Date of intake:: 2/20/2026

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray (no known information)

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Moderate - Hard pulling Reactivity to humans: None - ignores Reactivity to dogs: None - ignores Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Highly social - jumps up, seeks attention Call over: Approaches, readily Sociability comments: Handling Soft handling: Accepts contact - soft body, leans in Exuberant handling: Accepts contact - soft body, leans in Handling comments: Arousal Jog: Engages in play, rough, exuberant Arousal comments: Knock: No response Knock Comments: Toy: Grips, relinquishes Toy comments:

Summary:: 3/4: Hamlet approaches to greet M LMB dog. He has a relaxed body, quiet. He greets the dog face to face and sniffs the surrounding floor before being easily walked away. 3/16: Hamlet is pulling towards a F LMB dog at the gate, able to look away on his own. They briefly greet nose to nose, and he is able to be walked away on his own. When walking parallel on leash, Hamlet begins to alert bark, pulling while standing on his hind legs. When a M LMB dog begins approaching the gate, Hamlet begins to alert bark, repeatedly. They did not greet at the gate.

Summary (2):: 5/26: Hamlet is easily leashed with a jerky treat and rushed out of the room. He pulls hard on the door and a handful of kibble is scattered to distract him as he is being rope harnessed. They walk up the block and Hamlet begins pacing back and forth repeatedly before being able to relieve himself. He starts zooming back and forth on the short leash, jumping up and mouthing at the handler. A handful of food is scattered in the grass and he engages in scatter feeding. They are able to continue on the walk, and he returns without further issue. 5/21: Hamlet is easily leashed with a jerky treat and ignores the other dogs as he continues to chew. He is rope harnessed at the door and brought on a walk. Handler counts 1-2-3 and he returns his attention to her majority of the time on 3. He returns without issue. Later in the day, Hamlet was on a walk with a staff member. He is visibly anxious, panting, pacing, and unable to find a spot. Once he relieves himself, they continue up the block. Hamlet sniffs the grass and begins zooming to the end of the leash and jumping up on the handler, becoming mouthy. She has him SIT and he is able to continue with her. They play the 1-2-3 game, returning, rewarding him often to keep him engaged. 5/20: Hamlet is brought out to the yard where an ice block is waiting for him. Once he noticed the bowl on the floor, he pulls hard to it. He allows for a drag leash to be attached as he is engaged. Once finished, he explores the yard looking for other enrichment opportunities. As he is walking around, the handler starts counting 1-2-3 and he comes back to her for a treat. Not reliably, but they continue to work on this pattern. He returns without issue.

Summary (3):: 5/18: Hamlet is easily leashed with a treat. He is rushed out of the room and pulls hard in the hall. He is brought to the yard and a drag leash is attached. The handler begins to count 1-2-3 (treat on 3). Hamlet will come over to her side, where she has been delivering treats. He will start throwing behaviors as she counts 1-2- and then snatch the treat on 3. He leans into pets and returns without issue. 5/14: Hamlet was taken on his AM walk before he received his medication. Hamlet was rope-harnessed for his walk up the block. He began to sniff the grass and got the zoomies, pulling to the end of his leash, play bowing at the handler's feet, then jumping up with an open mouth, mouthing at her hand as she stiff arms him, mild pressure applied. The handler remains still, holding him away from her for a few seconds. When he has a moment of calm, she says "SIT" and he does. He is given a treat for sitting, and they are able to continue on the walk back without further issue. 5/10 Hamlet is easily leashed and brought out to the yard, pulling hard past the other two dogs. In the yard, he relieves himself and chases a toy staff repeatedly kicked away, and he keeps bringing it back. Hamlet is easily returned to his kennel. 5/3: Hamlet is easily leashed with the help of a treat. He begins to lunge at other kennels when leaving the room, shaking off once exiting. He pulls into the yard, and a drag leash is attached. Hamlet begins exploring on his own. Handler begins counting 1-2-3, and Hamlet recognizes the pattern, approaching for a treat on 3. They repeat this several times before engaging in a game of fetch. Hamlet is quick to grab the toy after releasing it, so the handler has him sit & offers a treat just before picking up the ball. He returns without issue. 4.28 Hamlet is at the front of the kennel. He is easily leashed and taken for a walk. He pulls hard in the building until staff put him in a rope harness. While in a rope harness, Hamlet walks nicely with a mostly slack leash or very mild pulling. Hamlet walks with a soft body and is responsive to staff. He is easily returned to his kennel.

