Date of intake:: 7/31/2025

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Previously lived with:: 2 Adults, 2 children (4 & 16 y/o)

Behavior toward strangers:: Ace is playful, friendly, and outgoing with strangers

Behavior toward children:: Ace is playful, friendly, and outgoing with children

Behavior toward dogs:: Ace will lunge at unfamiliar dogs

Behavior toward cats:: No experience

Resource guarding:: Ace will resource guard food, toys, and treats. Ace will hover over the object and growl.

Bite history:: No bite history

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: High Energy

Other Notes:: Ace is described as a social, affectionate and playful dog who prefers contact on his own terms. He spends most of his time in the living room, bedroom, or where people are. Ace may know the following cues with a snapping sound of the fingers: Sit, Lay, Up, Down, and Stay. He is reported to lunge at people and dogs on leash in an attempt to initiate play. Ace will jump up frequently or continuously, pull hard on the leash, and exhibit destructive tendencies in his previous home. Ace will lunge when held/restrained and when his collar is grabbed. Ace isnt bothered when disturbed while sleeping or when startled. The owner never attempted to push/pull Ace off of furniture, or touch his feet/paws. *Previous assessments can be given upon request*

Date of assessment:: 8/17/2025

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Moderate Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: None Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Highly social Call over: Approaches handler readily Sociability comments: Stays near handler Soft handling: Accepts contact Exuberant handling: Accepts contact Comments: Neutral body, jumps up on handler Arousal Jog comments: Follows handler exuberantly, loose body Knock Knock comments: Approaches handler readily Toy Toy comments: No interest, No reaction

Summary:: 8/5/25: Ace greets another dog at the gate with a neutral body. He stands with his side along the fence, not looking at the other dog. 8/6/25: A decoy dog is used to greet Ace off leash. Ace approaches the 'dog' with a soft body and wagging tail. He sniffs the 'dog' then disengages on his own. He re=approaches remaining soft with wagging tail. The decoy dog moves away and then falls over he remains soft but wraps his front paws around the 'dogs' torso, posturing to mount.

Summary (5):: 8/18/25- Ace is standing at the front of his kennel with a neutral body, he is easily leashed. When exiting the room Ace cage fights and handler has to muscle him away from a kennel. Once in the hallway waiting for some dogs to pass Ace has no reaction to them. He gently takes treats from handler's hand. He is then taken to the play yard and placed on a drag leash. Handler scratches his head and he goes belly up allowing handler to rub his belly. He does zoomies around the pen after and goes to drink water from the doggie pool. Handler calls to him and he comes running over with a loose and wiggly body. He follows the command to sit and is rewarded. Handler sits on the bench, Ace comes over and puts his front paws up on the bench. Handler scratches his head and neck Ace leans into their body and looks into the other pen where there is another dog. He keeps a soft body and just continues to lean into handler while being petted. Handler gets some toys and throws a soft toy, Ace chases it just sniffs then comes back to handler. They toss a ball he chases it and again just sniffs and returns to handler. He sits and is given a couple of treats. Handler goes back to sit on the bench Ace follows again putting his front paws on the bench, handler scratches his neck. Ace then tries to lightly mount handler, they toss treats and Ace goes to them then comes back to try to mount again. Handler stands up and he stops, he follows handler and is given a treat. He is easily releashed and he doesn't cage fight when returning to his kennel, he goes in without issue.

Summary (6):: 8/17/25: Ace is standing at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He is comfortable taking treats and is able to be leashed with ease. He is then taken outside for a walk. On the walk, he would slightly pull ahead and had no reactions to dogs or people. He is then taken to the behavior room for his assessment. In the room, he had a loose body frame and is comfortable taking treats. Please see behavior assessment notes for more details. He is able to return back to his kennel with no issues. 8/13/25: It is reported on the behavior board that Ace is kennel fighting and humping handlers. 8/12/25:Ace is lying down in kennel when handler approaches. Handler unlocks the kennel and he approaches with a tense body, and a wagging tail. He jumps up and down repeatedly in kennel, heavily panting. Handler tries to leash him and Ace begins nibbling the leash and handlers hands lightly. Handler tries to lasso the leash on him but he tosses his head back. Handler grabs some spray cheese and sprays it along the kennel bars. He licks the cheese briefly but it is not successful in leashing. Handler is able to quickly lasso the leash over him and it is secure. He is taken out of the kennel room walking besides the handler. He is brought to the street. On the street, Ace walks just ahead of the handler with mild pulling and a loose body. He relieves himself and is walked back to the shelter where he is returned to kennel without issue. 8/11/25: Ace is observed to be panting heavily while standing at the front of his kennel. 08/03/25: Ace is at the front of his kennel as handler approaches, he is offered treats and sniffs them but does not accept them. Handler unlocks the kennel door and begins leashing Ace who jumps up at down and attempts to press his head out the kennel door. He is successfully leashed and taken to the street for his walk. Ace pulls forward frantically while out on the street, he passes people without issue and stops occasionally to sniff spots on the street. Ace uses the bathroom outside and remains somewhat erratic with his pulling. After a while he is brought back to kennel and clipped, he pancakes outside the kennel room but after a moment he stands and walks with handler into kennel without further issue.

