Date of intake:: 9/25/2025

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

Previously lived with:: 4 adults, 1 child, other LMB dogs

Behavior toward strangers:: Playful and tolerant.

Behavior toward children:: Friendly, playful and outgoing.

Behavior toward dogs:: Friendly, tolerant, playful and outgoing with both familiar and unfamiliar dogs on and off-leash but

Behavior toward cats:: No experience.

Resource guarding:: Resource guards food, treats and toys and will have a tense body or hover over the items. When the warning is not respected he escalates to growling or hard barking.

Bite history:: No known reports of a bite history.

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Blustar is noted in the prior home to have a very high energy level.

Other Notes:: He has general anxiety and on walks he can be reactive to strangers who approach and cats. He will jump up on strangers trying to lick their face and will growl at cats. He is unbothered by being held or restrained, disturbed while sleeping, being startled or moved from furniture, having his paws touched or collar grabbed. He is a very social, affectionate, quiet, active and playful dog who can also be very independent. He spends his time in the bedroom or living room of his home when he's not following his people around. He loves going to the groomers, receiving head rubs and sniffing/exploring his surroundings. He is accustomed to going on 2-3 walks a day for 20-30mins at a time during which he mildly leash pulls. He knows the cue down and knows how to drink from water fountains. His previous owner stated he is a very smart dog and loves learning tricks for treats.

Date of assessment:: 9/27/2025

Summary:: 09/27/225: Blustar is taken into the behavior office for a handling assessment, Blustar displays high hackles and a high flagtail when in the office. BLustaf sniffs around the office, he doesnt allow the handlers to collar him and avoids touch. Blustar is taken back to his kennel, a handling assessment is not condcuted at this tiem. 09/26/25: Blustar is taken into the behavior office for a handling assessment, Blustar displays high hackles and a high flagtail when in the office. when the assessor calls him over he hard stares at the assessor displaying a tense body. Blustar turns and look at the helper hard staring with his hackles remaining high. Blustar is given an extra day to decompress.

Summary:: According to Blustar's previous owner(s), he is friendly, tolerant, playful and outgoing with both familiar and unfamiliar dogs on and off-leash but he can be a little shy at first with unfamiliar dogs off-leash. 10/06/25 Blustar is introduced to a novel female dog while off leash at the care center. Blustar will approach the gate with a fast-wagging tail, wide-dilated eyes and a soft body. Blustar will begin heavily panting and marking along the gate line. Blustar is taken into the female dog's pen to meet her face-to-face. Blustar approaches the female dog, pulling towards her and sniffing her upon contact. Blustar appears sexually motivated as he places his paw onto the female dog, making her uncomfortable. The female dog will growl at Blustar and both dogs are quickly moved away. Both dogs are returned to kennel, concluding the interaction.

Summary (6):: 10/5/25: Blustar is at the front of his kennel with a neutral frame as the handler approaches. He is leashed with ease and walks slowly out of his kennel and will walk down the hallway. Outside Blustar will walk beside the handler, sniffing and marking. On the way back to the Care Center, Blustar will pick up his pace, panting but is still on a loose leash. He walks into the Care Center with no issue and walks briskly back to his kennel where he is secured safely. 10/4/25: Blustar is at the front of the kennel with both of his paws on the door. He is flushed around the eyes, is panting and the door is covered in saliva. Blustar is leashed with ease and he walks out of his kennel quickly, pulling moderately out of the room. Outside, Blustar will walk beside the handler on a loose leash while sniffing. He will tense slightly when dogs pass but is easily redirected with treats, which he will take gently. As the handler turns toward the Care Center, Blustar will begin to slow down. He will not walk down the ramp as he pulls toward the sidewalk. The handler is then able to walk across the street with him and cross in front of the door. He will walk to his kennel at a brisk pace on a loose leash beside the handler. Blustar enters his kennel with no issue and is secured safely. 10/02/25: Blustar is at the front of the kennel with a neutral body and slow wagging tail, and when the leash is presented is hesitant to be leashed, leaning his head back but coaxed with treats. Blustar is leashed slowly and walks out of kennel and into the behavior office. Blustar upon entering the office is neutral bodied, sniffing his surrounding area and continues to do so for a bit, aloof to staff trying to coax or call his name. Blustar will relieve himself, and shake off immediately, and when coaxed begins to walk up to handler with a wagging tail, and the handler consent checks and he begins to lean his rear into petting. After a bit of petting, Blustar approaches another handler, and leans his neck into petting. Blustar is panting heavily, and has a wide strained expression on his face throughout his time in the office. Blustar is brought back to his kennel and when entering the kennel rooms begins to walk slower, and tense with any leash pressure. The handler does not put any pressure on the leash, and Blustar begins to walk slowly with handler when coaxed, slowly entering kennel but halfway pancaking onto the floor displaying obvious discomfort. Blustar is given a moment, and chooses to enter kennel where his leash is removed with no issue.

