Date of intake:: 10/6/2025

Spay/Neuter status:: Yes

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

Previously lived with:: 2 adults

Behavior toward strangers:: Friendly and outgoing

Behavior toward children:: Nipped a child

Behavior toward dogs:: Hard barks, growls, lunges

Behavior toward cats:: Hard barks, growls, lunges

Resource guarding:: Growl, lunge and snap when treats and toys are touched

Bite history:: None reported

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Thorn is noted to have medium energy level

Other Notes:: Reported to jump up often. Reported to growl, hard bark, and lunge on walks at cats, large dogs, and small dogs. When Held/restrained-reported to bark, growl and snap When woken up-reported isn’t bothered When startled-reported isn’t bothered When push pushed and pulled all furniture-reported to bark, growl and snap. When a collar is grabbed-reported to bark, growl and snap According to an email sent to ACC: Thorn nipped a child who was petting him, did not break skin. He is reactive towards the resident cats, lunged and snapped at the clients boyfriend when he was near his food. 05/22/25: Stray, First stay Thorn was noted to be reactive to other dogs, fearful at tines , refusing to go into his crate. **Previous assessment is available upon request**

Date of assessment:: 10/9/2025

Summary:: In the Care Centers, Thorn was observed to growl, snarl and be highly fearful with some handling. In his previous home, Thorn was reported to snap when his collar is grabbed,. Due to these behaviors, Thorn is not a candidate for a handling assessment.

Summary:: 5/31/25: Thorn greets another dog at the gate with a tense body. He growls and barks after the other dog reacts to him. He greets a calmer dog but remains tense and growly.

Summary (4):: 10/11/25: (PM WALK) Thorn is at the front of his kennel upon approach with a neutral body. He is then easily leashed and taken for a street walk. He would have a mild pull on a slightly loose leash ahead of the handler. He would sniff various spots and would pull hard towards them to relieve himself. Thorn would remain aloof throughout his walk and would walk past dogs with a neutral body. As handler would call his name or attempt to coax him for pets, he would ignore and continue to walk ahead. Shortly after, he is then clipped and has to be muscled into his kennel. Interaction is then ended. 10/08/25: Thorn is at the front of his kennel as handlers approach. He is leashed while distracted with treats and taken to the street for his walk. While outside Thorn relieves himself and pulls mildly on leash, he walks slightly in front of handler with a neutral body. Thorn is aloof during his walk and interacts minimally with handlers, he walks past people on the street without issue and when seeing a dog stares at them from across the street with a slightly tense body but disregards them after losing sight of them. Thorn walks for a while before being brought back inside, he walks back to kennel and is muscled in, interaction is ended shortly after. 10/7/25: Thorn is at the front of his kennel, lying against the kennel bars upon approach. He is then easily leashed using a treat lure and removed from kennel with ease. He would have a moderate pull ahead of the handler and is then taken to the play-yard for his walk. In the yard he would easily relieve himself and continue to walk around the pen with a very tense and stiff body. He would slowly approach the handlers as they called his name or attempted to coax him using squeaker sounds or treats. He was slightly receptive but would begin to hard stare towards the handlers. As dogs would walk past and forth Thorn would watch them with a tense posture and a high flagging tail. Shortly after he is then clipped easily and returned to kennel with no issue. 10/6/25: Thorn is hyper-salivating as the handler walks past. He is sitting towards of the front of his kennel with dilated pupils as well.