Summary (4):: 4.22 Hamlet is at the front of his kennel and is easily roped. He allows staff to put him in a rope harness before being taken for a walk. During the walk, Hamlet has a soft body and pulls a mild amount while in the rope harness. Hamlet's leash is easily clipped and he is easily returned to the kennel. 4/18: Hamlet is easily leashed and given a rope harness. He is taken to the yard where he and the staff play fetch. Hamlet does not tire of catching the ball and is given a few treats here and there as a reward for performing the "sit," "paw," and "lay down" cues. He is again given a rope harness when returning to the building, which he walks nicely with. He returns to his kennel without issue. 4/14: Hamlet is easily leashed and pulls hard in the hall. He is brought to the yard and let off-leash, engaging in a game of fetch. He leans into pets. He stops engaging in play, so they go on a walk. He is easily rope-harnessed and walks very nicely. He returns without issue. 04.04 Hamlet is easily leashed and taken out to the yard. He pulls hard and the staff walks him out of the building on a short leash. In the yard, he is high-energy and plays fetch. He is easily leashed and taken back to his kennel without issue. 4/2 Hamlet was at the front of the kennel when approached and was easily leashed and taken on a walk. Hamlet had a loose leash and accepted pets from staff. Hamlet was then taken to the yard with staff and explored the yard and accepted more pets from staff. Hamlet was then taken back to the kennel with no issue 3/30: Hamlet is easily leashed and pulls in the building. He is rope-harnessed at the door and brought on a walk halfway up the block. They turn back and go into the yard. He engages in a game of fetch, readily trading tennis balls. He returns without issue.

Summary (5):: 3/28 Hamlet is at the front of his kennel on approach. He is easily leashed and brought to the yard. In the yard, he chases some tennis balls and leans into the staff's legs for attention and pets with a soft body. Hamlet is easily returned to his kennel. 3/27 Hamlet is at the front of his kennel and is easily leashed by staff. He pulls very hard on the way out of the room and the building. Staff takes him to the yard where he is exuberant, jumping softly up at staff and running around them. Staff plays the trade-off game with treats and toys and Hamlet runs up and down the yard. He then practices cues "sit," "stay," and "paw" and is rewarded with treats. He allows staff to pet his back and tail, leaning his body into their legs. He is easily leashed and taken back inside, pulling hard on the way back to his kennel. 3/25 Hamlet was at the front of the kennel when approached and easily leashed and taken on a walk. Hamlet had a loose leash and accepted pets from staff. Hamlet was then taken to yard with staff and explored the yard and accepted more pets from staff. Hamlet was then taken back to the kennel with no issue 3.24 Hamlet is at the front of his kennel. He is easily roped and taken on a quick walk. Hamlet pulls hard during the walk and is then brought to a yard. In the yard, Hamlet is put on a drag leash. He has a soft body and approaches staff for attention. He is exuberant when being pet, jumping up on the staff. He is easily roped and returned to the kennel. 3/21 Hamlet is at the front of his kennel on approach and is easily leashed and brought to the yard. In the yard, he explores smells and comes over to the staff sitting on the bench with a soft body and rubs up against the staff's legs. He accepts and leans into pets. Another staff member is outside the yard on the other side of the fence and Hamlet begins alert barking at them and then at the handler. Handler throws a ball and he chases it and picks it up in his mouth. Hamlet is easily returned to his kennel. 3/15 Hamlet is at the front of his kennel on approach. He is easily leashed and brought out to the yard. On the way out of dog adoption, he snatches up a stuffed octopus toy on the floor and brings it outside. In the yard, Hamlet chases a couple of balls and toys thrown but keeps going back to the stuffed octopus. He shakes it in his mouth and tears one of the legs off. He is called over to the bench by staff and runs over and rubs up against staff's legs and accepting pets with a soft body. Staff throws more toys and Hamlet jumps up onto the staff a couple of times and mouths lightly on the staff's arm and hand, looking for more toys. Hamlet is easily returned to his kennel.

