Date of intake:: 11/27/2025

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

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Mild - Moderate Reactivity to humans: Moderate - barks, pulls Reactivity to dogs: Inconclusive - did not pass dogs on walk Leash walking comments: Flighty on walk Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Moderately social - seems conflicted, seeks attention, jumping up and running away Call over: Approaches with coaxing Sociability comments: Handling Soft handling: Tolerates contact - not relaxed, lip licks, distracted Exuberant handling: Tolerates contact - not relaxed, lip licks, distracted Handling comments: Arousal Jog: Engages in play rough, exuberant Arousal comments: Knock Knock Comments: Approaches (exuberant, jumpy) Toy Toy comments: Sniffs, relinquishes

Summary:: 12.2.2025 Sweet potato met an unaltered female medium mixed breed through a gate. Sweet Potato greets the other dog with a neutral body, but once the other dog begins barking at her Sweet Potato begins barking back at the other dog. Sweet Potato is easily walked away and recovers quickly. 12/14: Sweet Potato greets a M MMB dog at the gate. She lowers her head, hackles raise, growls, hard barks and lunges at the gate having to be walked away. She redirects her attention towards handlers, jumping up at their face.

Summary (5):: 01/03/26: Sweet potato is jumping against the kennel door whining. She is easily leashed and brought out to the yard. In the yard she chases a thrown tennis ball and runs around, running and jumping up against staff. She then sits while having her face pet and then rolls onto her back accepting tummy pets with a soft body, but keeping one leg extended on top of staff's arm. Sweet Potato is easily returned to her kennel. 12/29: Sweet potato is jumping against the kennel door whining. A treat is used to lower her head and leash her easier. She pulls hard on leash and walked around the building. Sweet potato is brought to the yard and handler plays fetch. Sweet potato drops the ball in front of handler feet and dashes after the other ball thrown. We continue this pattern until session is over. 12/28: Sweet Potato is easily leashed and brought out to the yard. In the yard she chases a tennis ball thrown by staff and then holds it in her mouth while chewing on it. She runs over to staff and jumps up and pushes off against him with her front paws. She accepts pets with a very soft body and sits while accepting more. She finally drops the tennis ball and staff throws it more. Sweet Potato is easily returned to her kennel. 12/22: Sweet Potato is easily leashed and brought out to the yard. In the yard she runs around with a green rubber toy and jumps up against staff. She accepts pets from staff and rolls over on her back exposing her belly with splayed back legs and contracted front legs. Staff rubs her belly and pets the side of her face and Sweet Potato closes her eyes. She is easily returned to the kennel. 12/18: Sweet Potato is easily leashed and kept on a short leash exiting the room. She is brought to the yard and a drag leash attached. She has a loose body, seeking attention. They engage in fetch and she trades readily. At the end of the session, he returns without issue.

Summary (6):: 12/14: Sweet Potato is jumping up and parking at the front of her kennel on approach. Staff waits for her to get down on all fours, and she is easily leashed. On the way out of dog holding she whips her head around and pulls backwards when she feels the leash pulling her. She is lead out and brought to the yard. In the yard Sweet Potato explores the snow. She is called over by staff and she runs over, jumping up against staff. She then accepts pets with a very soft body, sitting down and leaning against staff. Eventually while accepting pets, she rolls over onto her back allowing staff to pet her belly. While accepting these pets she contracts her front arms in and leans her head back and closes her eyes. Sweet Potato is easily returned to her kennel. 12.4: Sweet Potato is at the front of her kennel when staff approaches. She is easily leashed and brought for a walk around the building and then to the yard. On the walk she is a bit skittish to start but settles into an even pace. She is then brought to the yard where a drag leash is attached. She initially explores by herself but soon comes back to the handler. She jumps up and grabs onto their body with her front paws. Staff gently guides them off and gives her some pets on her back which she allows. She mostly stays near the handler, occasionally wandering by herself but always coming back to check in with handler. She is easily leashed, stopping and starting when coming back through the building and ultimately goes back into her kennel without a problem. 12.3: Sweet potato is jumping in her kennel when approached. She is leashed and taken for a walk. In the hallway when passing another staff member, she low barks at them and halts until they move, at which point she walks outside. On the walk Sweet Potato has a soft body and pulls a moderate amount. She is responsive to the handler and is easily brought back to the kennel. 12/2: Sweet Potato is jumping up against her kennel door. When she gets down to a standing position she is easily leashed and brought out to the yard. In the yard she is initially wary but then comes over and leans into staff's leg with a soft body and accepts some pets. She is then thrown tennis balls and plays the trading game. She does well with returning the ball to the handler when she doesn't get distracted by something else when going to grab a ball. Sweet Potato is easily returned to her kennel.

