Date of intake:: 5/8/2025

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

Previously lived with:: 1 adult, 1 child(10y/o)

Behavior toward strangers:: shy and prefers contact on his own terms.

Behavior toward children:: shy and prefers contact on his own terms.

Behavior toward dogs:: friendly, outgoing, and tolerant with familiar dogs. He is shy around unfamiliar dog

Behavior toward cats:: Unknown

Resource guarding:: He values food. He protects his food by hovering over them with a tense body.

Bite history:: No known Bite hsitory.

Housetrained:: Partially

Energy level/descriptors:: Coco Puffs is noted in the prior home to have a medium energy level.

Other Notes:: He uses the bathroom outside and inside on weewee pads. He is reported to have accidents a few times a month. He is reported to have general anxiety. While on walks he tries to hide from moving obejcts (bikes, skateboards, etc). He pulls fairly hard while on leash.

Date of assessment:: 5/10/2025

Summary:: 5/16/25 Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Loose Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: None Leash walking comments: appeasement grinning, had to be coaxed out of kennel, easily coaxed and leashed Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Fearful, Moderately Social Call over: Readily approaches Sociability comments: approaches on coaxing, appeasement grinning/ears points downwards, accepts petting Handling Soft handling: Accepts Petting Exuberant handling: Accepts Petting Handling comments: accepts petting, flinches initially but remains neutral bodied, sits in front of handler Arousal Jog: Follows slow, neutral bodied Arousal comments: Knock: Approaches readily, slow tail wag Knock Comments: Toy: Sniffs toy, Ignores Toy comments: 5/13/25 Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Loose Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: None Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): timid warms up with slow approach Call over: Readily approaches- nervous, lip licks, leans in for pets with low approach Sociability comments: Handling Soft handling: Allowed- moves out of handling position, lip licks Exuberant handling: Allowed- sits, lip licks, nervous Handling comments: Arousal Jog: Follow-seeks exit, lip licks Arousal comments: Knock: Approaches- lip licks, low body Knock Comments: Toy: Sniffs toy, back away from dummy hand Toy comments: ***5/10/25: Due to Coco puffs high level of fearfulness, a handling assessment will not be conducted at this time.***

Summary:: According to Cocopuff's previous owner(s), He is friendly, outgoing, and tolerant with familiar dogs. He is shy around unfamiliar dogs. 05/14/25 Coco Puff is introduced at the gate to a Male greeter dog while off leash at the care center. Coco Puff doesn't greet the greeter dog, charging the gate with a stiff frame. Coco puff will snarl, running away and returning to hard bark as the greeter dog does the same. Coco Puff muzzle punches the gate while displaying hackles. Coco Puff is returned to kennel, concluding the interaction. 05/11/25 Cocopuff is introduced at the gate to a novel female dog while off leash at the care center. Cocopuff will immediately begin hard barking from a distance before the novel female dog can even enter their pen. Cocopuff will lunge in the direction of the novel female dog while she is at a distance, hard barking at him. Cocopuff is moved away and kept off to the side while the novel female dog is escorted out of the yard, out of Cocopuff's sight. Cocopuff is returned to kennel, concluding the interaction.

Summary (4):: 05/16/25 (Assessment Note): Coco Puffs is lying down in his kennel upon handler’s arrival. He initially backs away but slowly approaches the front of his kennel, allowing the handler to leash him. He rushes out of the kennel and is brought to the assessment room. While in the room, Coco Puffs allows the handler to place a drag leash on him and tolerates handling. He shows little interest in toys and remains skeptical of his surroundings, displaying fearful behavior with a tucked tail. See behavior assessment for more information. Coco Puffs is brought back to his kennel safely with no issues. 05/16/25: Coco Puff is lying on his kuranda bed with a neutral frame as handler approaches. Handler cracks open the kennel door and Coco Puff will slowly approach and allow leashing with a slightly tense frame. Coco Puff walks with a slightly tucked tail out to the play yard, looking up to handler to check in, and will appeasement grin at second handler as they walk next to him. Once in the yard, Coco Puff is clipped to a drag lead and free to explore the space. He will slowly approach second handler as they sit on the bench and will sniff around them but does not make direct contact. Coco Puff approaches handler when called and will lean his hind end into their legs as they pet him. He accepts petting along his sides and hind end with a soft frame. He spends time scenting and exploring the yard. After his session, he is walked back to kennel on drag lead and allows handler to unclip it without issue.

Summary (5):: 05/15/25 Coco puff is sitting softly in front of his kennel door as the handler approaches. Coco Puff is easily leashed as he forces his head through the gap in the door. Coco Puff is taken outside to the play yard. Coco Puff will display a rather tense frame with a slight tucked take. Coco Puff will side eye the handler frequently. Coco Puff will enter the pen and explore. Coco Puff displays paw raises, becoming stiff when seeing dogs walk with novel handlers. Coco Puff will pull in the direction he would like around the pen. He continues to whip around and fixate on the handler. Due to the handler's discomfort, a drag leash is not placed onto Coco Puff. Coco Piff will scent the handler's legs and slowly look up at them, fixating on their face. The handler disrupts his focus by leaving the pen and walking with Coco Puff. He is taken to back into the facility where he will pull his way into the building and into his kennel. When he has his leash clipped, he will whip around and hard star at the handler. 5/14/25: Coco Puff's behavior in care/during playgroup was much the same as noted in the morning. He seemed unbothered by the rain. See dog-dog summary. (AM): Coco Puffs was laying on kuranda bed when handler approached. He came to front of kennel and allowed handler to place leash loop over head, lowering the ring slowly to avoid startling him. He walked to the yard without pulling. Coco Puffs was clipped to a drag leash and relieved himself while outside. He followed along the fence line as another dog walked down the ramp. When a second dog walked past the pen, handler held drag leash and spoke to Coco Puffs in a reassuring voice. Coco Puffs observed but stood in place. Once the dog was out of sight, handler dropped drag leash and Coco Puffs ran to the gate, but without the intensity noted 5/11. Coco Puffs went back to exploring the yard. He frequently approached handler and stood by them with a neutral frame, accepting brief pets. Coco Puffs walked at the end of the leash but without pulling. He was returned to kennel with ease.