Summary (6):: 3/9 Hamlet is at the front of his kennel on approach. He is easily leashed and walks out of dog adoption ignoring all the other kennels. He pulls hard on the leash towards the door to the outside and is then taken to the yard. In the yard, he is kept on leash due to short walks and he explores scents and relieves himself. A male, medium mixed breed dog is brought to the adjacent yard, and Hamlet tries to get a look through the mesh, but it is discouraged from jumping up. Hamlet maintains a soft body throughout the entire time in the yard and tolerates pets from the handler on the side of his head. Hamlet is easily returned to his kennel. PM: Hamlet pulls hard to the yard. He is kept on leash and engages with a treat burrito in the yard. Once finished with his enrichment, he is pulling hard on the leash, investigating smells. The handler attempts to rope-harness him, and he is head-whipping. While relieving himself, a rope harness is fastened. They go around the building and meet another staff member in the yard to fit a freedom harness. He is able to be distracted with treats as the harness is fastened. 3/5 Hamlet is at the front of the kennel, easily leashed with a soft body. Hamlet was taken on a walk around the build pulled slightly until relieving himself, then walked with a loose leash. Staff took him to the yard where he was exploring and accepting pets. Hamlet was then taken back to the kennel with no issues.

Summary (7):: 3/1 Hamlet is at the front of his kennel with a soft body. He is easily leashed and brought out to the yard. He explores the yard and is told to sit. Instead of sitting, he lies all the way down. He is given a treat anyway. Staff tries again, withholding the treat until he sits up. He is given the treat after sitting up. He tolerates pets with a soft body. Hamlet is returned without balking this time, easily. 2.25 Hamlet is at the front of his kennel. He is easily leashed and brought to the yard. Hamlet has a soft body and, in the yard, occasionally jumps up against staff to solicit attention. Hamlet keeps a soft body and explores the yard, playfully running to staff when called. Hamlet is easily leashed, and he balks briefly when returning to the kennel. 2/21 Hamlet is sitting in his kennel with a tense face as staff member approaches. They coax him to the door and slip the leash over his head easily, then coax him out of dog adoptions with a soothing voice and praise for his bravery. Once out of the adoption room, he walks easily to the door and is coaxed to go on a walk. He walks nicely on leash with a relaxed body, tail up, occasionally stopping to sniff something or eat snow. He sees a member of the public ahead and easily allows the handler to redirect him to the side to let the other person pass. Once back in the Care Center, he is reluctant to enter the adoption room and is tense and walks slowly towards his kennel, stopping before he reaches it. He ignores offered treats and requires a trail of cheese to get him fully into the kennel. After eating the cheese, he sits down on his linens, ignoring the other treats and toys. 2/20/26 Hamlet is lying in his kennel, watching staff members with a tense face. They try to coax him through the transfer door with various different treats and toys, and after several minutes, he begins slowly reaching for the cheese they put on the floor. After another several minutes of inching through the door, with hind legs stretched out behind him, staff members are able to close the transfer door and clean his kennel. When they reopen the door, he returns much more quickly, still stretching his hind legs behind him. He urinates on his clean blanket and then settles down to sleep, ignoring the treats, cheese, toys, and food in his kennel

Date of initial:: 2/21/2026

Summary:: A little fearful, tail tucked, whale eyed, warmed up towards end of exam, allowed handling with gent

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: Level 3

Recommendations:: No children (under 13)

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to potential challenges, we recommend a home with no children.

Potential challenges: : Basic manners/poor impulse control,Social hyperarousal,Mouthiness/poor bite inhibition,Anxiety,Strength/leash pulling

Potential challenges comments:: Basic Manner/Impulse Control: Hamlet lacks basic manners and impulse control. It is recommended that default behaviors such as "Leave it", "Sit/Stay", "Down" are reinforced to substitute any frustration and teach him to control his impulses instead of simply reacting; proper management is also advised. Force-free, reward-based training only is recommended. Please see the handout on Basic Manners and Impulse Control. Social Hyperarousal: Hamlet becomes easily aroused when interacting with people, lacking basic manners and impulse control, jumping up, becoming mouthy. Positive reinforcement, force-free training should be used to teach Hamlet 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 Hamlet. Please see the handout on Arousal. Mouthiness/Poor Bite Inhibition: Hamlet is quick to put their teeth on skin. This is likely an attention-seeking behavior, but it should be replaced with an alternative behavior as it can frighten people. We recommend never playing with bare hands – always with a toy - and ending play or attention whenever Hamlet puts teeth on skin. He should be rewarded with attention and treats when he stops and/or when he is seeking attention in alternate ways. Please see handout on Mouthiness and Poor Bite Inhibition. Anxiety: Hamlet appears anxious at the care center. If Hamlet 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. Strength/Leash Pulling: Hamlet is a large, strong dog with the capability to pull over an average adopter. His adopter must be prepared and able to handle a dog of this size and strength. It is recommended that he be walked on a front clip harness or head halter, which help diminish his strength through leverage, and that he be trained using positive reinforcement, reward-based training to not pull while on leash. Please see the handout on Leash Manners.