Date of intake:: 2/17/2026

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray(1 month with roommate)

Previously lived with:: 1 adult

Behavior toward strangers:: avoids, barks, growls, lunges, and snaps at strangers. As he gets to know people he becomes friendly

Behavior toward children:: No experience.

Behavior toward dogs:: He barks, growls, lunges, and snaps at other dogs.

Behavior toward cats:: He barks, growls, lunges, and snaps at cats and other animals.

Resource guarding:: There have been no attempts to touch or take any items in his possession.

Bite history:: Client stated that when they initially met Capone, they went to pet his head, and Capone snapped and left one puncture mark. Client stated there have been no further bite incidents. The client stated Capone is extremely reactive to dogs and other animals, and they was told that Capone was bitten by another dog about a year ago.

Housetrained:: Partially

Energy level/descriptors:: Capone is noted in the prior home to have a Medium energy level.

Other Notes:: He uses the bathroom outside, and inside in designated areas. He is reported to have accidents when left alone. He is reported to escape the house/yard, to have general and separation anxiety, and to be fearful of loud noises. While on walks he growls, barks, lunges, and snaps at strangers, other dogs, and small animals. He lunges when held/restrained. He snaps when pushed/pulled off furniture. He is not bothered when his paws are touched. He is fearful when his collar is touched. There have been no attempts to startle him or wake him from sleep. He is a social, affectionate, fearful dog. He spends most of his time where people are, and is known to follow them around the house. He did not allow his previous care takers to bathe him, brush him, or trim his nails. He pulls hard while on leash. In his previous home he would go on two 10-minute walks a day. He does not enjoy being in a car. He knows "sit" and "paw". He loves stuffed toys.

Date of assessment:: 2/20/2026

Summary:: 2/20 - A handling assessment will not be condcuted at this time due to Capone's anxious behavior, pacing, and panting in the room, and becoming tense and avoidant when touched.

Summary:: Capone was admitted as a stray; however, the finder reported a history of barking, growling, lunging, and snapping toward other dogs. 02/19/26: Capone was introduced to a novel female dog. At the gate, Capone hard pulls toward the gate with tail held high and ears back. Capone grows frustrated and begins vocalizing with whining. Both dogs appear sexually motivated and are separated, concluding the interaction.

Summary (7):: 2/25/26: Capone is very loose/wiggly when approached, easily leashed and walked outside for a brief walk. Capone will explore his surroundings and relive himself and when coaxed will jump and paw at the handler for pets. Capone does not react to any dogs from a far distance. Capone is walked back to the care center and when entering kennel will turn around and mouth the leash, but does not bite onto it. 2/21/26: Capone is standing at the front of his kennel with a wiggly body as handler approaches. He begins jumping and barking at the door as the handler unlocks it. He is then taken to the behavior room. In the room, he would approach the handlers and jump up with a wiggly body and wagging tail. He is comfortable siting to receive treats. He engages in a cheese lick mat and a snuffle mat. He pulls hard on the way back to his kennel and is able to enter with no issues. 2/19/26: Capone is sanding at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He begins to jump and bark at the door and is able to be leashed with ease. He then pulls hard on the way to the play yard for play group. Along the way, he would pull hard ahead while hard staring at dogs that would pass by. He lunges and barks at a dog that was close by the ramp fence. He pulls hard towards the dog at the gate in the yard. He is able to be taken away. He is then able to re greet the dog at the gate with a loose body, wagging tail and he begins to whimper. Please see dog to dog notes for more details. He pulls hard on the way back to his kennel and is able to enter with no issues. 2/19/26: Capone is standing at the front of his kennel with a wiggly body as handler approaches. He begins jumping and barking at the door as the handler unlocks it. He is able to be quickly leashed and he then pulls towards the dogs in kennel while barking before heading to the behavior room. In the room, he would approach the handlers with a wiggly body and wagging tail. He would become tense when he would jump up on to the handlers and stare at them. He is comfortable siting to receive treats. He pulls hard on the way back to his kennel and is able to enter with no issues. 02/18/25: Capone is observed to get his teeth stuck in his kennel bars and the handler had to use a tool with some padding to get his muzzle off the bars. 02/17/25 (late entry): Capone is observed to be heavy panting, pacing, and whining while in kennel. He displays a flushed face and wide, dilated eyes.

Date of intake:: 2/17/2026

Summary:: anxious, barking, lunging, and yelping. Staff used two ropes to walk him back to medical.

Date of initial:: 2/17/2026

Summary:: Low tail wags but high pitch whining. Whale eyes when approaching. Very focused on other dogs barki

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),No cats,Single-pet home,Recommend no dog parks,Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): We reccomend Capone be placed in an adult-only home at this time. No cats: We reccomend Capone is placed in a home with no cat/ small animal due to his reactivity towards them. Single-pet home/Recommend no dog parks: We reccomend no dogs parks/and be the only dog in the home due to his reactivity towards other dogs. Place with a New Hope partner: Due to all noted concerns displayed in a home environment, the behavior department recommends Capome 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 Capone to acclimate comfortably to his new environment; force-free, reward based training only is advised when introducing Capone to new and unfamiliar situations. Consultation with a professional trainer/behaviorist is highly recommended for guidance to safely manage/modify any behavior Capone presents with outside of the care centers.

Potential challenges: : Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Separation anxiety,Anxiety,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Strength/leash pulling,Low threshold for arousal,Bite history (human)

Potential challenges comments:: Handling/touch sensitivity: Capone is noted in the prior home to lunges when held/restrained. He snaps when pushed/pulled off furniture.He is fearful when his collar is touched.Training should focus on slow, choice-based handling, avoiding forceful physical interactions, and gradually desensitizing him to collar touches and light restraint to reduce defensive responses. Please see the handout on Handling/touch sensitivity. Low threshold for arousal/Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Capone is noted towards stranger he will avoids, barks, growls, lunges, and snaps at strangers. In the prior home Capone is noted to be fearful of loud noises. Training should emphasize secure distances from triggers, structured introductions, and reinforcing calm engagement at low arousal levels. Please see the handout on Fearful/potential for defensive aggression. Anxiety/Separation anxiety: Capone si noted in the care noted to vocalize, whine, display heavy panting. In the prior home he is noted to have accidents when left alone. He is reported to escape the house/yard, to have general and separation anxiety.Training should prioritize predictable routines, gradual departure desensitization, calming enrichment, and independence-building exercises to help him cope when alone or in unfamiliar environments. Please see the handout on generalized anxiety/Separation anxiety. Bite history (human): Client stated that when they initially met Capone, they went to pet his head, and Capone snapped and left one puncture mark. Client stated there have been no further bite incidents. Other: Client stated Capone is extremely reactive to dogs and other animals, and he was told that Capone was bitten by another dog about a year ago. On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration:Capone is noted to bark, growl,lunge and snap when seeing dogs,cats and small animals while on walks.Training should focus on increasing distance from triggers, reinforcing attention toward the handler, and using gradual desensitization to reduce intensity of reactivity. Please see the handout on On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration. Strength/leash pulling: Capone is noted to hard pull while on the leash.Training should emphasize loose-leash walking skills, rewarding moments of slack, and using supportive walking equipment to provide handlers with better control during walks. Please see the handout on Strength/leash pulling.