel with ease. 4/28/26: Couch Surfer is at the front of his kennel, jumping up and barking at the handler; the handler uses treats, and as he eats them, they leash him. The handler brings COuch to the yard, and places him on a drag line. There, Couch relieves himself and engages with the tennis balls. The handler then uses a ball thrower and tosses the tennis balls in the yard, which Couch chases after. He also engages with the handler by allowing pets and taking treats. Upon entry, the handler clips their leahs and returns Couch Surfer to his kennel.

Summary (7):: 4/23/26: Couch Surfer is at the front of his kennel, jumping up and barking at the handler. When the handler places the lock on the kennel door, Couch nips the lock a couple of times. The handler then sprays cheese, and as Couch eats it, the handler leashes him. The handler is able to bring him out the room and the building. Once on the street, Couch attempts to pull towards another dog who does the same, but turns his attention away on his own. As the handler stands and speaks with a familiar handler, at first Couch stays still, but then he repeatedly jumps on the handler with a loose body. The handler gives him a treat and begins the walk. Couch walks ahead with mild to moderate leash tension; he doesn't react to passersby. He also engages with the handler by jumping on them and soliciting pets. Upon entry, the handler returns Couch Surfer into his new kennel. 4/17/26: Couch Surfer has been reported to bite and tug the leash when being leashed in kennel. Low value treats have been used, but he shows no interest; he will eat high value treats, like spray cheese, instead. 04/16/26: Couch Surfer is at the front of his kennel as handler approaches, he begins vocalizing as handler unlocks the kennel door but allows leashing. He pulls hard out of kennel but stops for tossed treats. Outside he passes people without issue and accepts tossed treats, he stops to relieve himself and will allow pets and jumps on handler at times. After a while he is brought back inside for his assessment and returned to kennel once complete.

Date of intake:: 4/12/2026

Summary:: Jumping up on staff, wiggly body

Date of initial:: 4/13/2026

Summary:: Body relaxed; very wiggly and jumping up

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Couch Surfer 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 addition to physical exercise, to positively direct their energy and enthusiasm.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: Level 4

Recommendations:: No children (under 13)

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to poor impulse control and poor bite inhibition, we recommend a home with no children.

Potential challenges: : Basic manners/poor impulse control,Mouthiness/poor bite inhibition,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Leash-biting,Bite history (human)

Potential challenges comments:: Basic Manners: Couch Surfer has been observed to jump up on handlers in a social manner. 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. Mouthiness: Couch has been observed to jump up and nip the lock when handlers place it on his kennel. During one instance, he bit the handler on the finger causing broken skin. Please see bite history above for more details. We recommend never playing with bare hands, always with a toy, and ending play or attention whenever Couch puts teeth on skin. They should be rewarded with attention and treats when they stop and/or when they are seeking attention in alternate ways. Please see handout on Mouthiness. Barrier Frustration/Bite History (human): Couch Surfer has been reported to snap at the kennel lock when handlers attempt to secure the kennel. This resulted in a bite with a staff member. The bite left a small puncture. This behavior is likely to continue as it has become part of Couch Surfer's repertoire, and will need careful management to work toward reducing triggers for Benny and reducing the resulting bites. Please see hand-outs for On-leash reactivity/Barrier Frustration and for Bite History. Leash Biting: Couch is observed to bite and tug the leash into kennel when handlers attempt to leash him. This behavior is able to be redirected using treats. 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.