Date of intake:: 8/8/2025

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Other Notes:: *Previous assessments can be given upon request*

Date of assessment:: 9/26/2025

Summary:: Beowulf was made NHO because of behaviors observed in the Care Center. Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Hard Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: None Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Distracted Call over: Approaches handler readily Sociability comments: Jumps up on handler, not easily redirected Soft handling: Tolerates contact Exuberant handling: Tolerates contact Comments: Head whips, jumps up on handler Arousal Jog comments: Follows handler readily Knock Knock comments: Approaches handler readily, jumps up Toy Toy comments: Grips firm, Becomes tense with stiff tail

Summary:: 8/19/25- Beowulf gate greets the other dog with a loose and wiggly body with a wagging tail, he jumps up on handler then engages on his own with the dog with a soft body.

Summary (4):: 10/1/2025 (Trainer Note): Handler walks Beowulf to the yard and he is put on a drag leash. Trainer has several boxes set up around the yard, stuffed with small treats inside. Beowulf has a loose body as he sniffs around the yard, engaging with some of the enrichment and practicing scent work. He fixates on one in specific and does not investigate further. Trainer removes the items from the pen and brings out the flirt poles. Handler uses the cue "Get" and Beowulf chases after one of the poles. He engages with the flirt pole, as well as the trainer playing tug (with rules). Trainer drops the pole and grabs the second one but does not release the end until Beowulf disengages from the original pole. Once he does, handler has to body block him at first to prevent him from jumping up, he remains with four paws on the floor and trainer marks the behavior and rewards with the second flirt pole, using the cue "Get" again. This trade is practiced several times, Beowulf displaying improved impulse control and focus. At the end of the session, he is no longer as interested in the poles, shakes off, and seeks engagement from trainer. Trainer continues to reinforce calm check ins, and "four paws on the floor." He is returned to his kennel without issue.

Summary (5):: 9/27/25: Beowulf is observed to be jumping high in kennel, pushing off the walls creating a circular jumping pattern. He does this persistently and continuously during cleaning time. 9/22/25 (Trainer Note): Beowulf is frantically pawing his kennel and high pitched vocalizing as handler approaches. He begins to pace side to side as handler unlocks the door. A toy is used to leash him no problem and is tossed in front of his kennel, he picks it up and carries it out of the room. He is taken to the pen for a training session. Impulse control training is introduces, handler holds their first closed with treats inside and rewards + uses a reward marker when the dog stops trying to "get" the treats in your hand. He is engaged and somewhat receptive, but does get frustrated easily, escalating to head whipping and mouthing hands. He engages in a successful game of "Flirt pole." He is returned to his kennel without issue. 9/1925: It is reported on the behavior board that Beowulf was leash biting when out of kennel and the leash could not be clipped to return him. 9/14/15 (Trainer Note): Beowolf is standing on his hind legs with a neutral body and barking as handler approaches. He begins to spin and pace as the door is unlocked. A toy is used to leash him and is tossed in front of his kennel. He picks it up as he is removed and taken to the yard for a training/agility session. Beowolf is above arousal threshold and is not engaging with handler or the environment. He is also not accepting treats, including high values. He is solely interested in the plush toys in the yard. Handler attempts to play a game of "trade" with him, but is unable to due to his behavior. He is continuously launching himself towards handler, specifically their hand, with an open mouth trying to snatch the toys. He persists and the intensity continues to escalate. Handler held the drag leash for remainder of interaction but Beowolf remained fixated on their hands (if holding a toy) and would escalate to attempt and mouth handler, at one point, handler does hear a snap sound when clasping his teeth. His unreceptive and unengaged. Due to threshold and the escalating intensity, handler returns Beowolf to his kennel.

Summary (6):: 9/12/25: Beowulf has been observed to o be kennel reactive both while leaving and entering the room. While leaving, Beowulf would vocalize towards the kennels at the front. When entering, Beowulf would pull towards the front kennels while vocalizing. 9/7/25: Beowulf is standing at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He begins to jump and paw at the door as the handler unlocks it and tries to leash him. He is able to be leashed while being distracted with treats after a few attempts. He is then taken outside for a walk. On the walk, he would pull ahead while walking on his hind legs towards dogs and people. He is able to be redirected when the handler squeaks a squeaker and offers him treats. He is then taken to the behavior room for his assessment. In the room, he would jump up in the couch and counters and grab any toys he could find. He would become tense and growl when the handler tries to grab the toy when he was not close to it. He would jump up on the handlers and search around the room to find more toys after the handlers are able to get them back. He would have a tens body and hover over the toy as the handler tries to get it with the assessment hand. Please see behavior assessment notes for more details. He pulls on his hind legs back to his kennel and enters with issues 8/31/25: Beowulf is at the front of the kennel with a loose body, barking and pawing at the kennel door. When the kennel is unlocked he jumps up exuberantly towards the leash pawing at it. His paw gets tangled in the leash and handler retracts the leash. Another attempt is made and Beowulf is easily leashed by using a toy as a lure. He is taken out of the kennel carrying the toy. Beowulf is brought to the street carrying the toy pulling moderately ahead of the handler. He stops in various spots to relieve himself before continuing to walk. A dog is lying down on the corner. Beowulf looks towards the dog with his head high and ears forward. He continues walking with the handler. Beowulf continues to pull moderately as he is walked back to the shelter, still holding the toy, handler can hear him gasping as he pulls. Handler places Beowulf on a leash harness and when he pulls ahead, the tension of the harness startles Beowulf where he head whips and snaps towards the leash harness dropping his toy. Handler encourages him to continue walking by using the toy and Beowulf refuses to move, keeping his head turned to the side. Handler carefully removes the leash harness. Beowulf then picks up his toy and he is walked back to his kennel where he is returned without issue

