Date of intake:: 12/15/2025

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Previously lived with:: 1 adult, 1 child (13)

Behavior toward strangers:: Ace is friendly and outgoing

Behavior toward children:: Ace will hard bark and growl

Behavior toward dogs:: Ace will hide and prefers contact on his own terms

Behavior toward cats:: No experience

Resource guarding:: None reported

Bite history:: None reported

Housetrained:: Partially

Energy level/descriptors:: High

Other Notes:: Held/restrained: barks/growls or isn't bothered Disturbed while sleeping: isn't bothered Startled: isn't bothered Pushed/pulled off furniture: barks/growls Feet/paws touched: isn't bothered Collar grabbed/touched: isn't bothered Ace's previous owner describes him as an active and playful dog.

Date of assessment:: 12/17/2025

Summary:: During intake Ace was obsvered to quickly escalate to hard staring, growling, and lunging towards handlers. When approached in kennel Ace was noted to hard stare and growl so they opted to sedate him for his medical exam. When handlers attempt to interact with him he will charge the front of the kennel and begin growling, hard barking, and baring teeth. Due to the high level of fear, stress, and anxiety obsvered we recommend an experienced adult only home.

Summary:: 12/24/25- Ace doesn't approach the gate to greet another dog. He has a neutral body with hackles slightly raised when looking towards the gate. He disengages to sniff. Handlers coax to greet again and he his a low growl.

Summary (4):: 12/24/25 (Playgroup): Ace is lying down in kennel and then stands with a neutral body. The handler attempts to leash him, but he dodges it with his head. After a few tries, the handler leashes him and brings him out the room. They bring Ace to the yard for playgroup. (Please Dog-Dog notes of 12/24). Afterwards, the handler walks Ace around and brings him into a pen with a familiar handler present. As both handlers sit on the bench, they encourage Ace to climb on, which he does. There, he allows pets from both handlers, but solicits pets from the second handler. After a few minutes, the handler brings Ace inside and returns him to kennel.

Summary (5):: 12/23/25: Ace is laying in his kennel but stands and comes forward when handler approaches. He takes treats and allows leashing. When removed from kennel, he pulls hard towards the other dogs in their kennels. As he passes people in the hall he will stop walking and watch them as they pass, tense body. He is walked on the street where he repeatedly makes attempts to return to the shelter (raining outside). He is clipped with a slow approach and returned to kennel without issue. 12/22/25: Ace displays the same behaviors as of yesterday (12/21). Please refer to those notes. 12/21/25: Ace is standing at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He low growls and lunges forward as the handler unlocks the door. He then begins to back away with tense body as the handler opens the door. He is able to be slowly leashed and is then taken outside to the yard. In the yard, he continues to a have tense body and would hide behind the handler and would pull hard and jump up on the bench when he would get startled by sudden sounds and sudden movements from the handler. He is then taken to the behavior room as his kennel is still being cleaned. He has a tense body and would sit next to the handler without making eye contact. He is able to return back to his kennel with no issues.

Summary (6):: 12/19/25: The handler approaches the kennel and lowers their body. They begin to feed Ace treats; they first toss treats in kennel, but as Ace approaches the front, he takes treats from the handler's hand. The handler ends the interaction. After several minutes, the handler approaches the kennel. Initially, Ace is at the front of kennel, but then backs away and begins to growl. The handler tosses treats, but he shows no interest. Ace occasionally approaches the front and then goes back. The handler then uses a pole leash and slowly enters into Ace's kennel. Ace moves away from the leash many times. Once he is at the from, the handler leashes him and brings him out the room. The handler walks Ace to the backyard; once in the pen, Ace immediately begins to seek exit. He climbs on the bench and paws at the pen's doors. The handler attempts to leash him with a regular leash, but it tangles on his body. The handler slowly attempts to loosen the leash and it comes off his body. Ace relieves himself in the pen and shows slight interest in the handler and dog in an adjacent pen. The handler then walks Ace back inside and returns him to kennel. They use the hook to remove the pole leash. Ace dodges the hook a few times, but eventually stays still for the leash to be removed. 12/18/25- Ace is at the back of his kennel with a neutral body, he low growls at handler as they unlock his door. They softly talk to him and toss in treats to the middle of his kennel. He slowly approaches them and eats them as handler attempts to leash he lowers his head away and backs up. Handler again tosses in more treats Ace again eats them, he repeats the same behavior with slowly backing up. He then slowly come to the front with his head low then retreats again as handler attempts to leash. They toss more treats closer to the front, handler is able to slowly leash him. He readily come out of kennel with a tucked tail, low body and looking around. He is taken to the play yard and taken into a pen. He walks around the pen, occasionally stopping to look back at the handler. He quickly walks away then stops, going back to looking around with a low tail. He is walked around the perimeter of the play yard, sniffing around. Handler presents treats which Ace just sniffs at, he then sniffs handler's leg. They sit down on a bench at the back of the play yard, they pat the bench seat and Ace slowly climbs up. He looks through the fence facing to the street watching people walk by with a neutral body, ears perked forward. Handler softly talks to him and he sniffs them then goes back to looking through the fence. After some time sitting handler stops up and Ace jumps down. He is clipped before entering back into the building and readily goes back into kennel. Handler tosses in a bunch of treats once he's back in.

