Date of intake:: 10/31/2025

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

Date of assessment:: 1/9/2026

Summary:: 01/09/26: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Hard pull on walks Reactivity to humans: N/a Reactivity to dogs: N/a Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Timid warms up quickly warms up, soft body, leans into touch Call over: Readily approaches- gently takes treats, allows light petting Sociability comments: Handling Soft handling: Allowed- sits, lip licks, looks back Exuberant handling: Allowed- sits, lip licks Handling comments: Arousal Jog: Follow- bouncy 2nd pass grabs lead drops, bouncy Arousal comments: Knock: no response Knock Comments: Toy: playful;, grips toy bouncy Toy comments: ****11/28/25: behavior assessment upon request.*** 11/4/25: Caramel is taken to the behavior office for a handling assessment. She displays a tucked tail and is avoidant of the handler. She began to seek an exit and display a tucked tail and low body. Due to this, a handling assessment will not be conducted at this time. 11/1/25: Caramel is taken to the behavior office for a handling assessment. She displays a low body, tucked tail and begins to shake. Caramel ignores the treats offered to her and stays near the exit door. Due to this, she is given more time to decompress.

Summary:: Due to entering the facility as a stray, there is no prior dog-to-dog history recorded. 12/01/25 Caramel is introduced to a novel female dog while off leash at the care center. Caramel initially approaches the gate with a soft, wiggly frame while soliciting play by offering bounces and play bows. She is guided into the female dog's pen in order to greet her face-to-face. Caramel sniffs the female dog before start/stopping and jumping into a play bow. Caramel takes off, engaging in chase play with the female dog. Caramel grows frustrated when she cannot catch the female dog while also causing discomfort due to Caramel's excessive body contact, attempts at mounting and jumping onto the female dog. As the female dog creates distance, Caramel displays a hard face and tense body. The two are separated as both dogs are reluctant to reengage. 11/03/25 Caramel is introduced at the gate to a male helper dog while on leash at the care center. Caramel appears nervous as she approaches the gate, displaying a tucked tail and whale eyes. Caramel runs away from the gate, reluctant to reapproach. She doesn't allow collaring as well, concluding her interaction as she is returned to kennel.

Summary (5):: 04/20/26 (Trainer Note): Caramel is at the front of her kennel as the handler approaches. She is easily leashed and pulls moderately to kennel. The handler is able to get Caramel to engage with the leave it cue. The handler can introdue the word "ok" as a release for her to get the treat. The handler is able to use this with treats in their hand, on their knee and then uncovered and placed on the floor. Caramel is able to leave them with ease. After multiple successful repetitions, the handler give Caramel a toy to play with. She will hop around the room and shake the toy. Caramel is easily leashed and carries her toy back to kennel. She baulks at the door and drops the toy. The handler throws a treat scatter and she follows it half way. the handler is then able to safely move the toy into her kennel and she follows it in. 4/19/26: Caramel is observed to be leash biting significantly, but is able to be refocused with toys and treats although Caramel has to be refocused persistently by staff. 4/17/26: Caramel was reported to be leash biting and said to only have clipped the front of her leash. In the middle of that the ACS switched to her to the slip lead as she was leash biting. She then pancaked when going back into kennel, and had to be led back into the kennel with treats by behavior staff. 04/15/26 (Trainer Note): Caramel is standing at the front of her kennel as the handler approaches. She is easily leashed and pulls moderately to the canine training room. Caramel is able to leave treats on the ground and waits for the handler to say "okay" before going to pick up the treat. She leans into contact and is returned to kennel without issue. 04/06/26 (Trainer Note): Caramel was at the front of her kennel as the handler approached. She backed aways asv they opened the door, but would then walk forward to be leashed. Caramel walked calmly to the Live Room and shook off as soon as she was clipped to a drag leash. the handler continued work on a leave it cue for Caramel using lower and higher value treats. The handler was able to insert the verbal cue "leave it" and Caramel could leave treats in the handler's closed fist, on their knee and covered on the floor on cue with ease. caramel was then marked and rewarded with higher value treats. The handler gave caramel a snuffle mat as a break and Caramel would then engage with a toy. Caramel was re leashed and would baulk at her kennel door. the handler tossed a toy and some treats into her kennel and used light leash pressure to guide her in.