Summary (5):: 08/03/25:Thorn is at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He jumps at the kennel bars but is quickly redirected using a treat, while distracted he is leashed and he quickly exits kennel pulling hard. Thorn walks with handler out toward the street, stopping in the driveway to relieve himself. Once outside Thorn pulls forward hard, he is difficult to gain the attention of and stops only to continue relieving himself. Thorn passes people on the street without issue and accepts treats offered by handler when called. As the walk progresses handler places the slip lead slightly higher on Thorn's neck due to his pulling becoming difficult to manage. Once it is secured Thorn immediately begins pulling at a significantly lower rate without handler needing to use any leash pressure to secure him. He walks on a loose leash alongside handler and stops to sniff the occasional spot on the street as his walk continues. When passing a dog on the street, Thorn stares at the dog from afar with a slightly tense posture. He begins pulling toward them slightly and bounces forward while barking at them once as they pass. He is kept away by handler, they continue to walk for a while more before Thorn is brought back to the care centers. His leash is clipped and he is returned to kennel following treats tossed by handler. 07/27/25: Thorn is at the front of his kennel with a loose and wiggly body, he is easily leashed and taken for a street walk. He pulls hard throughout the walk. He is aloof with handler, only gives attention when i treat is presented. He has no reaction to any stimuli. Handler pets his head and side, he leans into handler's legs. He was easily clipped and he planted outside the room when going back. Handler tossed treats but Thorn didn't move forward. Handler stopped and was petting him. When they tried again he planted again, handler applied pressure to his leash and he goes into the room. He goes back into kennel without any further issues. 7/21/25: Thorn is at the front of his crate with a soft body, he is easily leashed and taken out of the room. He pulls hard out to the street. On the street, Thorn relieves himself and continues to pull very hard. At one point, the handler stumbles. When they start to make their way back towards the shelter, Thorn begins to walk slower. He is brought back inside towards his kennel and a treat trail is used to lure him back into the room towards his crate. Once at the crate, Thorn refuses to enter despite treats being tossed into the crate. He is muscled into the crate and as the leash is removed he eats the treats. The interaction is ended.

Summary (6):: 7/14/25: Thorn is observed to be briefly thrashing and retreating backwards as he is returned to his room. Both treats and squeakers were attempted to lure him, but both were unsuccessful. K9 behavior member was able to use a leash as a sling, but Thorn head whipped with an open mouth towards their knee. Original handler used leash pressure to continue moving him forward, as k9 behavior used the sling. Thorn head whipped one more time and snapped towards handler. He continued the same behavior and was heavily pushing back with his front paws as he is placed in his crate, handlers have to use a lot of muscle to secure him. 7/7/25: Thorn is at the front of the kennel with a soft body and wagging tail. He is easily leashed and pulls very hard out of the room. Thorn is taken to the street where he continues to pull very hard. If he spots a dog across the street Thorn will stop and hard stare at the dogs. Handler is able to redirect him with vocal cues (whistling). As he continues pulling, handler will stop when he continues to pull, giving him a treat when he approaches. This is repeated a few times until Thorn is leash harnessed. On the leash harness, Thorn will pull moderately. He stops to sniff various areas that interest him. Thorn relieves himself and as they walk back to the shelter, starts to walk beside the handler with a loose leash. He is walked back into the building and begins to pull hard. He fixates on a dog in the hallway and begins pulling towards the dog. Handler calls him over with gentle leash pressure and he follows. After he is returned to the kennel room. Thorn quickly tries to turn away from the crate. Treats are tossed in and he is returned to his crate without issue. 7/6/25: Thorn is observed to plant and pancake, refusing to enter the kennel room. Treats were tossed and he was able to enter the room. He stopped outside the crate and treats were tossed into the crate and he was able to be returned without issue. 7/5/25: It is reported that Thorn baulked and refused to enter his pop up crate. Staff had to muscle him in as he was not receptive to treats.

