Date of intake:: 10/1/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Previously lived with:: 2 adults, 1 child, cat, dog

Behavior toward strangers:: Luka is friendly and outgoing

Behavior toward children:: Luka is playful

Behavior toward dogs:: Luka is playful and friendly

Behavior toward cats:: Luka is shy and prefers contact on his terms

Resource guarding:: Valuable items: Toys, Treats (bones, rawhides, etc.), Food Reaction: Unknown/Never attempted to touch or take items, Growls or hard barks

Bite history:: Luka tends to nip playfully- no broken skin

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: High (often playful/busy)

Other Notes:: Reacts to on walks: Children, Strangers that approach the home/yard, Small animals (squirrels, birds, rats, etc.), Large dogs, Small dogs, Moving objects (bikes, skateboards, cars, etc.) Reaction type: Other Additional info: He gets excited like he wants to play. Luka will attempt to mount children. Luka;s previous owner describes him as social and affectionate. How this dog reacts when... - Held/restrained: Isn't bothered - Disturbed while resting/sleeping: Isn't bothered - Startled: Barks/Growls - Pushed/pulled off furniture: Fearful - Paws are touched: Bites - Collar grabbed/touched: Isn't bothered

Date of assessment:: 10/5/2026

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Mild Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: None Leash walking comments: Sniffing around persistently Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Distracted Call over: No approach Sociability comments: Sniffing around the room persistantly Soft handling: Tolerates contact Exuberant handling: Tolerates contact Comments: Sniffing around Arousal Jog comments: Follows handler readily Knock Knock comments: No approach Toy Toy comments: Sniffs, No reaction

Summary:: According to Luka's previous owner(s), Luka is playful and friendly with other dogs. Luka lived with another dog in his previous home. 10/8/26: Luka is introduced to a novel intact female and sniffs nose to nose through the fence with a loose body and high wags, disengaging quickly and sniffing in the catch pen. He fixates on smells in the pen, not reapproaching for multiple minutes. When he returns, he is loose at the fence with mid-high level wags and nudges his snout towards the fence opening. He is let into the yard and approaches the other dog with a loose body, licking nearby her cheeks/face. He attempts to position himself to mount, the other dog bounces and spins away repeatedly. He then fixates on a spot in the yard, licking the turf and is tolerant of the other dog sniffing him at the same time. He is tolerant of being leapt on and bumped moderately, but continues to pursue mounting and the meet is ended.

Summary (5):: 10/26/26: Luka is at the front of the kennel jumping up and down at the bars with dilated eyes. He is leashed with a treat lure and exits the kennel quickly. As he pulls down the aisle, Luka jumps up and begins biting the leash. He is redirected with treats upon exiting the room. He makes more attempts to leash bite and pull on the leash jumping up towards the handler. Treats are scattered and when Luka settles, he pulls towards a toy basket. He takes a tennis ball and holds it in his mouth. He drops it occasionally. Luka is taken downstairs towards the street and he makes attempts to leash bite and is redirected with treats or the tennis ball. Luke relieves himself and walks ahead of the handler with moderate pulling. He is then walked back into the shelter. Luka is taken back upstairs and is returned to kennel without issue.

Summary (6):: 10/25/26 - Luka is at the front of kennel when handler approaches and he has a loose body, handler opens door and goes to leash and bites the leash at first, handler shows him a ball and he focuses on the ball as handler leashes. Once he exits he takes the ball and is able to exit the building fine while holding the ball, he does jump a few moments to try and mouth at the leash but the ball in his mouth curbs that and he stops jumping and focuses on his walk with the ball still in his mouth. At one point he drops the ball and doesn't take it back but at this point he is more focused on sniffing and exploring on his walk than the handler and leash, he does take treats and is receptive to them, when handler brings him back to the building the handler shows him the ball again and he takes it while handler pre-clips and returns him back to kennel with no further issues. 10/24/26: It is reported that Luka will bite the leash intensely while in the hallway. He is not redirectable and will get close to the handler's hand. He had to be double-leashed back into the kennel. 10/24/26: Luka is observed to leash bite when being walked by a staff member. Luka is bouncing up to grab the leash, letting go and bouncing up again. He does this a few times before holding the leash in his mouth tugging it. 10/23/26: Luka is at the front of his kennel hard barking when handler approaches. He allows leashing and willingly exits the kennel. Once he gets out of the room, Luka attempts to grab the leash and starts tugging it down. Handler uses treats and verbal correction and Luka releases the leash. He attempts to grab the leash few more times while in elevator (without escalating or getting to the handler's hand) but handler is able to stop him with more treats. Luka walks through the hallways with no reaction to other dogs, pop-up crates or staff members. Once outside he immediately relieves himself and continues walking slightly ahead of the handler with mild leash tension. He is receptive to treats but does not engage with handler and does not seek attention remaining aloof. He sniffs his surroundings and relieves himself few more times. He has no reaction to any stimuli on the street. His body remains neutral. Upon return handler clips the leash and brings Luka back into the kennel with no further issues. 10/21/26: Luka James is reported to leash bite when being brought from his kennel to the elevator; he shows no interest in treats and brief interest toys, but drops it midway.