Summary (6):: 03/31/26 (Trainer Note): Caramel is jumping at the front of her kennel as the handler approaches. She is easily leashed and pulls strongly to the Live Room. When inside she is clipped to a drag leash and immediately starts to counter surf. The handler engages Caramel in some Doggie Zen. She will sit and wait for the handler to give her a treat. After a couple of repetitions, Caramel will mouth and paw at the handler's hand. Caramel will move away from the handler's hand to be marked and rewarded. Caramel will find a ball under the bed and begin to play with it. The handler gets a second balls and begins some polite exchange to encourage impulse control. Caramel will jump twice to get the balls, almost reaching the handler's head. The handler will cue Caramel into a sit, she will oblige, and is marked and rewarded with the new ball. After multiple successful repetitions, Caramel is beginning to sit automatically after dropping the ball and waiting for a new one. Caramel is easily re leashed and returned to her kennel. 03/18/26 (Trainer Note): Caramel is sitting on her bed as the handler approaches. She easily follows a treat through the leash. Caramel is loose and social with the handler but maintains a moderate pant and dilated pupils. She is able to sit still as the handler drops treats, but as soon as she is reinforced, she attempts to lunge for the treats on the ground. The handler works with Caramel on duration and she improves over time. She is easily leashed and returned to kennel without issue. 3/19/26: Caramel is standing at her kennel door as handler approaches. She begins to jump at the door with a loose body and is able to be leashed with ease. She then pulls hard on the way to the live room. In the room, she has a loose body as she engages in a puzzle feeder and a snuffle mat. She would approach the handler and jump up with a loose and wiggly body. She is comfortable receiving a few pets. She chases around a tennis ball and would lay down on the snuffle mat to chew on it. She tries to pull the handler back to the tennis ball when it rolls away and is able to be distracted with treats when exiting the room. She pulls hard on the way back to her kennel, and then baulks to the ground when she reaches the front of her kennel. She is able to enter her kennel when treats are tossed inside. The handler then gives her a toy to chew on before walking away.

Summary (7):: 03/18/26 (Trainer Note): Caramel is sitting on her bed as the handler approaches. She easily follows a treat through the leash. Caramel is loose and social with the handler but maintains a moderate pant and dilated pupils. The handler works with her on the leave it cue. Caramel is able to ignore treats as they are both placed and dropped on the ground. She is easily leashed and returned to kennel without issue. 3/15/26: Caramel is reported to jump up at the handler and mouth at them as she exits the kennel. Toys are reported to help refocus her attention upon exit. "Walk Me with Toys" signage is added. 03/12/26 (Trainer Note): Caramel is sitting at the front of her kennel as the handler approaches. She backs away from the leash initially, but follows a treat lure through. Caramel attempts to pull towards the other kennels, kicking off of the handler as she does so. The handler works with her on the leave it cue. Caramel participates readily and the handler is able to leave a treat on the ground by the end of the session. She is easily leashed and returned to kennel without issue. 03/04/26 (Trainer Note): Caramel is sitting at the front of her kennel as the handler approaches. She is easily leashed and pulls moderately to the canine training room. She pants moderately with dilated pupils throughout the interaction. The handler works with her on doggie zen and she participates with mild interest. Caramel is easily leashed and returned to kennel without issue. - 02/15: (Late entry): Staff reports that Carmel has exhibited kennel reactivity when passing other kennels. 2/12/26: Caramel is siting at the front of her kennel as handler approaches. She is able to be leashed with ease and she pulls hard on the way outside for a walk. On the walk, she would jump up on the handler with a loose body to demand for treats. She would sit for treats and chase after treats that the handler would toss ahead on the ground. She has no reactions to people and tries to pull towards dogs in their kennels. She pulls hard on the way back to her kennel and has to be muscled inside due to baulking in front of her kennel and not wanting treats.

Date of intake:: 10/30/2025

Date of initial:: 10/31/2025

Summary:: timid, tail tucked, needed to be muzzled and distracted with food, whale eyes

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: Level 4

Recommendations:: No children (under 13)

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): We reccomend Caramel is placed in a home with No children (under 13).

Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Fearful,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Strength/leash pulling

Potential challenges comments:: Resource guarding: Caramel is noted to guard her kong filled for food and began to hover/tense when handler was past her.Training should focus on trade-up exercises, predictable handling around high-value items, and reinforcing voluntary disengagement to reduce guarding responses. Please see the handout on Resource guarding. Fearful: Caramel displays trembling, whale eyes, and tucked tail and will seek exit. Use low-stress handling and avoid sudden movements or loud environments. Provide calming enrichment like scent work, soft music, and puzzle toys to help her decompress. Gradual desensitization to triggers, paired with high-value rewards, can help build confidence. Walks should be in quiet areas with minimal stimulation, and handlers should use slow, predictable body language to reduce hypervigilance and prevent escalation. Please see the handout on Decompression period. On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration: Caramle is noted to kennel fight in the care center. Strength/leash pulling: Caramel is noted to hard pull on the lead. Loose-leash walking practice, rewarding engagement, and supportive walking equipment can help improve control. Please see the handout on Strength/leash pulling.