Date of intake:: 3/22/2026

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray(finder had for 1 week)

Previously lived with:: 1 adult

Behavior toward strangers:: hide and actively avoid strangers. hard bark or growl around visitors as well as lunge.

Behavior toward children:: no experience with children.

Behavior toward dogs:: no experience around familiar dogs and unfamiliar dogs both on and off of the leash.

Behavior toward cats:: no experience around cats or any other animals.

Resource guarding:: When around items he deems valuable such as toys Clever displays a tense body and hover over the items.

Bite history:: The finder mentioned an incident in where their neighbor was reaching to give him something and he lunged grabbing the neighbor's jacket, he did not make contact with the skin but did rip their jacket.

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Clever is noted in the prior home to have a Medium energy level.

Other Notes:: Clever will go potty outside on walks (grass, cement, dirt, etc.). He has general anxiety - pacing, whines, unable to settle. He will jump up and bite/chew his leash during walks. He also gets anxious when left in the home or yard by himself. Clever will react to strangers that approach the home/yard and will react by growling and/or hard barking and lunging. The finder mentioned that due to having Clever for a week he became acclimated to the finder now guarding him. Whenever strangers or visitors approached the finder Clever would hard bark, growl, hyper salivate, have a stiffened body with a high raised tail and would escalate to lunging and snapping. Clever is not bothered when held/restrained, disturbed while resting/sleeping, startled, pushed/pulled odd od furniture, when his paws are touched and when his collar is grabbed/touched. Clever is known to be a social/affectionate dog. He enjoys being where people are mainly and if not with people, then he enjoys being in the bedroom, kitchen and living room portions of the home. He is a level 3 when out for a walk meaning he has mild to moderate pulling (on or off during a walk). Clever had access to a yard and would go out 1-2 times a day for about an hour each time. He has never been crated. He loves going for car rides. Clever knows the following cues sit and stay. Clever's finder stated their favorite things about him are how affectionate he is once he trusts you and how protective he is of his space they also mentioned he is a big baby.

Date of assessment:: 3/27/2026

Summary:: Due to clever defensive behavior noted in the care center a handling assessment will not be conducted at this time.

Summary (7):: 4/4/26: Clever is standing at the front of his kennel with a wiggly body as handler approaches. He is able to be leashed with ease and is then taken outside for a walk. On the walk, he would walk ahead while heavy panting. He begins to jump up on the handler and mouths at the leash. He is able to be redirected when the handler tosses treats on the ground. He is then able to continue walking and would explore around with sniffing. He stares at dogs and people that would pass by and is able to be redirected with treats. He is able to return back to his kennel with no issues. 4/2/26: Clever is standing in his kennel as handler approaches. He is able leashed on a pre-clip and is then taken to the behavior room. In the room, he would pace around while exploring. He is comfortable approaching the handler to receive pets as they were siting on the couch. He is comfortable approaching handlers that would enter the room to receive pets while heavy panting. He is able to return back to his kennel with no issues. 4/1/26: Clever is reported to head whip when being clipped to his collar and being avoidant of handling in kennel. 03/31: Clever was taken out for morning walk and he was ok on the walk a little fearful. Upon return to the building and handler went to clip the Clever's leash and he got startled and backed away from handler. Handler placed him in the kennel dropped some treats and attempted to use the hook to take off the rope instead. Clever began to bite the hook and flail around. Leash was removed in the process and Clever was left in kennel with no further incident. 3/27/26: Clever is standing in his kennel with a tense body as handler approaches. He begins to have a wagging tail as the handler unlocks the door and is able to be slowly leashed. He is then taken to the behavior room. In the room, he has a wagging tail as he approaches the handler to receive multiple treats and pets. He is able to be collared with a drag leash attached and he would walk around the room with a loose body. He is able to return back to his kennel with no issues. 3/26/26: Clever is standing in his kennel with a tense body as handler approaches. He is able to be slowly leashed and is then taken to the behavior room. In the room, he would explore around with a tense body. He slowly becomes comfortable approaching the handler as they were siting on the couch to receive treats and then back away. He is comfortable approaching the handlers that would enter the room to sniff them and would take treats. He is able to return back to his kennel with no issues.

Date of intake:: 3/22/2026

Summary:: Clever hard barking and growling through client's car door at strangers passing by.

Date of initial:: 3/24/2026

Summary:: Avoids contact and panting heavily in exam room; hackles raise when touched.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Clever's fearfulness and defensive behavior shown in care we reccomend he is placed in an adult-only home. Place with a New Hope partner: Due to all noted concerns displayed in a home environment and in the care center, the behavior department recommends Clever be placed with a New Hope placement partner who is able to provide an experienced adult-only foster home. A period of decompression is recommended to allow Clever to acclimate comfortably to his new environment; force-free, reward based training only is advised when introducing Clever to new and unfamiliar situations. Consultation with a professional trainer/behaviorist is highly recommended for guidance to safely manage/modify any behavior Clever presents with outside of the care centers.

Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Separation anxiety,Anxiety,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Leash-biting,Low threshold for arousal

Potential challenges comments:: Resource guarding: Clever is noted in the finders home wnhen around items he deems valuable such as toys, Clever displays a tense body and hover over the items. Training should focus on trade-up exercises, reinforcing voluntary relinquishment, and building positive associations with people approaching valued items. Please see the handout on Resource guarding. Fearful/potential for defensive aggression:In the finder home Clever is noted hide and actively avoid strangers. hard bark or growl around visitors as well as lunge. The finder mentioned that due to having Clever for a week he became acclimated to the finder now guarding him. Whenever strangers or visitors approached the finder Clever would hard bark, growl, hyper salivate, have a stiffened body with a high raised tail and would escalate to lunging and snapping. Clever in noted on intake to hard barking and growling through client's car door at strangers passing by. Upon being in the kennel Clever was hard staring, hard barking and low growling at counselors with a high raised tail and hackles raised. Please see the handout on Fearful/potential for defensive aggression. Low threshold for arousal:The finder mentioned an incident in where their neighbor was reaching to give him something and he lunged grabbing the neighbor's jacket, he did not make contact with the skin but did rip their jacket.Training should prioritize safety-focused handling, distance from triggers, slow introductions, and reinforcing calm behavior at low arousal levels. Please see the handout on arousal. Barrier frustration: Clever will react to strangers that approach the home/yard and will react by growling and/or hard barking and lunging.Training should focus on managing visual access to triggers, reinforcing quiet behavior, and providing structured decompression time when strangers are nearby. Please see the handout on barrier frustration. Separation anxiety/Anxiety: Clever is noted in the finder home clever is noted to have to general anxiety pacing, whines, unable to settle.He also gets anxious when left in the home or yard by himself. Training should include gradual departure desensitization, calming enrichment, and building independence through short, successful alone-time intervals.Please see the handout on Separation anxiety/Generalized Anxiety. Leash-biting: Clever is noted in the finder home; he will jump up and bite/chew his leash during walks. Training should prioritize low-arousal leashing routines, high-value treat redirection, and alternative behaviors to reduce leash-biting.Please see the handout on Leash-biting.