Date of intake:: 10/27/2024

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Date of assessment:: 10/28/2024

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Hard Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: None Leash walking comments: Tail tucked, fearful with motorcycles Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Fearful Call over: Approaches with coaxing Sociability comments: Tense body, low tail, lip licking, seeking exit Soft handling: Tolerates contact Exuberant handling: Tolerates contact Comments: Tense body Arousal Jog comments: Follows handler readily Knock Knock comments: Approaches handler with tense body and low tail Toy Toy comments: Grips lightly, relinquishes

Summary:: 12/7/24: Chocolate greets another dog at the gate with a tense body. He slams his head against the gate attempting to push through the gate.

Summary (4):: 1/21/25: Chocolate is standing at the front of his kennel with a soft body and wagging tail. He sniffs the leash when presented and allows for the loop to be placed on him. He is walked on the street where he walks alongside handlers, turning towards each for treats. He will sit for treats. He remains soft body and responsive to handlers. He notices another dog in the driveway and stands stiff, he darts back and forth as the dog walks around a van out of sight. When returning to the building, Chocolate becomes frantic again, darting back and forth, hypervigilant. The second handler uses a treat trail to get him back to his kennel.

Summary (5):: 1/19/25: Chocolate displays the same behavior this morning as yesterday 1/18. 1/18/25: Chocolate is standing at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He was able to be leashed with ease and pulled on the way outside for a walk. While on the walk outside, he would walk ahead to explore everywhere and would stop in front of the handlers to receive treats from them. He was comfortable taking them from their hands and liked to catch them when they were tossed. When enter the building, Chocolate bumped into an airline crate propped next to the door. It rattled making noise. Chocolate moved quickly away from it, becoming frantic on his way back to his kennel. He would dart back and forth, turning quickly towards sounds. He was able to be taken back to his kennel and enter when treats were tossed inside. 1/17/25: Chocolate is standing at the front of his kennel and easily leashed and removed. He is walked on the street where he walks between both handlers with soft body. He will look to each handler for treats and will sit when prompted. He is easily returned to a new kennel in the main building. 1/16/25: ACS reports that Chocolate attempted to bite them in the driveway. When seeing another dog while on leash, Chocolate began whining and pulling towards the other dog. Chocolate then turned towards the handler and bit their treatbag and pants. 11/16/24: Chocolate is standing in the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He is leashed without issue and is offered treats. He slowly investigates them and takes them gently from handler but spits the treats out. He is brought out of kennel into the hallway and sits waiting for the elevator with handler. When offered treats outside of kennel he accepts them softly from handlers hand. Once out in the street he pulls moderately so handler places Chocolate on a slip lead harness. His pulling is immediately more manageable and he walks slightly in front of handler for the remainder of the walk. Chocolate walks past people on the street without issue and ignores dogs he sees outside, when handler and Chocolate spot a dog approaching handler moves to the side and has Chocolate sit and focus on him. Once the dog has past Chocolate is rewarded with treats and the walk continues. Chocolate uses the bathroom outside and is brought back to the building. He is taken off the rope harness and is clipped before returning to kennel, during which Chocolate pulls hard into kennel.

Summary (6):: 11/6/24: Chocolate is standing at the front of kennel with a neutral body. He was easily leashed and brought out to the yard. He is uninterested in handler and treats, however, he jumps up towards all plush toys thrown in his direction. He grabs them and shakes them gently. He only interacts with each toy for a couple minutes before dropping them and walking away. He was brought back to kennel without issue. 11/2/24- Chocolate was at the front of his kennel with a neutral body, he was easily leashed and taken to the play yard. He was placed on a drag leash. He relieved himself and was aloof with handler when they called to him. Handler let him explore the yard without interrupting. Handler offered him treats but he just sniffs them. He come to handler when called over time and sniffs them. Handler slowly approached to pet under his chin and chest when they were sitting on the bench and Chocolate approached them, he allowed petting. When hand was over head to pet, Chocolate would lower his head and look away. Handler threw a squeaker toy and Chocolate chased it, grabbing it and shaking it. He would lose interest in it and when handler presented another squeaky toy Chocolate and waited for handler to toss. He again ran after toy, played it for a moment then disengaged with it. He allowed more petting along his back and rear. He would take on squeaky toy after awhile and lay down with it, squeaking it. Handler called to him and he came over, he was easily releashed and returned to kennel without issue.

Summary (7):: 10/30/24: Chocolate is laying down at the front of his kennel with a neutral body as handler approaches. As he stands up he stretches and is easily leashes. In the yard, he is put on a drag line. He has no interest in the LATTE items, the handler, or treats. However, he does play with the squeaky plush toys. He grabs them in his mouth and shakes them briefly, before dropping them and pouncing on them with his front paws. He would only interact with the toys briefly, until handler would throw it again. He would politely sit everytime when waiting for the toy to be thrown. His body became loose and wiggly when bouncing around the pen with different toys. When he noticed a dog in the neighboring pen, he approached the fence and maintained a neutral body, leaning forward. He was easily redirected with a squeaky toy. Chocolate was easily leashed and returned to kennel, however, he was slightly hesitant and resistant at the front of his kennel door, but with some moderate leash pressure and muscle he hopped right in. 10/28/24: Chocolate is laying down in the middle of his kennel with whale eyes as handler approaches. He does not get up or come to the front with treats or coaxing. Handler opened the door and was able to leash him. He pulls hard with a tail tucked in a C-shape position as he is walked outside to the street. He maintains a tense body, and darts all over the place on leash. He is displaying very fearful behavior. When passing by a stationary motorcycle he jumps back and lowers both his head and body. He has to be coaxed, and he quickly scurries past it. He does not react to people passing by, and when he spots a dog from a far distance, his ears perk up and he briefly stares at them but continues darting in all directions after a couple seconds. He is brought back to the care centers and is returned to kennel. Once in his kennel he attempts to flee by pushing past the door, but handler braces the door and secures him.

Date of intake:: 10/27/2024

Summary:: Relaxed body, wagging tail. Fearful of loud noises, would hide under a chair

Date of initial:: 10/29/2024

Summary:: Timid, tail wagging, taking treats/cheese

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Chocolate 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 we recommend an adult only home. Single Pet Home/ No Dog Parks: Due to on leash reactivity and the potential for redirecting onto handlers 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: : Fearful,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Strength/leash pulling

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful: Chocolate has been observed to be fearful during his stay. Chocolate has been observed to have a tense body, low tail, and seeks exit when interacting with handlers. While on the street Chocolate has been observed to pull hard away from motorcycles that are parked. On Leash Reactivity: Chocolate has been observed to pull hard and vocalize towards dogs while on leash. After reacting to the dog Chocolate has been observed to spin towards the handlers and redirect onto them. On one occasion Chocolate spun towards the handler and then their treat bag and pants. Chocolate will need positive reinforcement, reward based training to teach them to look at you rather than other dogs. We recommend a front clip harness to help manage this behavior. Please see handout on On Leash Reactivity and Barrier Frustration. Leash Pulling: Chocolate is a very large, strong dog with the capability to pull over an average adopter. Their adopter must be prepared and able to handle a dog of this size and strength. It is recommended that they be walked on a front clip harness or head halter, which will help diminish their strength through leverage, and that they be trained using positive reinforcement, reward based training to not pull on leash. Please see handout on Leash Manners.