Summary (7):: 12/18/25: Ace is at the middle of his kennel as handler approaches, he is offered treats but does not accept any. Handler slowly introduces a pole leash into kennel and tosses more treats to Ace, he approaches the front and allows handler to utilize a regular leash to leash him. Ace exits kennel and follows handler out to the street for his walk, outside he sniffs around and flinches slightly for sudden or loud noises. His tail is slightly tucked but loosens over time. He circles around handler on leash and walks around handler, stopping to sniff spots on the street or to relieve himself. Ace walks past people but will stare briefly at them and shows minimal interest in dogs. After a while he is brought back inside and allows handler to clip his leash returned to kennel without issue. 12/17/25: Ace is at the back of his kennel laying down as handlers approach, he quickly stands and approaches the front with a tense posture and begins growling and hard barking at handler. He will continue to growl and lunge halfway toward handler before fearfully scurrying back further into kennel. Handler kneels down and begins tossing treats into kennel, they wait a bit and Ace slowly and cautiously approaches accepting the tossed treats. He eventually begins accepting the treats from handlers hand, when handler attempts to introduce their leash however, he retreats again to the back. A pole leash is used to reach into kennel and Ace is slowly leashed while treats are tossed toward him, once leashed he begins attempting to lay and hide under the bottom of his kuranda bed. He pushes the bed to the front of kennel and handler carefully moves the bed to the side and uses mild leash pressure to coax him out of kennel. Outside he is tense and frantic, Ace trembles and shakes when not walking or when handlers attempt to offer him treats. His tail is tucked and he walks around the perimeter of the yard with handler for a while, he briefly stops to stare at one of the dogs engaging in a game of fetch with their handler and continues walking shortly after. Ace shakes off and briefly sniffs around the play yard but is observed to whine after a while so handler continues walking with him. After a while he is brought back inside and quickly returns to kennel, a hook is used to remove his leash. 12/15/25- Ace was at the back corner of the kennel with a tense body when handler approached. Handler put their hand close to his kennel and Ace begun growling with a tense body. When handler went to toss in a treat Ace charged the front of the kennel hard barking and baring teeth. When handler ended interaction Ace went to eat the treat then retreat to a back corner again of the kennel.

Date of intake:: 12/15/2025

Summary:: Wiggly body initially, began hard staring, growling, and lunging at handlers

Date of initial:: 12/16/2025

Summary:: Hard staring and low growling. Opted to sedate

ENERGY LEVEL:: Ace 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 additional 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 Ace.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to fearful behavior and hard barking and growling at children. 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: : Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression

Potential challenges comments:: Handling Sensitivity: Ace's previous owner states that he will bark and growl when held/ restrained. Positive reinforcement, reward based training should be used to pair touch with good things such as food rewards in order to teach Ace to be more comfortable with this. Please see handout on Handling and Touch Sensitivity. Fearful Defensive: Ace has been obsvered to be highly fearful during his stay in care. During intake Ace was noted to hard stare, growl, and lunge at handlers. And he has remained fearful with a tense trembling body while out with handlers. It is important to move slowly with Ace, 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.