Summary (7):: 11/30: Sweet Potato is jumping up and down at kennel front. Once leashed, she is rushed out of the room and brought to the yard. She is kept on leash. She will approach staff cautiously then retreat. She begins to warm up after a few minutes allowing pets, leaning in. Another staff member enters the yard and she alert barks and lunges, so they exit. She returns without issue. 11/29: Sweet Potato is low growling at kennel front. Handler kneels and begins squeaking a toy. She bows and engages with toy. She is avoidant of the leash and her body is caught, another leash is secured and she walk out walking at the end of the leash. Second staff member follows and Sweet potato turn and growls at them. She is brought into the yard and tense when staff attempts to remove leash from her hips. She tolerates and brief petting remaining tense. She head whips, whale eyes when attempting to clip. Once clipped she is brought into the laundry room and offered a squeaky toy. She enters her kennel with no issue. Later in the midday, Sweet Potato is standing in the middle of her kennel when staff approaches. The loop is brought through crack in the kennel door and Sweet Potato steps forward to smell it and the hand. She steps forward then back a a couple of times then puts her head to the loop and accepts being leashed. Once leashed she comes out of the kennel then backs up from the handler, the handler starts moving out the door and she follows going out. Sweet Potato is brought down the hall giving some berth to the handler opening the door outside. Once outside the handler waits holding the door for another staff member coming to follow on the walk. Sweet Potato growls and barks at that staff member approaching and the plan is abandoned and Sweet Potato is brought on the walk with just the handler. Sweet Potato is brought down the ramp and she goes to the grass to pee, she walks towards and into the staff member's leg then shies away from him and then continues walking. On the walk initially Sweet Potato is erratic, walking on different sides of the handler and passing in front of him while walking at the end of the leash. Every so often when Sweet Potato passes by and hits the end of the rope she looks back at the handler and crouches and takes a step back because she happens to be in directly in front of the handler. By the end of the block Sweet Potato lifts her tail midway and has her head higher when not leaning down into smells. When finally back at the door to inside Sweet Potato walks around the handler a bit while waiting to be clipped and get back in. When handlers hand gets close she whips her head to look at it, when smells it and looks away. She is clipped when she is looking away inside and then is brought back into her kennel with no i

Date of initial:: 11/27/2025

Summary:: nervous, but allowed handling

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: Level 4

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),Single-pet home,Recommend no dog parks

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to fear and arousal, we recommend an adult only home. Single-pet home/Recommend no dog parks: Sweet Potato is highly reactive when greeting other dogs at aa gate. We recommend she be the only dog and does not visit the dog park.

Potential challenges: : Social hyperarousal,Mouthiness/poor bite inhibition,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Anxiety,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration

Potential challenges comments:: Social Hyperarousal: Sweet Potato becomes easily aroused when interacting with people, lacking basic manners and impulse control, jumping up, becoming mouthy. Positive reinforcement, force-free training should be used to teach Sweet Potato to remain calm when people and other exciting things are around. She should be rewarded with treats when calm. If she escalates to jumping or mouthing, people should immediately walk away from and separate themselves from Sweet Potato. Please see the handout on Arousal. Mouthiness/Poor Bite Inhibition: Sweet Potato is quick to put their teeth on skin. This is likely an attention-seeking behavior, but it should be replaced with an alternative behavior as it can frighten people. We recommend never playing with bare hands – always with a toy - and ending play or attention whenever Sweet Potato puts teeth on skin. She should be rewarded with attention and treats when she stops and/or when she is seeking attention in alternate ways. Please see handout on Mouthiness and Poor Bite Inhibition. Fearful Potential for Defensive Aggression: Sweet Potato gives clear warnings when she is uncomfortable and does seem to choose to avoid or retreat when given the opportunity, but if prevented from moving away there is a potential to escalate to higher-level warning behaviors and possible fear-based aggression. It is important to move slowly with Sweet Potato, to build positive associations (treats/toys/praise), and to allow her to initiate interactions with new people. She 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. Anxiety: Sweet Potato appears anxious at the care center. If she displays anxious behavior in her future home, we recommend puzzle toys, long walks, and giving her other things to focus on to alleviate her anxiety. Positive reinforcement, force-free training only should be used. Please see the handout on Generalized Anxiety. On-Leash Reactivity: Sweet Potato has shown reactivity on leash towards other staff members, barking, lunging. She will need an experienced owner familiar with working with this behavior. We recommend a front clip harness or head halter to help manage this behavior. Please see the handout on On-Leash Reactivity and Barrier Frustration.