Date of intake:: 2/3/2026

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner Surrender, 5 Years

Previously lived with:: 2 adults 1 child

Behavior toward strangers:: lunge initially and once comfortable is playful and friendly

Behavior toward children:: he lived with an 8y/o and was playful

Behavior toward dogs:: owner states he will hard bark/growl and lunge when he sees them on walks

Behavior toward cats:: has not spent time around cats so behavior is unknown

Resource guarding:: he will have a tense body/hover over when his treats, toys and food are touched.

Bite history:: no known bite history

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: High

Other Notes:: he will hard bark/growl and lunge when he sees strangers and dogs on walk. he will bark and growl when he is startled, and isn't bothered when he is held/restrained, disturbed when sleeping, push/pulled off furniture, feet/paws touched and collar grabbed He is social/affectionate, vocal, very active and playful. He likes to be where people are, the bedroom and the living room. He goes to the groomers and goes on 20min walks 1-2x daily with mild to moderate pulling. He was crate trained and no longer needs it. He loves going on car rides and knows the cues for stay, paw and knows sit, down and heel in German.

Date of assessment:: 2/6/2026

Summary:: 2/15/26: Due to Chef's behavior in the care center, a handling assessment will not be conducted. 2/6/26: Due to Chef's initial discomfort, a handling assessment will be conducted at a later date.

Summary (6):: 02/14/26 (KSV): Chef holds his gaze on the handler with a tilted head, showing a calm and curious frame. His tail is straight and low, brows soft, and he continues to watch the handler until they depart.

Summary (7):: 2/13/25: The handler approaches Chef kennel where he displays a neutral body. When the handler opens up the kennel door, he begins to attempt to puch his way out of kennel then starts to leash bite on the lead. The handler is able to leash him on the second attempt,once taken out of the kennel room Chef quickly turn towards the handler and snaps at their stomach and continues walking with the handler. Due to the handler wearing a hoodie and added layers Chef didnt break skin or leave bruising. Chef is taken to the behavioral office and displays high anxiety heavy panting and pacing. Chef remain alert when hearing nosies on the other side of the office door and attempts to pull his way forward, displaying high hackles. Chef is taken back to his kennel without issue. 2/13/26: Chef is standing at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He begins to bite and tug at the handler's leash as they attempt to leash him. He is able to drop the leash for treats, and then quickly grabs the leash again and starts tugging at it. He is then able to drop the leash with a squeaker. The handler is then able to leash him and he pulls hard out of kennel. He would snap at the handler's hand and pants on the way to the behavior room. In the room, he would jump up on the handlers with a loose body while whimpering and would try to lick their faces. He would engage in a snuffle mat full of treats and he is comfortable siting while taking treats from the handlers hands. He would mouth and snap at the handler's hands and sweater sleeve on the way back to his kennel and enters with no issue. 2/12/26: ACS reported that Chef attempted to air-snap at them multiple times during the walk when they tried to reclip his lead at the kennel entrance. He began air-snapping again upon approach. ACS requested assistance from the Behavior Team to help return him to his kennel, where he continued to attempt to air snap at staff both on the walk and during lead reclipping. 02/10/26: ACS staff report that Chef is repeatedly jumping up towards their arm with an open mouth as the handler walks him outside. Once outside, he walked without issue. 2/6/26: Chef is standing at the front of his kennel with a neutral body frame as handler approaches. He is able to be leashed with ease and is then taken to the behavior room. In the room, he has a loose body as he approaches the handlers to receive pets. He would jump up on a familiar handler constantly to demand for pets. He would hard stare at the handler with a tense body when they would turn around. He is able to approach the handler slowly and would jump up to receive pets again. He would look around the hallway on the way back to his kennel and is able to enter with ease.

Date of intake:: 2/3/2026

Summary:: when the owner spoke to staff, he hard barked and charged at staff

Date of initial:: 2/3/2026

Summary:: panting hard, tail tucked, will take treats

ENERGY LEVEL:: Chef is described as active and enthusiastic. He will need daily mental and physical activity to keep him engaged and exercised. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in additional to physical exercise, to positively direct his energy and enthusiasm. We recommend feeding with puzzle feeders and food-dispensing toys. And we recommend only force-free, reward-based training techniques for Chef

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 Chef's fearfulness displayed in care, we recommend he goes to an adult-only home. Recommend no dog parks: Due to Chef's reported behavior towards dogs, we recommend he does not visit dog parks. Place with a New Hope partner: Due to Chef's fearfulness displayed in care, and prior behavior concerns we recommend he is placed with one of our New Hope Partners.

Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Anxiety,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration

Potential challenges comments:: Resource guarding: Chef's previous owner note that he becomes tense over his food. Nothing should ever be taken directly out of Chef's mouth, and any time something is removed he should be rewarded with a high value treat or toy. He should be taught the "drop" cue and trade-up games. Fearful/potential for defensive aggression/Anxiety: Chef gives clear warnings when she is uncomfortable and does seem to choose to avoid or retreat when given the opportunity, but if prevented from moving away there is a potential to escalate to higher-level warning behaviors and possible fear-based aggression. It is important to move slowly with Chef, to build positive associations (treats/toys/praise), and to allow Chef to initiate interactions with new people. She should never be forced to greet or to interact if she is not comfortable and soliciting attention. Chef would do best in an initially calm and quiet home environment and should be given time to acclimate to her new surroundings. See handouts on Decompression Period and Fearful and Defensive Aggression. On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration: Chef is observed and noted to lunge at dogs and strangers. Chef has been observed to react to other dogs on leash, lunging towards them, barking and growling. Chef may need positive reinforcement, reward-based training to teach her to look at you rather than other dogs. We recommend a front-clip harness or head halter to help manage this behavior.