Date of intake:: 12/4/2025

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

Previously lived with:: 5 adults, 2 children (6 and 9 years old)

Behavior toward strangers:: shy preferring contact on his own terms around strangers but once opened up he is friendly and outgo

Behavior toward children:: friendly, outgoing, playful and tolerant.

Behavior toward dogs:: When around familiar/ unfamiliar dogs on /off leash friendly, outgoing, playful and tolerant. prefer

Behavior toward cats:: friendly, outgoing, playful and tolerant.

Resource guarding:: Rocky values treat, toys, and food. When the items that Rocky values are in his possession, he will show a tense body and/or hovers over the items as well as growls and/or hard barks.

Bite history:: Rocky has no bite history.

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Rocky is noted to display a high energy level in the prior home.

Other Notes:: Rocky is housetrained and it is very rare that he will have an accident within the home. When held/restrained, disturbed while resting/sleeping, startled, pushed/pulled off of furniture, his paws are touched, or when his collar is grabbed/touched rocky is not bothered. Rocky is a social/affectionate, very active and playful dog, and vocal dog. Rocky likes to spend his time in the living room area of his home. Rocky loves bathe time/water and will allow his owner/family to bathe and brush him. While on a leash Rocky is a level 3 meaning he experiences mild to moderate pulling (on or off during walk). Rocky goes on walks 3 times a day for 30 minutes each. Rocky has never been crated before. Rocky loves going for car rides. Rocky knows the commands for sit and jump. Rocky's previous owner stated their favorite thing about Rocky is that he is very playful and obedient and loves to go out for walks. Rocky's favorite toys to play with are his ball and pulling on his rope.

Date of assessment:: 12/6/2025

Summary:: 12/06/25: Once inside, Rocky approaches another handler and leans into their legs while being petted. When the handler steps back for a consent check, Rocky snaps at the air near their hand as it swings to their side. He then follows the handler out of the room and begins pulling hard down the hallway. As his pulling intensifies, Rocky whips around and vocalizes at the handler. Due to this, a handling assessment will not be condcuted at this time. ***12/5/25: A handling assessment was not conducted due to being sedated for medical exams.***

Summary:: According to Rocky's previous owner(s), When around familiar dogs, Rocky is friendly, outgoing, playful and tolerant. When around unfamiliar dogs on a leash Rocky is friendly, outgoing, playful, tolerant but can also be shy preferring contact on his own terms. When around unfamiliar dogs off the leash Rocky is friendly, outgoing and playful. 12/10/25 Cannot conduct due to medical. 12/08/25 Cannot conduct due to limited operations.

Summary (7):: 12/12: Staff report that Rocky has been seen snapping back towards handlers arms and refusing to go back in kennel on several occasions. 12/9: It is written on the board Rocky may have potential neck sensitivity as he growled and shook the leash during leashing. 12/06/25 (Assessment): Rocky is at the front of his kennel and begins to vocalize and jump up onto the door as the handler approaches. He is leashed with ease and will pull mildly to the behavior office. Once in the office, he will approach another handler and lean into their legs as they pet him. They take a step back for a consent check and Rocky will snap at the air near their hand as it swings to their side. He will then follow the handler out of the room and will start to pull hard down the hallway. As he pulls harder, he whips around and vocalizes at the handler who will stop him with the leash and encourages to continue walking. He pulls hard to his kennel vocalizing again at the door of the kennel room. He is placed into the kennel with no further issue and secured safely. (See assessment for more information)

Date of intake:: 12/4/2025

Summary:: friendly and outgoing allowing counselors to scan for microchip and leash to bring back to medical.

Date of initial:: 12/5/2025

Summary:: Walked in room with tail raised high, soft wagging, sniffing people, occasional vocalization. Accept

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): We recommend Rocky be placed in an adult-only home at this time. Place with a New Hope partner: Rocky was surrendered to the care center by his owner due to family members in the home developing health issues attributed to Rocky.Rocky shows inconsistent behavior and a low threshold for handling reactivity. Although he enters new spaces social and accepting treats, he becomes reactive when touched for procedures. In medical, he gave a warning bark during auscultation and made contact with a handler’s hand when a muzzle was introduced. During his handling assessment, he leaned in for petting but snapped at the air when the handler stepped back and their hand moved. Due to his quick escalation around handling, Rocky will need a New Hope placement experienced with touch-sensitive dogs. Rocky is available for rescue through one of our new hope partners.

Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Low threshold for arousal,Bite history (human)

Potential challenges comments:: Rocky values treat, toys, and food. When the items that Rocky values are in his possession, he will show a tense body and/or hovers over the items as well as growls and/or hard barks. Training should focus on management and desensitization, feeding and playing in a controlled environment, and gradually pairing approach with high-value rewards to reduce guarding behavior. Please see the handout on Resource guarding. Handling/touch sensitivity/Fearful/potential for defensive aggression/Low threshold for arousal | bite history (human): During Rocky's medical exam he walked in the room with tail raised high, soft wagging, sniffing people, occasional vocalization. Accepted treats. Attempted auscultation with food distraction, but rocky looked back and gave warning bark. Elected to muzzle for precaution but barked twice and immediately made contact with handlers hand when attempting to put muzzle on (skin did not break but left small bruise). During Rocky handling assessment he will approach another handler and lean into their legs as they pet him. They take a step back for a consent check and Rocky will snap at the air near their hand as it swings to their side.These behaviors indicate a low threshold for arousal and handling sensitivity. Training should prioritize cooperative care, slow and predictable handling, and consent-based interactions. Avoid sudden movements and restraint; use desensitization and counter-conditioning for medical and grooming procedures. Please see the handout on Fearful/potential for defensive aggression/Low threshold for arousal/Handling/touch sensitivity.