Date of intake:: 9/2/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Previously lived with:: 1 Adult, 1 child (teenager), 2 cats

Behavior toward strangers:: Muffin is tolerant

Behavior toward children:: Muffin is tolerant and playful

Behavior toward dogs:: Muffin is playful with familiar dog

Behavior toward cats:: Muffin was noted to avoid contact, can be tolerant

Resource guarding:: Muffin growls when the owner tries to touch his food.

Bite history:: None reported

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Very high (more active than most)

Other Notes:: Muffin gets anxious when left home alone, has destructive tendencies, and often jumps up. Muffin isn't bothered when held/restained and when their feet/paws are touched. Muffin will bark when startled. The owner never tried to disturb Muffin while sleeping, push/pull off furniture, or grab their collar.

Date of assessment:: 9/8/2026

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Mild 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: Soft body and wagging tail, took treats with mild pressure, and mouthed handlers' hands while seeking treats Soft handling: Tolerates contact Exuberant handling: Tolerates contact Comments: Head whips Arousal Jog comments: Follows handler readily Knock Knock comments: Approaches handler readily with soft body Toy Toy comments: Sniffs, no reaction

Summary:: According to Muffin's previous owner(s), Muffin is playful with familiar dogs. 9/12/26: Muffin is introduced to a novel intact female and is loose at the fence with mid level wags, then disengages and attempting to interact with handlers. He is let into the yard and initially lip licks and takes a few steps back. He then engages in mutual sniffing with the other dog, then does a chin over and attempts mounting. He continuously attempts mounting, wrapping his paws around the other dog with a tense body and tight closed mouth. He is pulled off and brought across the yard, he attempts to pull back towards the other dog but is redirected with handler attention.

Summary (5):: 10/12/26: Muffin is at the front of his kennel as handler approaches, he barks and jumps at the kennel door and handler notes that the entirety of the kennel is painted in feces. Muffin is offered treats and accepts them with extreme intensity, he is leashed while distracted and after taking a few steps out of kennel Muffin suddenly bites onto handlers leg and holds on for a moment before letting go. Handler immediately turns around and returns Muffin to kennel. Muffin continues to bark and vocalize while jumping at the kennel door and biting and tugging onto the still attached leash in kennel. He is distracted with more treats and a hook is used to retrieve the leash, interaction is ended shortly after. 10/11/26: Muffin is at the front of his kennel, hard barking and jumping off the kennel walls when handler approaches. He starts muzzle punching while vocalizing when handler unlocks the kennel. He is distracted with treats (takes hard) and handler is able to put the leash on with a lure. Muffin exits the kennel and pulls hard out of the room. Muffin walks ahead of the handler with mild leash pressure in the hallways. He is taken to the yard where he relieves himself and placed on the drag-line after. Muffin jumps onto the handler pawing at their treat pouch. Handler is able to cue him to sit; they engage him in quick pattern games and Muffin readily follows. When handler sits on the bench, Muffin jumps and places his head and front paws on their lap seeking attention and pets. His body is loose. Muffin has no reaction to other dogs or staff members in neighboring pens. After sometime handler clips the leash and brings Muffin back into his kennel. 10/11/26: Muffin's kennel is observed to be covered and coated in feces. 10/7/26: Muffin is at the front of his kennel with a loose body, barking and jumping around repeatedly; his kennel is observed to be covered in feces. As the handler attempts to leash him with a treat lure, Muffin eats some of the treats, but bites and tugs the leash repeatedly; he lets go when the handler tosses treats at him. As the handler presents more treats, Muffin eats them with hard pressure and allows himself to be leashed. Muffin is brought out the room. On the street, Muffin walks with mild leash pressure and doesn't react to dogs or people. Muffin frequently turns around and sits in front of the handler for treats; he eats them when it's tossed to him. He also jumps and stands on his hind legs to solicit attention and allow pets. After some time outside, the handler clip their leash and returns Muffin to his kennel with ease.

Summary (6):: 10/6/26 - Muffin is at the front of the kennel as handler approaches, jumping and barking eager to exit, handler tosses treats but he quickly eats them before it can be used as a distraction and goes to bite and pull at handler's leash. Instead of tossing treats into kennel, handler uses other hand to hold treat in front of kennel bars for him to fixate on while handler is able to place leash onto him. Handler tosses treat onto the ground as he exits, eats treats and walks out with no issues out of the building and with no reactivity to nearby staff or dogs. Outside handler does leash harness for his strong pulling, he is then walking with a loose leash next to handler with the assistance of the leash harness and handler engaging him with working on heel and rewarding, handler also works on his "sit," at crosswalks and "touch" with him whenever he begins to pull hard on the leash to reroute him into a heel next to the handler. Overall Muffin spends most of the walk sniffing, naturally checking in with the handler and giving no issues, when returning to kennel removing the leash harness happened with ease and he was unleashed and returned with no issue at the end of his walk. 10/05/26: Muffin is at the front of his kennel as handler approaches, he is offered treats as a distraction but does not accept them and fixates on the leash as handler unlocks the kennel door, Muffin attempts to bite the leash multiple times but handler is able to get the leash on her. She continues tugging on the leash and ignores treats but follows handler into the hallway and toward a toy bin, handler presents a squeaky toy, Muffin investigates it but does not accept it, he walks with handler slowly out to the street, passing staff and dogs in crates without issue. Muffin walks wit handler outside and continues to walk alongside handler calmly, passing people on the street without issue and stopping on occasion to relieve himself. After walking for a while he is brought back inside and returns to kennel without issue. 10/4/26 - Muffin is at the front of kennel barking and aroused as handler approaches, further painting his kennel door and biting the bars from excitement. Handler places spray cheese on the kennel bars since handler attempts to leash and muffin bites the leash, spray cheese helped to curb the biting. Once leashed Muffin exits the building with ease, a few times Muffin jumps onto the handler socially but was easily redirected with tossed treats, very receptive to treats and verbal cues, Muffin proceeded with the walk with no issues and no reactivity nor leash biting. Muffin at one point did stare at a dog in the distance but easily disengaged and goes back to sniffing the ground and focused on his walk. Returns back to kennel with no issues.