Summary (7):: 08/02/25: Ace is laying in his kennel upon approach but stands soft body and wagging tail as handler unlocks the kennel. He is easily leashed and removed from kennel. He pulls hard forward out of the room while look in the direction of the other dogs. He is walked on the street where he is aloof, sniffing all the spots and marking. He is not always receptive to handers when called. Handler walks rapidly back into the kennel room and Ace goes into his kennel without issue. 08/01/25: Ace is at the front of his kennel as handlers approach. He is offered treats and accepts them when dropped on the floor. Handlers begin attempting to leash Ace who dodges the leash a few times but remains still long enough (with the use of a squeaker) to allow leashing. He exits kennel but begins turning and steps over one of the leashes causing it to get stuck under his front arm. He exits the kennel room and handlers are able to untangle him. He is walked out to the yard and uses the bathroom once outside. He walks with handlers and frequently turns when sniffing briefly tangling himself. He walks into some of the play yards and explores, when offered treats he sniffs them but does not accept them. Ace finishes using the bathroom and his leashed are clipped before handlers begin returning him. At the front of his room he begins pancaking and baulking. A staff member nearby is able to place a belly band on him and it is passed to one of the handlers and it is employed to return him to kennel. Handlers have to muscle him into kennel and once returned a hook is used to retrieve one of his leashes. 7/31/25: It was reported by staff that when they removed Ace from kennel for a walk, he began to cage fight. He then turned towards the handler and lunged at them. The handler straight armed him and he began to thrash. The staff member called for help and another staff member placed a second leash on him. They placed him back into kennel. 7/31/25: While waiting in the lobby, Ace is vocalizing loudly, whining and panting.

Date of intake:: 7/31/2025

Summary:: Vocalizing loudly, whining and panting

Date of initial:: 7/31/2025

Summary:: Anxious, panting, pacing, allows muzzling, pancakes when approached, vocalizes for HWT

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on so we cannot be certain of his behavior in a home environment. However, he will need daily mental and physical activity to keep him engaged and exercised. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in additional to physical exercise, to positively direct his energy and enthusiasm.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: Level 4

Recommendations:: No children (under 13)

Recommendations comments:: No Children: Due to Ace's fearful disposition and his need for contact on his own terms, we recommend Ace be placed in a home without children.

Potential challenges: : Destructive behavior,Basic manners/poor impulse control,Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Anxiety,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Strength/leash pulling,Low threshold for arousal

Potential challenges comments:: Destructive Behavior: Ace's former owners report he has shown destructive behavior in his previous home. We are unaware of what, if any, attempts were made to remedy this behavior but we suggest to future adopters that Ace will need to be provided with physical and mental stimulation and with a variety of appropriate and engaging chew toys so he can engage in necessary chewing behavior without damage to human objects. Please see handout on Destructive Behaviors. Basic Manners: Ace's previous owner states that he will jump up frequently. 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. Please see handout on Basic Manners. Handling Sensitivity: Ace's previous owner states that he will lunge when held/restrained and when his collar is grabbed. Please see handout on Handling and Touch Sensitivity. Fearful/Potential for Defensive Aggression: When attempting to redirect Ace from kennel fighting, he was reported to begin thrashing on leash and lunging at handlers. His signs of discomfort must be respected; Ace should never be forced to interact, he should always be given the opportunity to walk away from situations or people he finds uncomfortable. We recommend a slow approach and we recommend ONLY force-free, reward-based training methods for Ace. More aversive techniques are likely to increase fear, increase the risk of aggression, and decrease Ace's quality of life. Please see handout on Fearful and Defensive Aggression. Anxiety: Ace was reported to pant and whine heavily upon his intake and during certain interactions. If Ace displays anxious behavior in his future home, we recommend puzzle toys, long walks, and giving him other things to focus on to alleviate his anxiety. Positive reinforcement, force-free training only should be used. Please see handout on Generalized Anxiety. On-Leash Reactivity: When attempting to remove Ace from kennel he is reported to intensely kennel fight and lunge toward dogs and people while on leash. Ace may need positive reinforcement, reward based training to teach him to look at you rather than other dogs. We recommend a front clip harness or head halter to help manage this behavior. Please see handout on On-Leash Reactivity and Barrier Frustration. Leash Pulling: Ace's previous owner states that he will pull hard while on leash. Please see handout on Leash Manners. Arousal: Ace has been observed to mount handlers perstantly while on leash. Please see handout on Arousal. If they escalate to jumping or mounting, people should immediately walk away from and separate themselves from Ace. Please see handout on Arousal.