Date of intake:: 7/11/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner Surrender

Previously lived with:: 2 adults, children (4,10,12,13,1)

Behavior toward strangers:: Nino is friendly and outgoing

Behavior toward children:: Nino is friendly and tolerant

Behavior toward dogs:: Nino is fearful

Behavior toward cats:: No experience

Resource guarding:: None reported

Bite history:: None reported

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: High

Other Notes:: Nino is reported to bark when nails are being trimmed or paws are touched. Nino's previous owner describes him as friendly and playful. He may know the cues sit and come.

Date of assessment:: 7/13/2026

Summary:: Nino has been observed to be highly fearful while in care. During intake Nino was observed to thrash and alligator roll while on leash. Due to the high level of fear, stress, and anxiety observed, Nino is not a candidate for a handling assessment at this time.

Summary:: According to Nino's previous owner(s), Nino is fearful around other dogs. 8/1/26: Nino is introduced to a novel intact male and approaches the fence with a tense body immediately lunging with a high stiff wagging tail and hard eye contact, baring teeth and snapping through the gate. He continues to fixate on the other dog, lunging on leash and hard barking.

Summary (5):: 8/1/26: Handler was returning Nino to kennel when he started jumping up and snapping at leash and handler's hand. When handler straight armed him and he couldn't get hand he started thrashing against leash. Handler finally got him back into kennel. 8/01/26: Nino is at the front of his kennel hard barking and pawing the kennel door when handler approaches. He gently takes offered treat and stops jumping but continues barking in demanding way. Nino is leashed with a treat lure and taken out of the room. In the hallways, Nino pulls hard forward all the way outside. Once in the driveway, handler is able to cue him to sit and Nino gently takes offered treat as a reward. He continues walking slightly ahead of the handler with mild leash tension. He pulls harder toward the spots he wants to discover and eventually relieves himself. When Nino sees another dog his body tenses and shits forward but quickly disengages when handler creates a distance. Nino doesn't react towards other people passerby. During the walk he is responsive with handler and sits for treats. His body remains neutral most of the time. During return handler is able to pre-lip the leash and bring Nino back into the kennel with no further issues. 7/31/26: Nino is at the front of his kennel with neutral body when handler approaches. He starts hard barking and jumping on the kennel door when handler touches the lock. He is lured with treats and is leashed and taken out of the room with no issues. Nino stares at the dogs in pop-up crates in the hallways but quickly disengages after handler calls him. Nino walks next to the handler with mild leash tension all the way outside. Once in the driveway, Nino pulls hard towards certain area and relieves himself. After he continues walking alongside with the hander on the loose leash with no tension. When he sees another dog, he will hard stare at them, his body stiff with high carried tail; handler is able to redirect him with treats and verbal cues and resume the walk. Nino responsive with handler, allows petting and sits for treats. Nino doesn't react towards other people passerby. His body remains neutral with relaxed face during the walk. Upon return, handler is able to pre-clip the leash; Nino attempts to pull towards neigboring kennels with tense body. Handler is able to shorten the leash, pull him away and muscle Nino back into the kennel.

Summary (6):: 7/3026: Nino is reported to paint his kennel with his feces. 7/30/26: Nino is at the front of his kennel hard barking as the handler approaches. When the handler attempts to place the lock on the kennel door, Nino quickly jumps up and bites the bars and lock; when the handler presents their hand, he hard barks and attempts to bite their hand. The handler then tosses treats into his kennel, and as Nino turns around to eat them, the handler secures the lock on his door. The handler steps a way for a few minutes; as they come back with a second handler, Nino has a wiggly body. When the handler attempts to leash him, Nino dodes the leash; even with treats, he doesn't come to the front. After several attempts, the handler is able to leash Nino and brings him out the kennel. While exiting, Nino attempts to react to the dog in the next kennel, but stops as the kennel is covered; he moderately pulls out the room while looking at the kennels. On the street, Nino walks with mild to moderate leash tension; he does' react to people or dogs. Nino is mainly aloof, as when the handler speak to him, he briefly looks back, Upon entry, the handler clips their leash and returns Nino to his kennel. 7/29/26: Nino is at the front of the kennel with a soft wiggly body and wagging tail. Handler opens the kennel and presents the leash. He then retreats to the back and sits at the back of the kennel. Handler tosses treats towards Nino to encourage him forward. Nino eats the treats that land closer to him. Handler continues to coax him forward. They place treats through the leash and he takes them. Handler is able to coax Nino's head through the leash. Once leashed, the kennel door is opened. Nino hesitates briefly before jumping out of the kennel. He walks at a steady pace out of the kennel room and is taken to the street. His eyes and face tense and ears pinned as he walks. On the street, Nino walks slowly besides the handler. Treats are occasionally tossed or offered and Nino does not take them. When called to, Nino will approach the handler with a wiggly body and wagging tail. He jumps up on the handler before jumping down. He then becomes aloof with the handler. When observing dogs, Nino stares at them with alert ears and a forward posture, slightly tense. Handler uses squeakers to redirect him but it is unsuccessful. Nino is then walked back to the shelter. He walks slowly occasionally stopping to look or sniff his surroundings with a pinned ears. Nino is brought back into the kennel room where he begins to stare at the passing kennels tense. Nino is brought to the entrance of his kennel. He briefly stops and looks towards the kennel next to him with a tense face. He then muzzle punches the neighboring kennel. Handler muscles him into kennel. He is given a high value treat and the interaction is ended

Summary (7):: 7/18/26: (KSV) Nino approaches the front with a lowered body. Handler talks to him and he has a lowered wagging tail. Handler continues talking to him and giving him high value treats. He then takes novel treats and remains at the front of the kennel. Handler places a squeaky toy in the kennel. He sniffs it. He is left with more treats and the interaction is ended. 7/15/26: (KSV) Nino is laying down in kennel. His kennel is visibly messy. Handler offers him treats. He sniffs them but he does not take the treats. Nino remains lying down in his kennel and the interaction is ended. 7/15/26: It is noted on the whiteboard that Nino is not moving over to the next kennel for cleaning.

Date of intake:: 7/11/2026

Summary:: Thrashing, alligator rolling, and biting the leash

Date of initial:: 7/13/2026

Summary:: Opted to sedate

ENERGY LEVEL:: Nino is described as active and enthusiastic. They will need daily mental and physical activity to keep them 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. We recommend feeding with puzzle feeders and food-dispensing toys. And we recommend using force-free, reward-based training techniques for Nino.

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 observed while in care, we recommend an adult only home. 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. Single-Pet Home/Recommend No Dog Parks: Due to the concerning behaviors that Nino has shown during playgroup (see DOG-DOG SUMMARY), we feel that he should not visit dog parks and be the only resident dog. The Behavior Department recommends that he be socialized in a more controlled setting until his behavior towards other dogs can be further addressed. Reward-based, force-free training can be utilized to help Nino associate dogs with things he enjoys like toys or treats.

Potential challenges: : Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful,Leash-biting

Potential challenges comments:: Handling Sensitivity: Nino's previous owner states that he will bark when his nails are being trimmed or when his paws are touched. Positive reinforcement, reward based training should be used to pair touch with good things such as food rewards in order to teach Nino to be more comfortable with this. Please see handout on Handling and Touch Sensitivity. Fearful: Nino was observed to thrash and alligator roll while on leash. They should never be forced to approach anything that they are uncomfortable with or submit to petting or handling. It should always be their choice to approach a new person or thing. Nino would do best in an initially calm and quiet home environment and should be given time to acclimate to their new surroundings. Please see handout on Decompression Period. Leash Biting: During intake Nino was obsvered to jump up and bite the leash. 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.