Date of intake:: 3/19/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner surrender (2 years)

Previously lived with:: Adults

Behavior toward strangers:: Friendly & Outgoing

Behavior toward children:: No experience

Behavior toward dogs:: Playful

Behavior toward cats:: No experience

Resource guarding:: None reported

Bite history:: None reported

Housetrained:: No

Energy level/descriptors:: In the home Nico is described to have a very high energy level.

Other Notes:: Goes potty on: Wee-wee pads, Outside on walks (grass, cement, dirt, etc.), Newspaper Accident frequency: Few times a month Additional info: Misses the pad sometimes when the pad is used Behavior concerns: Jumps up and bites/chews leash during walks, Pulls hard on leash Reacts to on walks: Small animals (squirrels, birds, rats, etc.) Reaction type: Lunging How this dog reacts when... - Held/restrained: Isn't bothered - Disturbed while resting/sleeping: Isn't bothered - Startled: Isn't bothered - Pushed/pulled off furniture: Isn't bothered - Paws are touched: Unknown/Have not attempted - Collar grabbed/touched: Isn't bothered

Summary:: Nico has been observed to become easily over aroused during socialization sessions. He will escalate to mounting handlers and biting at the leash and their clothing. He is not a candidate for a handling assessment at this time.

Summary:: 3/24: Nico approaches the gate with forward facing posture to greet F LMB dog. He has a wide wagging tail, lip licks. He attempts to sniff through the gate and when her face comes close, Nico escalated to huffing/short harsh barks. They are easily walked away, and he lays in the center of the yard.

Summary (1):: Nico is a very active and playful male dog who is generally quiet but full of curiosity. He spends most of his time in the kitchen, often watching as his owner cooks, and he especially enjoys physical attention like petting and head rubs. Nico loves bath time and water, and he willingly allows his family to bathe and brush him. While he enjoys walks, he can be a strong puller on the leash, making him somewhat difficult to manage, though his walks typically last about 15–20 minutes and do not follow a set schedule. He has never been crate trained and absolutely loves car rides. Nico understands simple cues, such as sitting when prompted with a hand signal or a treat, and he often lies down calmly when he sees another dog approaching during walks. He rarely barks unless he becomes very excited. Playtime is one of his favorite parts of the day—he loves tug-of-war, though he can be quite strong, and he enjoys plush toys that he can tear apart. Nico is not picky with food and happily accepts any treats. Overall, he is a sweet, playful pup who thrives on attention and companionship.

Summary (5):: 3.24 Nico is at the front of his kennel. He is given a treat which he initially ignores. Once he does grab the treat staff are able to quickly rope him and take him for a walk. During the walk Nico walks nicely, pulling a mild to moderate amount. He ignores people passing during the walk. Nico is then brought to a yard and kept on a leash. Nico accepts gentle pets, and does sit and down for treats. Nico is easily returned to his kennel. 3/23: Nico is at the front of his kennel jumping up and down when staff approaches. He ignores a toy used to try to leash him. He is given a jerky treat, which he chews for a second, then drops in his kennel. He is given another, and he finally begins to chew on it and is leashed. He is brought out to the yard, and he begins to get aroused. A couple of balls are thrown and he chases them until they stop moving, then he runs over to the handler and begins to mount. The staff member pushes Nico off them twice before pulling him away by his drag leash, and he begins to rope-bite and shake the leash. He is given some distance to reset. He tries to mount the handler again in different spots on the yard, and when pulled off, he bites the leash, shakes it, drops it, then bites the pant leg by handler tugs on it once and lets go. Nico jumps up again to mount, while fixating on their hands. As staff are getting ready to leash him to bring him inside, he bites for the treat pouch. He eventually is re-leashed and is easily returned to his kennel.

