Date of intake:: 11/28/2025

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Previously lived with:: 1 Adult

Behavior toward strangers:: Rocky is playful and socially jumps on strangers

Behavior toward children:: Rocky is playful and socially jumps on children

Behavior toward dogs:: No experience

Behavior toward cats:: No experience

Resource guarding:: No resource guarding

Bite history:: No bite history

Housetrained:: Partially

Energy level/descriptors:: High Energy

Other Notes:: Rocky tends to jump for attention (both on and off leash) and can be a bit mouthy during playtime and with treats. Rocky can also be a bit destructive and he can get anxious when left alone. Rocky doesn't like being restrained or having his feet touched, but he just becomes squirmy. He can get a bit fearful when pushed off furniture or when his collar is pulled.

Date of assessment:: 11/29/2025

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: None Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: None Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Highly social Call over: Approaches readily Sociability comments: Explores the room briefly, stands near handlers, jumps socially on handlers and accepts pets and treats, flinches at sudden movements and loud noises. Soft handling: Seeks contact Exuberant handling: Accepts contact Comments: Seeks contact from handler, accepts handling Arousal Jog comments: Follows exuberantly Knock Knock comments: Approaches slowly with low body and wagging tail, pees slightly upon approach, leans in for pets Toy Toy comments: No response

Summary:: 12/20/25: Rocky Barkboa greets another dog at the gate with a loose and wiggly body. He play bows and vocalizes. He is used to greet another dog and this time he is snapping at the fence.

Summary (4):: 12/23/25- Rocky Barkboa is at the front of his kennel barking at handlers with a tense body, one handler sprays cheese on his kennel door and other handler is able to easily leash. When exiting the kennel Rocky cage fights with the passing kennels and in the hallway he tries to fight the pop up crates. Handlers toss him treats to keep him focused on them while waiting for the elevator. He is taken for a street. He jumps on handlers with a neutral body and they give the command to sit, Rocky follows the command and sits. He sniffs around and relieves himself. He keeps focused on handlers throughout the walk and has a mild to moderate pull throughout. He is easily clipped and when returning into the room he cage fights again. He goes into kennel easily and leash is easily removed. 12/22/25: It is reported that Rocky was biting and tugging the leash into kennel. Rocky continues to leash bite through the hallway and into the driveway. In the driveway Rocky continues jumping up and biting the leash, causing the leash to become loose around his neck. The handler calls for backup. When the secondary handlers arrives they begin tossing treats and using their squeaker. Rocky is not receptive, he continues jumping up high, biting and tugging on the leash. Rocky then lunges forwards (seemingly in an attempt to bite the leash) and bites the handler on the thigh. The secondary handler attempts to lasso Rocky, however he lunges and begins to bite the leash. Rocky now has both leashes in his mouth. The secondary handler tosses more treats, Rocky is not receptive. The primary handler uses their pet corrector and Rocky stops leash biting. While double roped Rocky attempts to jumps towards both handlers. In the hallway when returning to kennel Rocky lunges towards the dogs in the pop up crates, snapping at them. He also cage fights in the kennel room and the handlers have to pull him away. Rocky is placed in kennel and a hook is used to remove the leash. Rocky dodges the hook while snarling, vocalizing and snapping at it.

