Date of intake:: 5/12/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray, No known history

Bite history:: On 06/16/26 at around 8:30 AM, a handler was attempting to leash Sunflower while in kennel. The handler was using a treat to lure Sunflower through the leash when Sunflower bit the handler's right thumb just below the nail. The bite was a bite and release that drew blood.

Date of assessment:: 5/18/2026

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Hard Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: None Leash walking comments: Jumped up on handler, pulling towards the other dogs in the kennel room Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Moderately social Call over: Approaches handler readily Sociability comments: Jumping up on handlers, panting heavily Soft handling: Accepts contact Exuberant handling: Accepts contact Comments: Neutral body Arousal Jog comments: Follows handler readily, jumps up on handler Knock Knock comments: Approaches handler readily, jumps up Toy Toy comments: No interest, no reaction

Summary:: 5/19/26: Sunflower greets another dog at the gate with a neutral body and high wagging tail. He disengages and re-engages remaining neutral bodied.

Summary (5):: 6/27/26: (KSV) Sunflower is at the front of the kennel with a soft body and wagging tail. Handler crouches down at the front of the kennel and feeds Sunflower treats through the kennel. Handler has him sit and he sits down, presenting with a soft face and body and a fast wagging tail. Sunflower is left with more treats and the interaction is ended. 6/20/26: Sunflower is standing at the front of his kennel and jumps up against the door with a loose body when the handler approaches. The handler removes his kennel blocker and he sits with a wagging tail, then takes treats. He stands up again and looks at the handler's hands with a soft expression and loose wiggly body, then takes another treat. He tilts his head awaiting another treat and sits again. He eats another treat and the interaction is ended. 6/16/26: Sunflower is reported to have bitten the handler on the finger when the handler was attempting to leash them. This bite broke skin and caused bleeding, leaving a puncture wound. While on the walk the handler kept Sunflower on a short leash. When people would walk past, Sunflower would become increasingly tense and would make the motions as if trying to lunge at them.

Summary (6):: 6/13/26: Sunflower is at the front of the kennel jumping up and down. He is pawing at the kennel door and barking repeatedly. Sunflower is easily leashed with a treat lure and taken out of the kennel. He pulls hard towards a pop up crate in front of the room. Sunflower is taken to the street and pulls hard in front of the handler. He hard stares a passing dog with a forward posture. Handler waves a treat under his nose and he follows them. He relieves himself and walks back to the shelter. Sunflower ducks behind the handler as they enter and he pulls towards an empty pop-up crate. Sunflower is kept away as he is taken back upstairs. He tries to pull towards more pop up crates. Sunflower is short leashed and is taken back into kennel where he is returned without issue. 6/12/26: Sunflower is observed to react to kennels and crates that he walks past. 6/6/26: Sunflower was at front of kennel with a loose body. He was jumping and vocalizing. Coming out of kennel he pulled hard and tries to get at the kennel net to him. While on walk he continued to pull hard, handler had to stop a few times to let him catch his breath before continuing. He was returned to kennel with no issue. 6/1/26: It is reported via the whiteboard that Sunflower pulls hard and needs a harness 5/27/26: Sunflower is reported to be kennel fighting and pulling towards pop-up crates. 5/19/26: Sunflower is at the front of his kennel with a loose body; he constantly jumps up and barks. The handler sprays cheese on the kennel door, and as he eats it, the handler leashes and then brings him outside the room. The handler brings Sunflower to the yard for playgroup (see dog-dog notes). Afterwards, the handler returns Sunflower to the room; he pulls towards the dogs, but the handler is able to return him. 5/18/26: Sunflower is loose and wiggly in his kennel. He is chewing on something. He is easily leashed and pulls hard to the street. He passes out from pulling too hard then recovers. He relieves himself immediately once outside. He jumps up on the handler with a loose body. He pulls towards a passerby with a loose body. He is lead to the assessment room (see notes) then returned to kennel. He pulls towards the other dogs as he passes them, and balks at his kennel door and is coaxed in with leash pressure. 5/15/26: Sunflower was at front of kennel with a loose and wiggly body. He was easily leashed and pulled from kennel. Sunflower pulled hard coming out of kennel and continued to pull hard on his walk. As soon as he was outside Sunflower relieved himself. He stopped several times to sniff and investigate. He was returned to kennel with no issue.

Summary (7):: 5/13/26: Sunflower is at the front of the kennel with a tense body and a soft wagging tail. His eyes are dilated. He is easily leashed and is taken out of the kennel. Sunflower pulls hard out of the room. He looks towards the passing kennels with a tense face as he is taken out of the room. Sunflower is walked out to the backyard where he relieves himself. When passing dogs in the pens, he looks towards them and looks away without redirection. He is walked to the different pens where he sniffs his surroundings and relieves himself. Handler tries to engage with him and offers treats. He sniffs the treats but does not eat them. He looks to the handler with a soft body and a brief soft tail wag before returning to being aloof. Sunflower is then walked back inside the shelter and into the kennel room. He pulls back inside towards the passing kennels and looks towards the dog with a tense face. In the middle of the isle, Sunflower stops and hard stares at a kennel. Handler tries to muscle him past the kennel but he remains. He is then muscled into the kennel without further issue. 05/14/26: Sunflower is at the front of his kennel as handler approaches, he is offered treats and accepts a few before beginning to jump on the kennel door and attempting to push his head out of kennel hard. Handler is able to leash Sunflower and he exits kennel following handler while pulling hard out the room and staring at the passing dogs in kennels. He walks outside with handler and while out is generally aloof, passing people without issue but staring at dogs from afar. For some dogs Sunflower breaks focus himself and others he fixates on from across the street and is difficult to redirect. Sunflower relieves himself on his walk and allows handler to clip his leash. Upon returning he pulls hard toward kennels he passes hard and is difficult to redirect. He is muscled into kennel and interaction is ended. 5/12/26: Staff reported that upon bringing Sunflower to kennel. He began cage fighting with the neighboring kennels. Pushing off the walls towards the passing kennels. When placing into the kennel, Sunflower tries to pull towards the neighboring kennel to fight. He has to be muscled into kennel.

Date of intake:: 5/12/2026

Summary:: Loose body, jumping up on handlers

Date of initial:: 5/13/2026

Summary:: Tense and alert throughout exam, escalated to growling during exam

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Sunflower so we cannot be certain of their behavior in a home environment. However, they will need daily mental and physical activity to stay 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.

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 dog reactivity and poor impulse control we recommend an adult only home. No Dog Parks: Due to on leash reactivity, 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: : Basic manners/poor impulse control,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Bite history (human)

Potential challenges comments:: Basic Manners: Sunflower has been observed to jump up on handlers often. It is recommended that default behaviors such as "Sit" and "Off" are reinforced to substitute any frustration and teach them to control their impulses instead of simply reacting; proper management is also advised. Force-free, reward-based training only is recommended. Please see handout on Basic Manners. Fearful Defensive: During his medical exam Sunflower was observed to growl at handlers when they were performing tasks. He has also been observed to be reluctant to reenter kennel. It is important to move slowly with Sunflower 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. Bite History (Human): Please see bite history above for more details. Please see handout on Bite History and Potential for Future Aggression. On Leash Reactivity: Sunflower has been observed to be highly dog reactive. Noted to pull hard towards the other dogs in the kennel room and pushing off the kennel walls. Sunflower 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.