Summary (7):: 6/24/25- Thorn is at the front of his pop up crate with a neutral body, barking at handler. He is easily leashed when exiting he pulls hard out of the room and throughout the walk going to the play yard. Once in the yard Thorn immediately relieves himself. He is taken to a pen and placed on a drag leash. He is soft bodied and social with handler, he takes treats with slight pressure. Handler goes over to the pool and Thorn follows them, he allows handler to put water on his head, neck and back. Handler walks to the bench, Thorn sniffs around the pen some more. He comes to handler, they pat the bench and he jumps up. He backs up into the handler and sits down, facing away and watching the birds. Another handler comes into the neighboring pen with a small dog. The small dog jumps up on the bench and whines to Thorn, Thorn has a soft body and medium wagging tail whining back. He is easily releashed and when handler gets up, Thorn stays on the bench. They toss a treat and Thorn just looks at it then jumps down. He is easily releashed and returned to his pop up crate without issue. 6/19/25: Thorn is reported to pancake in front of his kennel room, and a sling has to be used to go back into kennel. 6/13/25- ACS reported when returning to the building Thorn saw another dog and started to pull hard towards them while hard barking. Handler had a difficult time pulling him away. 5/31/25: Thorn is standing at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He is comfortable taking a few treats and is able to be leashed with ease. He is then taken downstairs to the yard for play group. In the yard, he greeted the first dog with a tense body and began barking and lunging at the gate when the dog reacted to him first. He is able to settle in the next pen while waiting for the next dog. He greeted the second dog at the gate with a loose body and did not react at all. Please see dog to dog notes for more details. He is able to return back to his kennel with no issues. 5/23/25- Thorn is at the front of his kennel with a soft body, jumping on the door as handler attempts to leash. They use a treat lure and he is easily leashed. He is taken for a street walk. He pulls hard throughout the walk, sniffing around. He is social with handler and gently takes treats. He has no reaction to any stimuli. He sees another dog, just watches them with a neutral body and high tail with no vocalization. Handler presents a treat and he follows them. He is taken for his assessment where he is easily collared and is loose and wiggly, he is social with handlers. When a handler calls him, he comes over. Handler pets his side and he leans into their legs. Thorn jumps when being releashed, handlers and when returning, he planted at the front of his kennel. Handler tossed treats in and a toy but Thorn didn't go in.

Date of intake:: 10/7/2025

Summary:: Growl and snarled at people in the lobby

Date of initial:: 10/8/2025

Summary:: loose wiggly body at first, started to whale eye and growl when muzzle placed, sedated

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Thorn so we cannot be certain of his behavior in a home environment. However, he will need daily mental and physical activity to keep him engaged and exercised. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in additional to physical exercise, to positively direct his energy and enthusiasm.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),No cats,Single-pet home,Recommend no dog parks,Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: No Children (Under 13): Due to Thorn's behavior in the home, Thorn should go to a home with older children. No cats: Due to Thorn's behavior towards the resident cats, Thorn should not live with cats. Single-pet home/Recommend no dog parks: Thorn was observed to be reactive towards dogs both in the Care Centers and in his previous home. He should be the only dog and not visit dog parks. Place with a New Hope partner: Due to Thorn's reported behaviors in the home and Care Centers, he should be placed with a New Hope partner that can appropriately manage his behavior.

Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Social hyperarousal,Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration

Potential challenges comments:: Resource guarding: Thorn's previous owner stated he will growl, lunge and snap when his treats and toys are touched. Nothing should be taken out of Thorn's mouth and positive reinforcement should be used to teach him the trade game. Please see the handout on Resource Guarding. Social Hyperarousal: During Thorn's previous assessment he became aroused when attempting to pet him, jumping on handler and furniture in the office, this behavior is difficult to redirect. His owner stated he displayed arousal behavior in the home when petted. Positive reinforcement, force-free training should be used to teach Thorn to remain calm when people and other exciting things are around. He should be rewarded with treats when calm. If he escalates to jumping or mouthing, people should immediately walk away from and separate themselves from Thorn. Please see handout on Arousal. Handling/touch sensitivity: Thorn's previous owner reported that he will bark and snap when his collar is grabbed, when restrained, or push off furniture. During his medical, he displayed whale eyes and growled. Positive reinforcement should be used to help thorn feel comfortable with handling. Please see the handout on Handling/touch sensitivity Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: During intake, Thorn was reported to growl and snarl at people in the lobby. He growled at staff when they attempted to place him in a kennel. Positive reinforcement should be used to help Thorn associate new people with things he likes such as treats and toys. Please see the handout on Fearful/potential for defensive aggression. On Leash Reactivity: Thorn has been observed to become tense with a high flagging tail when seeing other dogs. This behavior is able to be redirected easily. He was reported to lunge and growl at dogs and cats while on walks with his previous owner. Thorn will need positive reinforcement, reward based training to teach them to look at you rather than other dogs. We recommend a front clip harness to help manage this behavior. Please see handout on On Leash Reactivity and Barrier Frustration.