Summary (5):: 12/21/25: Rocky Barkboa was reported to be leash biting in kennel at a high intensity. A treat lure is used to leash him and it is unsuccessful. Due to the leash biting he is not walked in the evening. 12/19/25: Rocky Barkboa is standing hind legs, initially alert barking but becomes less intense and stops as handler begins to unlock kennel doors. Rocky Barkboa is easily leashed with a treat lure, exits kennel with hard pulling. He ignores occupied kennels and the first pop-up crate, however when a dog in another pop-up crate begins to hard bark at Rocky Barkboa he pulls hard toward the crate with a tense body. Rocky Barkboa is panting hard, strained face on elevator. Rocky Barkboa pulls hard out of MACC, but once on sidewalk pulls significantly less, becomes mild-moderate. Rocky Barkboa is social with handler, he understands sit commands, takes treats dropped. Rocky Barkboa jumps twice on handler with loose body when being pet. About half way through walk, Rocky Barkboa is more loose bodied, panting less, relaxed face. Rocky continues to be social with handler, allowing all petting with soft body. Rocky Barkboa is walked back to MACC, he pulls toward occupied kennels, moderate leash pressure is used to redirect to kennel without issue. 12/6/25: Rocky Barkboa is at the front of his kennel with his ears pinned back watching the handler. Handler calls his name in a soft voice and he would then become soft-bodied with a wagging tail. Handler feeds him a treat through the bars, which he would easily take. He is then easily leashed and removed from kennel, as he is exiting the room he is watching the kennels with a tense body. Once out of the room, he would walk alongside the handler and is taken for a street walk. Handler goes to pet him as they're in the elevator, he would begin to pee on himself. Handler coaxes him with a treat and he would easily take and begin to jump on the handler shortly after. Once out on the street, Rocky would walk on a loose leash ahead of the handler. He would remain neutral bodied throughout his walk and would not react towards any passing stimuli. Throughout the walk, Rocky would be rewarded with a treat each time he would check in with the handler. He would also then solicit pets with no issues either. Shortly after, he is then clipped and easily returned back to his kennel.

Summary (6):: 12/4/25: It has been noted on the whiteboard that Rocky Barkboa is "feisty (sp?) but sweet. consider walking with toy?". 12/4/25 (Mid day walk): Rocky Barkboa is standing loose body at front of kennel. He becomes wiggly as kennel door is opened, however begins to paw at the bottom of kennel door trying to push his head out. He is able to be cued to raise his head after several attempts and is leashed with a treat lure. Rocky Barkboa exits with hard pulling, is forward-neutral bodied as he pulls through hallway. While waiting for elevator he is social with handler, takes treats and allows all petting. When exiting to sidewalk Rocky Barkboa is walking with loose leash, soft body, and continues to be social with handler, taking treats for 'sit' command. When passing people he becomes loose-wiggly, tries to approach. Rocky is walked back to MACC and kennel without issue, takes treats offered. 12/3/25 (AM walk): Rocky Barkboa is at the front of his kennel jumping up and barking while showing teeth. Handler is able to use a treat to lure him lower and attempts to leash, but Rocky is still jumping up and barking, only occasionally able to be distracted with treats. At one point, he nips at handler's knee that they are using to keep the kennel door secure. While continuously distracting with treats, handler is able to lower their leash in but Rocky gets his paw caught in it - as they go to remove their leash, Rocky begins to bite at it and tug it into kennel. A second handler calls to him and gives him a treat and he lets go. Handler then resets and on second attempt is easily able to leash Rocky while distracting with a treat. He is brought out of the kennel room with ease and pulls hard going to the street. On the street, Rocky scrambles and scavenges, eating treats and food he can see. He pulls hard throughout the walk, and will pull harder towards dogs when they are in his sight line. About halfway through the walk, Rocky relieves himself and handler goes to pick it up. After they do so, Rocky begins to jump up very high and bite at the leash - handler straight arms him to create distance and throws treats on the ground, which Rocky lets go of the leash to eat. Handler begins to walk him back to the shelter, and Rocky will periodically resume jumping up and biting the leash, and each time handler is able to throw treats to distract him. He pulls hard going back to kennel and is able to be returned to kennel with ease.

