Date of intake:: 10/9/2025

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray (no known information)

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Moderate - Hard Reactivity to humans: None - ignores Reactivity to dogs: Inconclusive - did not pass dogs on walk Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Tails was kept on leash in the yard Call over: Not conducted Sociability comments: Takes a while to settle Handling Soft handling: Over-aroused – jumps up uncontrollably, displacing, difficult to relax dog Exuberant handling: Over-aroused – jumps up uncontrollably, displacing, difficult to relax dog Handling comments: Bites leash, shakes Arousal Jog: Engages, rough, exuberant Arousal comments: Knock: Alert body Knock Comments: Toy: Tense body, hovers Toy comments:

Summary:: 10/13: Tails is tense, forward facing, high tail as he greets a F MMB dog at the gate. He makes a high pitched, arousal scream and attempts to pull towards her. He remains highly alert when she is out of sight.

Summary (6):: 10/15: Tails is easily leashed and brought out for a walk, pulling hard on the leash. He allows staff to clip and return him to his kennel without issue. 10/14: Tails is wiggly and exuberant when leashed. During the walk, he maintains a soft body and pulls hard on the leash. He ignores people passed along the route. At one point, Tails begins to bite the leash, jumping up and holding it in his mouth. He maintains a grip until redirected with a squeaky toy. Once distracted, he releases the leash and resumes walking calmly without further rope-biting. He is easily returned to his kennel. 10/13: Tails is easily leashed and walks out of his kennel, pulling mildly through the halls. On the walk, he keeps his head down, investigating scents. When walking back to the building, he reacts to pipes along the wall—his hackles raise, and he rushes forward, pulling hard on the leash. He recovers once past them. At the door, when staff reaches to clip his leash, he reverses. A second staff member attempts to get his attention, and he emits a low growl, lowering his front half into a defensive posture. Staff give him space, and he jumps up against the door. While standing on his hind legs, he is safely clipped and returned to his kennel without further issue.

Summary (7):: 10/11: Tails is jumping at the kennel door, standing on his hind legs as staff approach. He drops down, allows the leash to be placed, and is brought out for a walk. On the way out, Tails jumps up, head-whipping and biting at the leash before continuing forward. He pulls hard toward scents throughout the walk. At the kennel door, when staff attempt to clip his leash, he spins around and jumps toward the handler. The second staff member distracts him, and Tails jumps up toward them, resting a paw on their hands. While distracted, he is successfully clipped and easily returned to his kennel. Later, Tails is initially evasive of the leash loop in his kennel. With one staff member luring him with treats and another closing the transfer door, he is successfully guided through a large loop and leashed. On the walk, Tails pulls toward scents but leaves occasional slack in the leash. On the return, while one staff member discards a poop bag, he jumps up on their legs. When attempting to clip his leash, Tails head-whips toward staff but is ultimately secured and returned to his kennel without further issue. 10/10/25 AM: Tails is jumping at the kennel door and barking as staff approach. He is leashed and brought on a walk with two staff members. Tails pulls hard on the leash, moving in varying directions. His posture remains neutral, with relaxed ears and a low tail. He pauses to relieve himself, and when slack forms in the leash, he begins jumping and biting at it. Staff redirects his attention, and Tails resumes walking, continuing to pull forward. He is directed back to the building, returns to his kennel, and eats the treats left for him. As staff leave, Tails is jumping at the kennel door. 10/10/25 PM: Tails is at the front of his kennel when staff approach. He is easily leashed and brought outside, where he begins sniffing around. While walking up the block, he body-checks the second staff member. On the return walk to the Care Center, he brushes against the second staff member’s leg. When they reach down to pet his head, he becomes wiggly and begins jumping, but is redirected. Upon entering the Care Center, as the handler attempts to unclip his leash, Tails jumps toward the leash with an open mouth and head-whips toward the staff member’s hand. He is successfully redirected and distracted with a squeaky toy.

Date of initial:: 10/10/2025

Summary:: Tolerates - moving around erratically, displacing

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 his high arousal, we recommend an adult only home. Single-pet home/Recommend no dog parks: Due to high arousal during a gate greet, we believe Tails should be the only pet in the home at this time & should not visit the dog park. 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 Sam associate dogs with things he enjoys like toys or treats. Place with a New Hope partner: Tails has not acclimated well to the kennel environment and has allowed only minimal handling since intake. We recommend placement with a New Hope partner who can provide any necessary behavior modification (force-free, positive reinforcement-based) and re-evaluate behavior in a stable home environment before placement into a permanent home.

Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Basic manners/poor impulse control,Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Leash-biting,Strength/leash pulling,Low threshold for arousal

Potential challenges comments:: Resource Guarding: Tails finds toys of a high value, becoming tense and hovering during his assessment. We recommend Tails be left alone when eating and playing. Nothing should ever be taken directly out of his mouth. Should you have to remove something from Tails, we recommend always trading for something of an equal or higher value. He should be taught the “drop” cue and trade-up games. Please see handout on Resource Guarding. Basic Manner/Impulse Control: Tails lacks basic manners and impulse control. It is recommended that default behaviors such as "Leave it", "Sit/Stay", "Down" are reinforced to substitute any frustration and teach him to control his impulses instead of simply reacting; proper management is also advised. Force-free, reward-based training only is recommended. Please see the handout on Basic Manners and Impulse Control. Handling/touch sensitivity: Tails is easily over aroused when touched. He has given staff difficultly when they safety clip his slip lead. Positive reinforcement, reward-based training should be used to pair touch with good things such as food rewards to teach Tails to be more comfortable with this. Please see the handout on Handling and Touch Sensitivity. Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Tails has become defensive towards staff when attempting to safety clip his leash. It is important to move slowly with Tails, to build positive associations (treats/toys/praise), and to allow him to initiate interactions with new people. He should never be forced to greet or to interact if she is not comfortable and soliciting attention. Please see handout on Fearful Potential for Defensive Aggression. Leash-biting/Strength/leash pulling: Tails is a strong dog and can pull hard on leash. He will jump up and bite the leash. His adopter must be prepared and able to handle a dog of this size and strength. It is recommended that he be walked on a front clip harness or head halter, which help diminish his strength through leverage, and that he be trained using positive reinforcement, reward-based training to not pull while on leash. We recommend carrying treats or toys while walking him should he begin to bite the leash. Please see the handout on Leash Manners. Low threshold for arousal: Tails becomes easily over aroused when interacting with staff. Over arousal can tip into aggression. We recommend creating a calm, structured environment with consistent routines and clear boundaries. Avoid rough play or situations that trigger overexcitement and instead reinforce calm behaviors with rewards. Teaching cues like “settle” or “go to mat” can help redirect energy constructively. Regular mental enrichment, controlled exercise, and decompression time are key. Please see the handout on Arousal.