Date of intake:: 11/14/2025

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner Surrender (8 years)

Previously lived with:: Adults, Children

Behavior toward strangers:: Playful, Friendly & Outgoing

Behavior toward children:: Friendly & Outgoing, Tolerant, Snaps, Bites

Behavior toward dogs:: Familiar dogs: Friendly & Outgoing, Playful Unfamiliar dogs: Hard barks and/or growls

Behavior toward cats:: No experience

Resource guarding:: Peso finds toys, food, treats (bones, rawhides, etc.). He has bitten, growls or hard barks, Snaps or attempts to bite.

Bite history:: Peso has multiple bites (5+) reported by the owner. The most recent was 10/17/25. Peso will escalate to biting whenever he believes someone may step on him. The bites are not severe, but some have broken skin. Peso has bitten during grooming, and over resources.

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Very High

Other Notes:: Goes potty on: Outside on walks (grass, cement, dirt, etc.), Wee-wee pads Accident frequency: Very rarely Additional info: Behavior concerns: Jumps up often or non-stop, Barks a lot, General anxiety (paces, whines, unable to settle) Reacts to on walks: Large dogs, Small dogs Reaction type: Growling/Hard barking How this dog reacts when... - Held/restrained: Bites - Disturbed while resting/sleeping: Isn't bothered - Startled: Barks/Growls - Pushed/pulled off furniture: Snaps, Bites - Paws are touched: Bites - Collar grabbed/touched: Isn't bothered

Summary:: Due to multiple bite history over multiple triggers, Peso is not a candidate for a handling assessment.

Summary (1):: Peso is Social/Affectionate, Very active & Playful, Independent, and Fearful, and he spends most of his time where people are, in the bedroom, or in his crate. For grooming, he goes to the groomer, does not allow nail trimming (fearful, uncomfortable), has escalated during grooming (barks, growls, snaps), and attempts to bite or has bitten during grooming. He is crate trained—Yes, does well —and spends 1 hour in a Metal crate. During car rides, Peso gets motion sickness in the car. Peso knows Sit, down, and go to bed (he’ll go lay in his crate). His previous owner’s favorite things about him are that he loves his ball, he loves to play fetch, and that he is usually walked to a park when no children are playing. He likes to go down the slides at the park. His favorite activities/toys/food/snacks include balls, and he doesn’t like tug with his toys he’ll growl. Peso eats both wet and dry food; he eats Blue Buffalo chicken flavor, and his owner usually makes him all kinds of protein to go with it, mainly Chicken and beef, and also makes carrots, peas and sweet potatoes.

Summary (7):: 11.18: Peso is at the front of his kennel and is easily roped and brought to the yard. In the yard Peso has a soft body and is exuberant jumping against the staff and leaning into pets. Peso climbs into the staff members lap and curls up. He accepts pets but also growls while laying on the staffs lap. Peso is easily returned tot he kennel. 11/17: Peso is at the front of his kennel whining and jumping up against it. He is let out onto the floor and leashed easily. He jumps up staff's legs and is lead outside to the yard. In the yard he is clipped on a drag leash and let roam around. Peso sniffs his way around the yard and then comes over to staff on the bench and tries jumping up staff's legs again. He later hops on the bench next to staff smelling staff's lap and allowing for some pets on the head and back with a soft body and tail wagging. Staff stands up and again Peso tries jumping up his legs, staff lifts Peso up and Peso then lets out a growl but keeps facing forward and is promptly placed back down. Peso returns to exploring the yard. His drag leash is removed without incident and he is easily returned to his kennel.

Date of initial:: 11/15/2025

Summary:: Friendly in kennel, warnings (growling) when handled

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to multiple bites, Peso should go to an adult only home. 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: : Resource guarding,Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Multiple-bite history/risk of future aggression,Anxiety,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Bite history (human)

Potential challenges comments:: Resource guarding: Peso finds toys, food, treats (bones, rawhides, etc.). He has bitten, growls or hard barks, Snaps or attempts to bite. We recommend Peso be left alone when eating. Nothing should ever be taken directly out of Peso’s mouth. Should you have to remove something from him, we recommend always trading for something of an equal or higher value. He should be taught the “drop” cue and trade-up games. Please see handout on Resource Guarding. Handling/Touch Sensitivity: Peso has been noted to become uncomfortable with handling at times, escalating with pick up, biting during grooming. It is important to always go slow and give Peso the option to walk away from any social interaction. Peso should never be forced to approach anything that he is uncomfortable with or to submit to petting or handling. It should always be Peso’s choice to approach a new person or thing. He may do best in an initially calm and quiet home environment and should be given time to acclimate to his new surroundings. Please see the handout on Handling and Touch Sensitivity. Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Peso is afraid of being stepped on and will escalate to biting. Guidance from a professional trainer/behaviorist is recommended to assess behavior after decompression in a new home environment. Force-free, reward-based training is advised when introducing or exposing Peso to new and unfamiliar situations. Please see handout on Fearful Potential for Defensive Aggression. Multiple-bite history/risk of future aggression/Bite history (human): Peso has a multiple bite history, with various triggers including handling, resource guarding and fear. This is a learned behavior which is likely to repeat itself without careful management. Positive reinforcement training should focus on desensitizing the dog to triggers and teaching alternative behaviors; punishment should always be avoided. Please see the handout on Multiple Bite History and Risk of Future Aggression. Anxiety: Peso is reported to be anxious in the home, pacing, barking. If Peso 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: Peso reacts to other dogs on leash. 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.