Summary (7):: 12/2/25: Rocky Barkboa is at the front of his kennel with a neutral body. He is then easily leashed and removed from his kennel, where he would have a hard pull out of the room. Rocky is then taken for a street walk, where he would spot a dog in the garage and begin to pass out due to the leash pressure and his hard pulling. He quickly gets up and resets, handler then tosses a handful of treats on the ground and is able to safely place him into a rope harness. He would begin to try and chew on the rope, but is easily distracted as handler continues to walk forward. Rocky would then tolerate the harness throughout the duration of the walk. He would walk alongside the handler, not reacting towards any dogs or people and would take treats from the handler with a soft mouth. After the walk, he is then brought back inside where handler would toss another handful of treats onto the floor, as he would quickly take them the rope harness is removed and he is clipped and brought back to his kennel with no issue. 12/1/25 and 12/2/25: Rocky Barkboa is reported to be leash biting and spinning when returning to kennel. 11/29/25 For assessment: Rocky Barkboa is sitting at front of kennel with soft bodied, he is slightly whale eyed when handler unlocks kennel, door. He is easily leashed, exits with neutral frame, loose leash. On sidewalk he becomes soft frame, at times loose bodied. He is social with handler checks in visually for verbal cues. Several times he is offered treats but begins to jump up soft bodied toward the treat, does not understand 'sit' command. Rocky Barkboa sees a MMB pass by within 10 feet, no reaction. He was walked into office for assessment where he is treat motivated and social with staff. Upon completing assessment he is walked back to kennel, he baulks, pancakes when neighboring dog is hard barking at him. Treats are ineffective to lure in, front paws are muscled into kennel and he walks in without further issue.

Date of intake:: 11/28/2025

Summary:: Loose and wiggly, friendly with staff

Date of initial:: 11/28/2025

Summary:: Wiggly and seeking attention. Whale eyed and attempting to flee with placement of muzzle for tasks

ENERGY LEVEL:: Rocky Barkboa is described as active and enthusiastic. 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. We recommend feeding with puzzle feeders and food-dispensing toys. And we recommend only force-free, reward-based training techniques for Rocky.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),Recommend no dog parks,Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to rope reactivity and on leash reactivity we recommend an adult only home. Recommend no dog parks: Due to the concerning behaviors that Rocky has shown at the care centers and during playgroup (see DOG-DOG SUMMARY), we feel that Rocky should not visit dog park. The Behavior Department recommends that he be socialized in a more controlled setting until his behavior toward other dogs can be further addressed. 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: : Destructive behavior,Basic manners/poor impulse control,Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful,Separation anxiety,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Leash-biting

Potential challenges comments:: Destructive Behavior: Rocky's previous owner states that he can be 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 Rocky 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/Poor Impulse Control: Rocky is reported to jump socially on people in an attention seeking manner, he was also observed to jump socially on handlers during his assessment. 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. Please see handout on Basic Manners and Impulse Control. Fearful/ Handling Sensitivity: Rocky's previous owner states that he does not like being restrained or have his paws touched. They also states that he will become fearful when his collar is grabbed and when pushed off furniture. When receiving vaccines and during his medical exams, Rocky was reported to become nervous and tense and would flee/squirm during muzzling and handling. Positive reinforcement, reward based training should be used to pair touch with good things such as food rewards in order to teach Rocky to be more comfortable with this. Please see handout on Handling and Touch Sensitivity and Decompression Period. Separation Anxiety: Rocky's previous owner states that he will become anxious when left home alone. We recommend that potential adopters feel comfortable with separation anxiety behaviors and be prepared to manage and positively modify them should they appear in a home environment. They would do best in a home where a person is home for a large part of the day or with a plan so they are not alone for long periods of time. Please see handout on Separation Anxiety. On Leash Reactivity: Rocky has been obsvered to lunge and snap towards other dogs in popup crates and in the kennel room. Rocky will need positive reinforcement, reward based training to teach them to look at you rather than other dogs. We recommend a front clip harness to help manage this behavior. Please see handout on On Leash Reactivity and Barrier Frustration. Leash Biting: Rocky is obsvered to jump up, bite, and tug the leash in kennel and while outside. Rocky also jumps towards the handler while leash biting, During one instance Rocky bit the handler on the leg. This did not cause broken skin. 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.