Summary (7):: 8/27/25: Beowulf is at the front loose body with a wagging tail. Easily leashed and pulls moderately out of the room. He is brought to the street where he pulls moderately ahead of the handler. He relieves himself and stops to sniff areas that interest him. A butterfly flies by and Beowulf chases after it and jumps up biting the air. He continues walking and pulling towards people with a soft body and wagging tail. As they wait to cross the street, handler interacts with Beowulf attempting to pet his head. He licks the handlers hands and nibbles them gently, he repeats this behavior when handler tries to pet his back and flank. Beowulf finds a pacifier on the ground and picks it up, playing with it. Handler trades him for the pacifier for treats and kicks it away. He chases after it and handler keeps him away. Beowulf is given another toy as a replacement and he walks with it carrying it the entire walk. After he is walked back to the shelter and returned to kennel without issue. 8/21/25: Beowulf is reported to try to take poop bags out of handler's hands when his poop is being picked up. 8/19/25: Beowulf is lying down in kennel upon approach. He stands up when the kennel is unlocked and stretches. He is easily leashed and taken to the backyard. Beowulf walks with a loose leash to the pen where he is placed on a drag leash. He is social with handlers, leaning on them and allows brief moments of petting before lightly mouthing handlers hands. He would jump up on the handlers and grab their arms with his front paws, gently gnawing their hands. Beowulf does a dog-dog interaction. He is then re-leashed and as the drag leash is unclipped he head whips slightly when touching the collar. Beowulf is then walked back to kennel and he is returned to kennel by tossing treats. 8/10/25: Beowulf is standing at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He begins jumping at the door and spinning around in his kennel as handler unlocks the door. He would back away and try to mouth at the leash when the handler tries to leash him. Once leashed, he pulls hard on his hind legs on the way out of his kennel room. He then begins to thrash in the hallway on the way outside for a walk. On the walk, he would pull ahead frantically and had no reactions to dogs or people. He is then taken to the behavior room for his assessment. He would jump up on the carts in the hallway along the way. In the room, he would jump up on the handlers with an open mouth and would paw at the handler’s hands. Please see behavior assessment notes for more details. He pulls hard on the way back to his kennel and enters with no issue

Date of intake:: 8/8/2025

Summary:: Fearful, allowed all handling

Date of initial:: 8/9/2025

Summary:: Head shy for muzzle placement, but otherwise allows all handling for exam and tasks

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Beowulf 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),Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to poor impulse control we recommend an adult only home. Place with a New Hope Partner: Beowulf has shown quick escalation to snapping and mouthiness due to handling sensitivity and low-threshold for arousal. Because of these noted behaviors, the behavior team recommends Beowulf be placed with experienced New Hope partner.

Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Basic manners/poor impulse control,Fearful,Leash-biting,Low threshold for arousal

Potential challenges comments:: Resource Guarding: Beowulf is observed to become tense and hover over toys in his possession. Nothing should ever be taken directly out of Beowulf mouth, and any time something is removed they should be rewarded with a high value treat or toy. Please see handout on Resource Guarding. Basic Manners: Beowulf is observed to jump towards the handler. 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: Beowulf is observed to thrash while on leash. It should always be their choice to approach a new person or thing. Beowulf 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. Leash-biting: Beowulf has been noted to grab the leash in his mouth. We recommend walking him with a toy to dissuade him from grabbing the leash. Positive reinforcement, force-free training is advised to teach him to focus on you rather than grabbing the leash. Please see hand-out on Leash Manners Low-threshold for arousal: Beowulf quickly becomes over aroused, jumping up and attempting mouth handler's hands. Positive reinforcement, force-free training should be used to teach Beowulf to remain calm when people and other exciting things are around. He should be rewarded with treats when calm. If he escalates to jumping or mouthing, people should immediately walk away from and separate themselves from Beowulf. Please see hand-out on arousal.