Date of intake:: 6/27/2025

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

Previously lived with:: 3 adults, 1 child

Behavior toward strangers:: Ace will hide at first, can be friendly and playful

Behavior toward children:: Ace is friendly and outgoing

Behavior toward dogs:: Ace will actively hide from familiar and unfamiliar dogs

Behavior toward cats:: Ace will hide and avoid cats

Resource guarding:: None reported

Bite history:: None reported

Housetrained:: Partially

Energy level/descriptors:: High

Other Notes:: Ace's previous owner states that he will jump non-stop. When held/restrained, disturbed while sleeping, startled, furniture is moved, feet/paws touched, or when collar is grabbed/touched he is unbothered by it. Ace's previous owner describes him as an active and playful dog that enjoys car rides. He may know the cues sit and wait.

Date of assessment:: 7/1/2025

Summary:: Ace has been observed to be fearful during his stay in the care center. During intake he was observed to have a tucked tail, whale eye, and was lip licking. Throughout his stay Ace has maintained this fearful behavior, he is observed to hide and cower at the back of the kennel and growl when handlers approach. With a tense body, wide eyes, and pinned ears. Due to the high levels of fear, stress, and anxiety observed Ace is not a candidate for a handling assessment at this time.

Summary:: 7/5/25: Initially, Ace will not approach the gate to greet another dog. He then approaches with tense body and high wagging tail.

Summary (1):: Ace is crate trained & car rides are enjoyable for him! He understand the following commands: sit, wait, and food release. His previous families favorite thing about Ace is how much he enjoys belly rubs.

Summary (6):: 07/09/25: Ace is at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He allows leashing without issue and exits kennel, he attempts to approach the dogs he passes exiting the room but is kept away by handler. Ace walks out to the street alongside handler, once outside he begins pulling moderately forward. Ace rarely stops to sniff spots on the street but uses the bathroom shortly after exiting the building. He walks past people on the street without issue and will occasionally sniff handler when waiting to cross the street. Ace walks for a while with handler until they eventually make it back to the care centers. Ace allows handler to clip his leash and he walks back to kennel, returning without issue. 07/02/25: Ace is at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He is offered treats but does not accept them and allows leashing after sniffing the leash for a moment . Ace is walked to the yard, following handler and sniffing around once he makes it outside. He is brought into one of the play yards and sniffs around briefly but quickly becomes distracted with another dog entering the yard. He stops walking and stands at the center of the yard where he observes the movements of the dogs entering and exiting the yard. Handler calls Ace after a while and attempts to walk around the perimeter of the yard with him but he does not move forward with handler. Mild but consistent leash pressure is used to coax him forward which works successfully. He walks around the perimeter of the yard for a bit but stops again when he begins hearing a dog playing with a squeaker, he stares at the dog for a while and when handler attempts to walk forward Ace again stops. Handler uses the same method of getting him to walk as previously used. After walking for a bit he is brought back inside and his leash is clipped before returning to kennel. Handler has to use mild leash pressure to return Ace who does not initially enter kennel on his own. 7/1/25: Ace is sitting at the front of his kennel, tense body, eyes dilated. He is whining as handler unlocks the door. He is not interested in treats but lowers his head and allows handler to secure the leash. He is walked in the yard where he remains tense, tail stiff and low. He stands at the back gate whining. Handler coaxes him away from the gate and into a pen but he stands by the door or on the bench looking towards the back gate. He is easily clipped and returned to kennel.

Summary (7):: 6/28/25: Ace is laying down at the back of his kennel with a tense body and widened eyes as handler approaches. He shows interest in high value cheese that the handler tosses inside for him by licking it. He then looses interest in the cheese as the handler unlocks the door. He begins to lip lick and turn his head away as the handler presents their leash. Once the leash is close to him, he leans in to sniff it. The handler then moves the leash away and then slowly brings it back slowly above his head. He allows the handler to slowly lasso him and he stands up. The handler then leaves the door wide open and steps to side. He approaches the front and stands with a tense body as he observes his surroundings. Once he was comfortable he leaps out the kennel and is slowly taken to the yard. In the yard, he would walk slowly ahead and behind the handler with a tense body and tucked tail. He would stare at the handler with widened eyes and stop walking to sniff and lick the ground. He is then slowly taken back to his kennel and has to be muscled in a bit due to not wanting to go in. 6/28/25: Ace is at the back of his kennel with tense body and wide wyes. His ears are pinned back. Handlers tosses treats but he is uninterested. Handler opens the kennel door slightly. Ace's nose is twitching and he is lip licking. Handler stands side ways and avoids eye contact. Ace vocalizes, a low grumble. Interaction is ceased due to stress levels. 06/28/25: Ace is observed to hide and cower at the back of his kennel when approached by handler. He is not receptive to treats or squeakers and attempts to further avoid and hide from handlers.

Date of intake:: 6/27/2025

Summary:: Fearful, tail tucked, whale eye, lip licking

Date of initial:: 6/29/2025

Summary:: Whale eye, tense, warms up when given time

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 we recommend an adult only home. 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: : Fearful/potential for defensive aggression

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful Defensive: Ace has been observed to have a tense body, tucked tail, lip lick and show whale eye. When approached in kennel Ace is noted to hide, cower in the back, and growl towards 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.