Summary (7):: 10/01/25 Blustar is at the front of his kennel, jumping onto his kennel door with a loose body and wagging tail. he drops down to all fours and is vocalizing at the handler as the unlock the kennel door. He is easily leashed and will push his way out of kennel, pulling his way to the door. As they proceed outside, Blustar displays a soft frame as he trots moderately alongside the handler. Blustar will pause periodically to explore intensely on the walk, sniffing for quite a while. Blustar will take treats gently when administered along with catching them when tossed. Blustar remains still as he is pet on his back, shaking off immediately after. Throughout the walk, Blustar shakes his head often due to dryness in his ears. As he is returned to the facility, he ignores other dogs on the walk with novel handlers, looking forward and maintaining a moderate pace. Blustar will enter the building as well as his kennel with no issue. 09/28/25 (PM) Blustar is at the front of his kennel with a neutral body and slow wagging tail. The handler will lash him with ease and proceed outside for a walk. Blustar maintains a neutral body while trotting alongside the handler. Blustar will take treats gently when administered. As he exits the building, he explores the ramp and spends most of his time fixated on smells. During this time, the handler will collar him in which he allows, remaining neutral. They commence their walk and Blustar maintains his moderate, relaxed pace. When seeing a dog with a novel handler walk past, Blustar will tense up and pull intensely towards them displaying a hard face. Once they're out of sight, he is easily redirected with a squeaker. Blustar is returned into the building, entering with no issue. Upon arriving to his kennel, he pumps the breaks and stands still, looking at the handler. Treats are tossed inside and he doesn't budge. Directional leash pressure is used to get him in. 9/28/25: Blustar is at the front of his kennel with a neutral frame as the handler approaches. He is leashed with ease. Blustar walks ahead of the handler on a loose leash, sniffing. He will occasionally walk beside the handler and will take treats gently. He is returned to his kennel with no issue. 09/27/25: Blustar is noted to not want to go back in kennel and will pull away and pancake.

Date of intake:: 9/25/2025

Summary:: very friendly manner with a loose wiggly body, wagging tail and jumping up to lick their face.

Date of initial:: 9/27/2025

Summary:: no signs of aggression, walked by behavior, sedated in squeeze gate

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): We reccomend Blustar is placed in an adult-only home at this time. No cats: Blustar is noted to growl at cats in his prior home. We reccomend he be placed in a home without cats. Place with a New Hope partner: Blustar came into the care center as an owner surrender due to eviction. Blustar prior owners noted that he is a very social, affectionate, quiet, active and playful dog who can also be very independent. He spends his time in the bedroom or living room of his home when he's not following his people around. He loves going to the groomers, receiving head rubs and sniffing/exploring his surroundings.Blustar has shown potential for positive engagement with handlers, often allowing leashing with ease and walking on a relaxed, moderate pace. He takes treats gently, can be redirected with toys, and displays a neutral body when exploring outside. While he has shown stress in novel indoor settings and reluctance to re-enter his kennel, he responds to guidance with treats and leash pressure. With patient, experienced handling and decompression, Blustar can continue building on his positive interactions and benefit from a structured environment. Blustar is available for rescue through one of our new hope partners.

Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Basic manners/poor impulse control,Fearful,Anxiety,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration

Potential challenges comments:: Resource Guarding: Blustar guards food, treats, and toys by tensing his body or hovering over items, escalating to growling or barking if warnings are ignored. Training should focus on building trust and teaching trading behaviors using positive reinforcement. Gradual desensitization to item removal and consistent practice with cues like “drop it” or “give” can help reduce guarding tendencies and prevent escalation. Please see the handout on Resource Guarding. Basic Manners / Poor Impulse Control: Blustar jumps up on strangers and attempts to lick their faces, indicating excitement and poor impulse control. Training should include teaching alternative greeting behaviors such as “sit” and reinforcing calm interactions. Consistent boundaries and redirection will help him develop more appropriate social manners. Please see the handout on Basic Manners / Poor Impulse Control. Fearful / Anxiety: Blustar has generalized anxiety and displays avoidant behavior in the care center, including a tense body, hard stare, and high-flagged tail. He also pancakes when asked to return to his kennel. Training should prioritize confidence-building, consent-based handling, and creating positive associations with the kennel and handler interactions. Calm environments and predictable routines will support emotional regulation. Please see the handout on decompression period and generalized anxiety. On-Leash Reactivity / Barrier Frustration: Blustar reacts to strangers and cats by growling, indicating fear or frustration. Training should include desensitization and counter-conditioning to triggers, using focus cues and rewarding calm behavior. Increasing distance from triggers and managing exposure will help reduce reactivity and improve leash behavior. Please see the handout On-Leash Reactivity / Barrier Frustration.