Summary (6):: 3.22 Nico is at the front of his kennel and is easily roped after being given a long-lasting treat. Nico is brought on a walk. During the walk Nico lies down on grass, and does sit and down for treats. He walks nicely, pulling a mild amount. Nico is brought to a yard and kept on leash, where he accepts gentle pets. Nico's leash is easily clipped and returned to his kennel. 3/22: Nico is standing at the front of his kennel panting, barking and jumping. He initially ignores the jerky used to distract him but is eventually leashed, biting the leash and tugging on it before he is sufficiently distracted. Nico is taken out on a walk. Nico has a slightly tense body, seeming to be on alert the whole walk. On the walk, Nico lies down on the grass a couple of times, needing to be coaxed to continue walking. He fixates on the handler and other staff walking with him intermittently. Nico is shown an open palm and he immediately gets aroused. He jumps on the handler's leg and begins to mount. He is pulled off with a straight arm and he attempts to leash bite, grabbing the leash and pulling it while lying down. The squeaker in handler's treat pouch is used to distract him and he releases the rope and bites the treat pouch. On the walk back he intermittently lays down and attempts to bite the leash, he is thrown some treats to distract and release the rope. He is clipped at the door while other staff makes noises to distract his head and then he jogs with staff back to his kennel. He enters the kennel while being quickly ushered.

Summary (7):: 3/21: Nico is standing at the front of the kennel when staff approaches. He bites and tugs on staff's loop when it is presented. He is then leashed with the help of a jerky treat. He carries the treat outside on the walk and drops it outside the building. On the walk, Nico periodically stops walking and has to be coaxed forward. He comes forward and jumps up on the other staff member walking with handler, is pulled back and then turns towards the handler and jumps up, hugging the leg with his front paws. He is pulled off the handler by the accompanying staff member, then Nico bites the rope and gnaws on it for a second. He is distracted by the noise the staff is making, then continues with them. After he relieves himself, he lies down in the grass. He gets back up and walks with them a couple of blocks, then pulls to some scents in the grass, and then gets down and army crawls a couple of steps in the grass. He is coaxed back up and all three walk into the building. Right outside of meet and greet Nico balks, but is pulled out of it and, and he balks again at the door to dog adoptions. He is also pulled lightly out of that and then goes to the front of his kennel and is one-armed pulled into there with a little bit of resistance. Once back in the kennel he bites the rope as he is unleashed behind the door, he is distracted by another treat and drops the rope. Nico is then securely locked back up in his kennel. 3/20/26: Nico was standing at the kennel front as staff arrives. He is easily leashed with a treat and brought on a walk with 2 staff members. He pulls a very moderate amount, staying close to staff. When a large truck passes, making a lot of noise, Nico is visibly shaken and scared, but quickly recovers. He maintains neutral body language for the remainder of the walk, exploring and sniffing. When it is time to return, he goes into his kennel and eats the treats that were left for him.

Date of intake:: 3/19/2026

Date of initial:: 3/19/2026

Summary:: Friendly, high energy, leash biting and tugging during play, allowed handling with gentle restraint

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 low threshold for arousal, mounting handlers, we recommend a home with no children. Recommend no dog parks: Nico displayed conflicting behaviors during his gate greet. We recommend he does not visit the dog park until there is more information about his behavior with other dogs. Place with a New Hope partner: We recommend placement with a New Hope partner who can provide any necessary behavior modification (force-free, positive reinforcement-based) and re-evaluate behavior in a stable home environment before placement into a permanent home.

Potential challenges: : Basic manners/poor impulse control,Anxiety,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Leash-biting,Low threshold for arousal

Potential challenges comments:: Basic manners/poor impulse control: Nico lacks basic manners and impulse control. 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. Force-free, reward-based training only is recommended. Please see the handout on Basic Manners and Impulse Control. Anxiety: Nico is reported to be an anxious dog. If Nico displays anxious behavior in his future home, we recommend puzzle toys, long walks, and giving him other things to focus on to alleviate his anxiety. Positive reinforcement, force-free training only should be used. Please see the handout on Generalized Anxiety. On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration: Nico is reactive to small animals on walks, lunging at squirrels, birds, etc. He 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. Leash-biting: Nico is quick to grab the leash in his mouth. We recommend walking him with treats or a toy to dissuade him from grabbing the leash. Positive reinforcement, force-free training is advised to teach him to focus on you rather than grabbing the leash. Please see the handout on Leash Manners. Low threshold for arousal: Nico has a low threshold for arousal, mounting handlers, biting at their clothing. Over arousal can tip into aggression. We recommend creating a calm, structured environment with consistent routines and clear boundaries. Avoid rough play or situations that trigger overexcitement and instead reinforce calm behaviors with rewards. Teaching cues like “settle” or “go to mat” can help redirect energy constructively. Regular mental enrichment, controlled exercise, and decompression time are key. Please see the handout on Arousal.