Date of intake:: 7/31/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Previously lived with:: Adults, children, dogs, cats

Behavior toward strangers:: Laces will hard bark and growl

Behavior toward children:: Laces will actively avoid, can be friendly

Behavior toward dogs:: Laces will hard bark, growl, and lunge, can become tolerant

Behavior toward cats:: Laces is friendly and outgoing

Resource guarding:: Laces will become tense, hover, hard bark and growl while in the possession of food.

Bite history:: None reported

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: High

Other Notes:: Laces is anxious when left alone and is fearful of loud noises. He has destructive tendencies and pulls hard on the leash. Laces is unbothered by physical stimuli. He will hard bark/growl, lunge, and snap at people and small animals that approach. He tends to break out of crates. Laces' previous owner describes him as social and affectionate. *Previous assessments can be given upon request*

Date of assessment:: 8/19/2026

Summary:: **8/19/26** When brought into the assessment room Laces was tense and avoidant of the handler. He was pacing in circles and seeking exit by the office door. When the handler coaxes him, Laces will approach to receive treats but will quickly retreat after. When the handler attempts to touch his collar, Laces quickly goes back to the door and begins seeking exit. Due to the high levels of fear, stress, and anxiety displayed. Laces is not a candidate to receive a handling assessment at this time. **8/6/26** When brought into the assessment room Laces was observed to be fearful and anxious. Noted to be pulling around the room while panting and would pull hard towards the door when the handler attempted to interact with him. Laces was not receptive to treats or spray cheese. When the handler presented the collar, Laces pulled hard to the office door and began seeking exit. Due to the high levels of fear, stress, and anxiety displayed. Laces is not a candidate to receive a handling assessment at this time.

Summary:: According to Laces's previous owner(s), Laces will hard bark, growl, and lunge, can become tolerant with other dogs. Laces previously lived with a large mixed breed intact female dog. 8/8/26: Laces is introduced to a novel neutered male and approaches the fence with a loose body and mid-high fast wagging tail. He sniffs through the fence remaining loose and then toe taps towards his handler. The other dog is let into the yard and they circle and sniff remaining loose. He then play bows and begins mouthing towards the other dog's face while grunting/growling. The two are separated and he continues to pull towards the other dog play bowing. He shakes off a couple times and the other dog reapproaches. He spins and play bows, then the two circle and sniff again. He is tense with a high stiff tail and curls his butt away from the other dog. When face to face, he gives high wags, retreats briefly, and then begins play bowing. He bounces up and clacks at the other dog while grunting, then play bows while growling louder with an open panting mouth and fast mid-high level wagging tail. The meet is ended due to his arousal and the other dog's discomfort.

Summary (7):: 8/21/26: Laces is observed to frequently paw at his kennel door when the room is active. 8/19/26: Laces is at the front of his kennel with a loose, wiggly body; he is easily leashed and brought out the room. Laces walks with mild to no leash tension; he doesn't react to people or dogs. when attempting to pet him, Laces dodges the handler's hand when it's near his head; he tolerates pets on his rear. Laces is brought in for his assessment, but it's ended early (please see notes). Laces is returned to his kennel afterwards. 8/16: Handsome, social, playful, goofy boy! He accepted full-body petting with a loose, relaxed body. He immediately perked up when he saw the tennis balls and absolutely loves playing fetch over and over. He can jump impressively high for a ball but never jumped up on me. He was very well-mannered, never tried to grab the ball from my hand, and politely waited while I picked it up for the next throw. 8/14/26: Laces is at the front of his kennel when handler approaches. He starts circling in the kennel when handler attempts to unlock it. He is easily leashed with a treat lure and taken out of the kennel. Laces slowly walks next to the handler while exiting the room with no interest to other dogs in neighboring kennels. Once in the hallway, Laces walks slightly ahead of the handler with moderate leash tension all the way outside with no interest to pop-up crates or staff members. Once outside, Laces slows down and starts sniffing around certain areas and relieves himself. Laces continues walking with mild to none leash tension, slightly ahead of the handler. He doesn't react towards other dogs or people passerby. Laces frequently looks back at the handler for check-ins and remains loose body. He allows petting, follows cue "sit" and gently accepts treats. During return handler is able to pre-clip the leash and bring Laces back into the kennel with no issues. 8/11/26: Laces as been observed to be licking and biting the kennel bars. 8/8/26: Laces is at the front of his kennel with a wiggly body, spinning around in kennel as the handler approaches; he is easily leashed and brought into the yard for playgroup (see D2D notes). Before the interaction, Laces looks at the other handlers and then quickly away from them; he dudes his handler's hand when they attempt to pet his head. As the handler sits down, Laces leans his rear end against their legs; he allows pets on his rear end. Additionally, the handler pets up his back and on his head; they are able to place a collar on Laces. After the interaction, the handler clips their leash and returns Laces to his kennel with ease.

Date of intake:: 7/31/2026

Summary:: Barking and lunging when approached, tense body and tucked tail

Date of initial:: 8/1/2026

Summary:: Tense bodied and heavy panting/constantly seeking exit with a tucked tail. Opted to sedate

ENERGY LEVEL:: Laces 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 addition 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 Laces.

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 fearful behavior and on leash reactivity, we recommend an adult only home. No Dog Parks: Due to hard barking, growling, and lunging towards other dogs, we recommend no trips to the dog park. 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: : Resource guarding,Destructive behavior,Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful,Separation anxiety,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Strength/leash pulling

Potential challenges comments:: Resource Guarding: Laces' previous owner states that he will become tense, hover, hard bark, and growl while in the possession of food. Nothing should ever be taken directly out of Laces' mouth, and any time something is removed they should be rewarded with a high value treat or toy. Please see handout on Resource Guarding. Destructive Behavior: Laces' previous owner states that he is destructive in the home. We are unaware of what, if any, attempts were made to remedy this behavior but we suggest to future adopters that Laces will need to be provided with physical and mental stimulation and with a variety of appropriate and engaging chew toys so they can engage in necessary chewing behavior without damage to human objects. Please see handout on Destructive Behavior. Fearful: Laces' previous owner states that he is fearful of loud noises. They should never be forced to approach anything that they are uncomfortable with or submit to petting or handling. It should always be their choice to approach a new person or thing. Laces would do best in an initially calm and quiet home environment and should be given time to acclimate to their new surroundings. Please see handout on Decompression Period. Handling/touch sensitivity:Laces has shown sensitivity to head touch and may dodge the handler’s hand, although he tolerates petting along his back and rear Separation Anxiety: Laces' previous owner states that he becomes anxious when he is left alone. They also state that he breaks out of his crates. We recommend that potential adopters feel comfortable with separation anxiety behaviors and be prepared to manage and positively modify them should they appear in a home environment. They would do best in a home where a person is home for a large part of the day or with a plan so they are not alone for long periods of time. Please see handout on Separation Anxiety. On Leash Reactivity: Laces' previous owner states that he will hard bark, growl, lunge, and snap at people and small animals that approach. He is also noted to hard bark, growl, and lunge towards dogs. During intake Laces was observed to bark and lunge towards handlers that approached. Laces will need positive reinforcement, reward based training to teach them to look at you rather than people and other stimuli. We recommend a front clip harness to help manage this behavior. Please see handout on On Leash Reactivity and Barrier Frustration.