Summary (7):: 10/3/26 (PM): Muffin is at the front of his kennel barking as the handler approaches; when the handler brings the leash in to leash him, Muffin bites and tugs the leash. After given a verbal cue, Muffin lets go. The handler then presents treats and as he focuses on them, they leash and bring him out the room. Muffin is brought to the yard. He jumps on the handler socially and allows pets. When they sit down, Muffin sits by their legs and leans his body against them; he allows pets on his head and belly. When a familiar handler greets Muffin through the fence, he looks at them before turning his attention back to the handler. He eventually climbs up the handler's lap and has his face close to their, but continues to solicit pets and treats. At some point, he tries to mouth the leash, but it was a brief attempt. After several minutes, the handler brings Muffin inside and returned to his kennel. 10/3/26: Muffin is reported to be rope reactive for both morning and midday walks. In the morning, Muffin leash bites and tugs when being leashed, as well as attempting to redirect onto the handler's sweater while they had him on a short leash; he was able to be redirected with treats. However, for the midday, he does the same and he doesn't redirect with treats or squeaky toys. 09/29/26 (Trainer Note): Muffin is standing in the middle of his crate with a tense body, heavily panting, anxious barking, and dilated pupils as handler approaches. He is leashed using a treat and removed from his crate. He pulls hard as he is taken to the street for a walk. He moderately pulls as he sniffs the ground, and will regularly check in with handler, he is rewarded. Muffin is taken on a long walk before being returned to his crate. 9/12/26 (D2D): Muffin was at the front of his crate with a neutral body where he was easily leashed and pulled for playgroup (Please see dog to dog notes for details). He walked next to handler and checked handler hands several times for treats. After the playgroup he was returned to his crate with no issue. 9/8/26: Muffin is at the front of his crate, barking softly as the handler approaches; they drop treats into his crate and he eats them with significant pressure. Muffin is easily leashed and brought out the room. While walking through the gate outside to exit, Muffin flinches and retreats as the handler closes it. Muffin walks with no leash tension and next to the handler. While walking on the side of the road, when Muffin sees another dog, he flinches and retreats, ending up on the road; the handler tries to pull him out of the road, but he stays in the same position, so the handler pulls him to the side to allow a car. Muffin is brought inside for his assessment (see notes); afterwards, he is returned to his kennel.

Date of intake:: 9/3/2026

Summary:: High energy

Date of initial:: 9/4/2026

Summary:: Allows all handling with soft body

ENERGY LEVEL:: Muffin 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 Muffin.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to poor bite inhibition, and resource guarding we recommend a home with no young children. 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: : Resource guarding,Destructive behavior,Basic manners/poor impulse control,Mouthiness/poor bite inhibition,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Leash-biting

Potential challenges comments:: Resource Guarding: Muffin's previous owner states that he will growl when they try to touch his food. Nothing should ever be taken directly out of Muffin's mouth, and any time something is removed they should be rewarded with a high value treat or toy. Please see handout on Resource Guarding. Destructive Behavior: Muffin's previous owner states that he is destructive in the home. We are unaware of what, if any, attempts were made to remedy this behavior but we suggest to future adopters that Muffin will need to be provided with physical and mental stimulation and with a variety of appropriate and engaging chew toys so they can engage in necessary chewing behavior without damage to human objects. Please see handout on Destructive Behavior. Basic Manners: Muffin's previous owner states that he will jump up often. 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. Force-free, reward-based training only is recommended. Please see handout on Basic Manners. Mouthiness: Muffin has been observed to mouth handlers while seeking treats and take treats with mild pressure. We recommend never playing with bare hands, always with a toy, and ending play or attention whenever Muffin puts teeth on skin. They should be rewarded with attention and treats when they stop and/or when they are seeking attention in alternate ways. Please see handout on Mouthiness. Fearful Defensive: Muffins's previous owner states that he will bark when startled. Muffin has been observed to flinch and retreat from certain stimuli. It is important to move slowly with Muffin, to build positive associations (treats/toys/praise), and to allow them to initiate interactions with new people. They should never be forced to greet or to interact if they are not comfortable and soliciting attention. Please see handout on Fearful and Defensive Aggression. Leash Biting: Muffin is observed to jump up, bite, and tug on the leash, when the handler attempted to straight arm him, he bit the handlers sleeve. 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.