Date of intake:: 11/23/2025

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Date of assessment:: 11/25/2025

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Mild Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: Mild Leash walking comments: Pulls hard with a tense body Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Moderately social Call over: Approaches handler readly Sociability comments: Sniffing around the room, checks in with handler Soft handling: Accepts contact Exuberant handling: Accepts contact Comments: Neutral body, wagging tail Arousal Jog comments: Follows handler exuberantly Knock Knock comments: Approaches handler readily Toy Toy comments: No interest, No reaction

Summary:: 12/4/25: Bar Vader greets another dog at the gate with neutral body and hackles raised. He paws at the gate and attempts to push his face through the fence.

Summary (6):: 12/5/25: Bark Vader is laying at the back of the kennel. He remains there until handler opens the door and presents the leash. He comes forward slowly and is easily leashed and removed from kennel. He is walked to the street where he will stand and watch dogs from a distance. He walks slowly alongside handler, shivering. He allows petting on the back of his neck and is easily returned to kennel without issue. 11/29/25: Bark Vader is at the front of the kennel with a neutral body and wagging tail. He is easily leashed and pulls very hard out of kennel. He pulls down the hallway outside coughing and hacking as he pulls. Handler is able put Bark Vader in a leash harness. He pulls less and does not hack when walking. Bark Vader is walked around the street. He relieves himself a few times and is walked back to the shelter. The harness is removed from him with ease and he is returned to kennel without issue. 11/28/25: Bark Vader is at the front of his kennel with a loose body. The handler leashes him, and before bringing him out, they toss treats on the ground. While walking out, Bark Vader pulls hard towards a dog in kennel barking at him; the handler quickly pulls him away and exits the room. Once outside, Bark Vader fixates on a dog and pulls in their direction until they are out of sight. On the street, Bark walks with leash tension, pulling forward. When seeing dogs, in the distance, Bark pulls harder in their direction; the handler crosses the street with him to create distance. Bark shows no interest in passersby and relieves himself. When walking back to the shelter, Bark eases the leash tension. The handler clips their leash and walks him into the room. While walking into the room, Bark fixates on the kennels, but returns to his kennel ease.

Summary (7):: 11/27/25: Bark Vader is at the front of his kennel heavily panting, with wide eyes and a tense body. As handler begins to unlock the kennel, he would jump onto the bars and bark towards the handler. Handler is then easily able to leash him using a treat lure. Once leashed and removed from kennel, Bark is taken to the yard for his walk where he would pull very hard out of the room as he watches the kennel as he exits. In the yard, he would dart on the handlers leash and begin to relieve himself in multiple spots. Shortly after, he would then spot a dog and begin to charge the fence with a tense body and raised hackles. This behavior wasn't easily redirectable with treats or squeaker sounds, handler has to pull him away out of sight from the dog. Handler then notices that the leash was high on Bark's neck, as they go to adjust it Bark would then head whip with an open mouth. Handler then attempts to bring him back inside, they would toss treats to the side as he's focused on that handler quickly clips his leash where he would head whip again. He is then easily brought back to kennel with no issue. 11/27/25 ACS report as they were returning Bark Vader to kennel he head-whipped towards handlers hand as they were trying to clip him. Handler proceeded to walk out of the room to "reset" him, and as he was still reacting towards the kennels, he began to jump towards the handler. The initial handler then asked another staff member to assist with a double rope; as he was double roped, he would begin to thrash and flail intensely on the leash. He is then tossed into his kennel with both ropes; they then use the hook to remove both leashes safely. Interaction was then ended. 11/25/25: Bark Vader is at the front of his kennel with a neutral body. He is easily leashed, and while walking out the room, Bark Vader pulls forward and towards a kennel. Once out the room, Bark pulls towards a crate nearby; the handler pulls him away. On the street, Bark walks with little leash tension, but increases it, with a slightly tense body, when fixating on dogs, near or far. He allows pets from the handler. While walking back to the shelter, Bark sees two dogs in different directions, and attempts to pull towards both of them, but the handler pulls him away and shortens their leash. Whilst bring him inside for his assessment, Bark pulls towards every dog in crates. (See assessment notes). The handler then clips their leash and returns Bark Vader to his kennel.

Date of intake:: 11/23/2025

Summary:: Wagging tail, playbowing, allowed leashing and handling

Date of initial:: 11/23/2025

Summary:: Easily examined; very high energy; jumping on handlers

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Bark Vader 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 additional to physical exercise, to positively direct their energy and enthusiasm.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),Single-pet home,Recommend no dog parks,Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to poor impulse control and the potential for redirection we recommend a home with no children. Single Pet Home/ No Dog Parks: Due to on leash reactivity with the potential for redirection we recommend a single pet home with 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,Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration

Potential challenges comments:: Basic Manners: Bark has been obsvered to jump up on handlers. 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. Handling Sensitivity: Bark is obsvered to head whip towards handlers when they attempt to adjust the leash and when they attempt to clip their leash. Positive reinforcement, reward based training should be used to pair touch with good things such as food rewards in order to teach Bark to be more comfortable with this. Please see handout on Handling and Touch Sensitivity. Fearful: Bark Vader has been obsvered to thrash and falil while on leash. Bark 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. On Leash Reactivity: Bark has been obsvered to pull hard with a tense body towards other dogs. After reacting to other dogs in the kennel room Bark will turn towards the handler and begin to jump towards them. While in the yard Bark is obsvered to charge towards other dogs. Bark 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.