Date of intake:: 10/3/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Previously lived with:: 2 adults, 1 child, 1 dog

Behavior toward strangers:: Midnight will hard bark or growl

Behavior toward children:: Midnight will hard bark or growl

Behavior toward dogs:: Midnight will hard bark or growl

Behavior toward cats:: No experience

Resource guarding:: Midnight will growl or hard bark and has bitten over toys and other items

Bite history:: Midnight has bitten twice in the last year. Both incidents were minor. Midnight growled/barked then bit and released. The incidents were caused by a pillow being moved away from him. Midnight's previous owner states that he has also bitten them multiple times when they attempt to groom him. Mifnight will snap or attempt to bite when they try to bath him, brush his coat, or touch the matted hair.

Housetrained:: Partially

Energy level/descriptors:: Low

Other Notes:: Midnight is anxious when left alone. He barks at strangers who approach. Held/restrained: barks/growls Disturbed while sleeping: barks/growls Startled: barks/growls Pushed off furniture: barks/growls Feet touched: snaps, bites Collar grabbed: never done Midnight's previous owner describes him as a couch potato that enjoys car rides.

Date of assessment:: 10/8/2026

Summary:: During intake, Midnight was observed to bare teeth, growl, and lunge towards handlers. Due to his fearful behavior and multiple bite history, Midnight is not a candidate for a handling assessment at this time.

Summary (6):: 10/14/26: Midnight is at the front of his kennel, vocalizing when handler approached. he is easily leashed with a treat and taken to the canine behavior office to take photos. he walks with mild to no leash pressure with a loose body. he solicits attention from handlers in the room, rubbing his face onto them. he is easily picked up and placed onto the couch. he lays across a handlers lap enjoying pets. he reengages whenever the handler stops petting him by nudging their hands with his head. he is then taken to the backyard and again walks with mild to no leash pressure. he relieves himself and is easily placed back into his kennel. 10/13/26 - Midnight is at the front of his kennel standing on his hind legs and vocalizing, initially he avoids the leash but after a few attempts he is leashed up and brought out of the room with no issues. In the play yard he is very sociable with the handler and soliciting pets and attempting to jump on the handler's lap. Handler engages with him in petting in which he curls his body into the handler's asking for more attention, when returning to kennel he gives no issues with unleashing and returning. 10/8/26: Midnight is at the front of his kennel demand barking and standing on his hind legs. Initially, he dodges the leash, but after some attempts, the ahndler is able to leash and bring him out the room. On the street, Midnight walks with mild leash tension, and doesn't react to people or dogs. He is mainly aloof, but when the handler lowers themself and calls his name, Midnight approaches them with a wiggly body and leans against them as he allows pets. Upon return, when the handler attempts to clip the leash, Midnight dodges them a bit; they are able to clip the leash and return him to kennel.

Summary (7):: 10/06/26: Midnight is at the front of his kennel demand barking as handler approaches, handler unlocks the kennel door and unlocks it before kneeling down and reaching into kennel to leash Midnight. He moves away toward the back of kennel but handler is still able to leash him without much issue, he exits kennel and walks with handler out to the street, outside Midnight stops to sniff spots and relieves himself along his walk. He stops and sits at points during the walk and when handler sits next to him on a bench Midnight approaches handler with a soft and wiggly body seeking social interaction. He allows petting along his body and under his chin, Midnight continues walking for a bit and passes people on the street with mild curiosity and attempts to approach a passerby with a loose wiggly body. Midnight is eventually brought back inside and allows handler to slowly clip his leash before he enters kennel without issue. 10/6/26: Midnight is at the front of his kennel with a neutral body, jumping around and on the kennel door, while barking at the handler. He settles a bit as the handler unlocks the kennel. When the ahndler attempts to leash him, Midnight quickly moves around and dodges the leash; at times, he bares teeth and mouths it. Midnight also attempts to squeeze himself out the kennel, but the handler quickly closes the door, and he goes back inside. After several attempts, the handler ends the interaction. 10/05/26: Midnight is at the back of his kennel as handler approaches, handler offers treats which Midnight ignores, he is tense and lays in the back of kennel until handler unlocks the kennel door and introduces the leash into kennel. Handler begins attempting to lasso Midnight but he dodges the leash and quietly mouths it on occasion. He does this for a while until handler is eventually able to get the leash around Midnight, he exits kennel without issue and walks with some hesitancy out to the street for his walk. Once outside he walks near handler and passes people and dogs with no reaction, Midnight is generally aloof throughout the interaction and is noted by handler to tremble slightly, he is eventually returned to kennel and allows handler to clip his leash before returning without issue. 10/5/26: It is reported that Midnight was unable to be walked for their AM walk due to repeatedly dodging the leash. The handler ended their attempts due to FAS.

Date of intake:: 10/3/2026

Summary:: Bared teeth, growled and lunged

Date of initial:: 10/4/2026

Summary:: Nervous but tolerant, leans into pets

ENERGY LEVEL:: Midnight is described as low energy. They will need daily mental and physical activity to keep them engaged and exercised. And we recommend using force-free, reward-based training techniques for them.

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 the multiple bite history and resource guarding we recommend an adult only home. No Dog Parks: Due to hard barking and growling at other dogs with 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,Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Multiple-bite history/risk of future aggression,Bite history (human)

Potential challenges comments:: Resource Guarding: Midnight's previous owner states that he will growl, hard bark, and bite while in the possession of toys and other items. Nothing should ever be taken directly out of Midnight's mouth, and any time something is removed they should be rewarded with a high value treat or toy. Please see handout on Resource Guarding. Handling Sensitivity: Midnight's previous owner states that he will bark and growl when held/restrained or pushed off furniture and will snap and bite when his paws are touched. Positive reinforcement, reward based training should be used to pair touch with good things such as food rewards in order to teach Midnight to be more comfortable with this. Please see handout on Handling and Touch Sensitivity. Fearful Defensive: Midnight's previous owner states that he will bark and growl when startled or disturbed while sleeping. During intake Mifnight was observed to bare teeth, growl, and lunge at handlers. It is important to move slowly with Midnight, 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. Multiple Bite History/ Bite History (Human): Please see bite history above for more details. Please see handout on Bite History and Potential for Future Aggression.