Summary (7):: 10/18/26: It is reported that Luka is highly rope reactive and will jump up to bite the leash while out of kennel. Luka will jump up, bite, and tug on the leash while growling and vocalizing. This behavior is not easily redirected using treats or squeaky sounds. 10/14/26: Luka is at the back of his kennel napping as handler approaches, he sees handler and stands slowly. He approaches and allows leashing before exiting kennel and following handler out to the hallway, he walks past dog crates with mild curiosity but is kept away by handler. He is calm and walks out to the street for his walk, Luka is neutral bodied but has a slightly tucked tail as he walks. Luka is walked around and he stops to sniff spots on the street as well as stop stops to relieve himself. Luka allows petting from handler and will lean into their leg when being pet, he also accepts treats while interacting with handler. After a while he is brought back inside and returns to kennel without issue. 10/07/26: While exiting the behavior office to the hallway handler sees Luka sticking halfway out of kennel with his head stuck in his crate door. Handler quickly leashes Lukas head and pries open the crate door allowing Luka to get out, handler walks with Luka outside to the street for a long walk while a kennel is prepped for him. Luka is social with handler and allows petting but becomes easily excited, he walks with handler and passes people with mild curiosity, he ignores dogs he sees and stops to sniff and scent marks intermittently throughout the walk. Luka is eventually brought to the yard where he is placed on a drag leash, he plays fetch with handler for a while and engages socially. After a while he is eventually brought to his new kennel and enters without issue. 10/05/26: Luka is at the center of his kennel laying down as handler approaches, he stares at handler until he notices handler begin to unlock the kennel door. He approaches and sniffs a treat offered by handler but does not accept it. He is leashed without issue and walked to the street, along the way he smells a bin of soiled linens and fixates on the laundry, sniffing it profusely and being difficult to redirect without leash pressure. He eventually walks with handler out to the street and outside he shows no interest in passing people or dogs. He continues to sniff around and relieves himself while outside, after a bit he is brought back inside for his behavior assessment, once complete he is returned to kennel without issue.

Date of intake:: 10/1/2026

Summary:: Friendly, social

Date of initial:: 10/2/2026

Summary:: Wiggly and seeking attention, becomes tense with hands on exam. Continues to allow handling

ENERGY LEVEL:: Luka 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 Luka.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to his low threshold for arousal and handling sensitivity, we recommend a home with no 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,Mouthiness/poor bite inhibition,Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Leash-biting,Low threshold for arousal

Potential challenges comments:: Resource Guarding: Luka's previous owner states that he will growl or hard bark when in the possession of toys, treats, or food. Nothing should ever be taken directly out of Luka'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. Mouthiness: Luka's previous owner states that he will nip playfully but does not break skin. We recommend never playing with bare hands, always with a toy, and ending play or attention whenever Luka 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. Handling Sensitivity: Luka's previous owner states that he will bite 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 Luka to be more comfortable with this. Please see handout on Handling and Touch Sensitivity. Fearful Defensive: Luka's previous owner states that he will bark and growl when startled and is fearful when pushed off furniture. It is important to move slowly with Luka, 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: Luka has been observed to jump up and bite and leash intensely. This behavior is difficult to redirect, and in one instance Luka had to be double leashed. 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. Arousal: Luka's previous owner states that he will mount children when around them. Positive reinforcement training should be used to teach Luka to remain calm during arousing situations. If they begin to escalate, people should pause the interaction, and create distance from the trigger. Pattern games such as 1-2-3 treat and the cue “mat” can be used to reinforce calm behaviors. Please see handout on Arousal.