Summary (6):: 05/13/25 (trainer note): Coco Puffs is lying down on his kuranda bed at the back of his kennel. He had trays of food in his kennel that wasn't touched. He looked up at handler with a closed mouth and aloof demeanor. Handler tossed pieces of sausage, and he ignored it and did not get up to approach handler. Handler was able to lasso him, and he walked out of his kennel and to the live room. Due to his fearfulness and aloof demeanor, handler kept him on leash instead of placing him on a drag lead. While in the room he continuously coughed and appeared lethargic and had no interest in treats. Handler returned him to kennel and made note on the medical board. (Am) Coco Puff's behavior remains consistent. Please refer to Previous note dated 05/11/25 for more details. 05/12/25: Coco Puffs is lying at the back of kennel, on his kuranda bed, as handler approaches. He slowly comes forward and is leashed with ease. Coco Puffs walks on a loose lead with a tucked tail and pinned back ears to the Canine Behavior Office where he is clipped to a drag lead and free to explore the space. He shows anxiousness and will pant and pace around the room but does approach handlers when called and will lean into petting with a soft frame. He barks once as another handler comes up to the door but will become soft once they enter and he recognizes them. After his session, he is returned to kennel safely. 5/11/25: Coco Puffs was cowering in back corner of kennel between his kuranda bed and the wall. He did not eat treats or come forward when handler crouched and called him over. Handler stepped one foot into kennel to slowly place leash loop over head. Once leashed, Coco Puffs followed handler out of kennel room and walked to the yard. Coco Puffs relieved himself while outside. He was collared with ease and clipped to a drag leash. He stayed close to handler and leaned his whole body into pets. While outside, Coco Puffs had a gate greet (see dog-dog summary.) When the other dog left the yard, handler dropped drag leash and Coco Puffs charged at the gate and slammed against it with his shoulder. After some time to decompress, Coco Puffs was returned to kennel with ease.

Summary (7):: 05/10/25: Coco greets the handler lying in the back of his kennel on his cot. The handler is able to easily lasso Coco to which he willingly approaches and follows the handler out of the kennel and out of the care center. Coco is escorted to the play yards where he spends his time cautiously exploring before eventually placing himself in the corner looking at the yard. Coco is escorted back to his kennel where he is safely secured. 5/9/25: (AM) Coco Puffs stood neutrally in kennel and was leashed with ease. He walked to the yard where he was kept on a slip leash due to not yet being collared. Coco Puff's kennel was unsoiled and he relieved himself while outside. Coco Puff was reserved and occasionally timid. He walked back to kennel without pulling. Coco Puff balked in front of kennel but walked straight in when handler stepped one foot in. (PM) Coco puffs greets the handler, lying fearfully in the back of his kennel on his cot. The handler tosses treats which Coco actively ignores as he moves his paw and scans the kennel for a exit. While remaining lying down, The handler slowly steps one foot into kennel and lasso's coco from a distance. Coco begins to approach but when Staff passes with adopters, Coco retreats back to the back of the kennel. The handler will use just enough pressure and coaxing to get Coco to return to the threshold of the kennel. Once at the entrance of the kennel, Coco willingly follows the handler out of the kennel and room as is escorted out into the hallway of the care center. When opening the door to access outside, Coco attempts to bypass a Cone used to keep the door prompted open. As the handler attempts to pick up the Cone, Coco will attempt to trash on leash twice. The handler pauses momentarily and Coco puffs sits. Giving Coco a moment to decompress, the handler continues to escort Coco to the yards. When in the yard, Coco will explore briefly before sitting in a corner, observing the yard. After some time, coco approaches the kennel door seeking exit. The handler escorts Coco back to his kennel, where he is safely secured.

Date of intake:: 5/8/2025

Summary:: he hard barked and still continued to when staff entered the room. Staff was able to toss treats an

Date of initial:: 5/9/2025

Summary:: timid, warmed up with handling, solicits attn

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: Level 4

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Coco Puffs high level of fearfulness, we recommend he be placed in an adult-only home at this time. Place with a New Hope partner: Coco Puffs came into the care center as an owner surrender due to moving out of state and unable to bring him with them. He is noted in the prior home to be a social and affectionate dog. He spends most of his time in the sun room, and in the backyard. He loves to cuddle. In the care center Coco Puffs is a fearful and timid dog who has shown consistent signs of anxiety in the care center. He is often found lying in the back of his kennel and may ignore treats or attempt to retreat when approached. Though he can be leashed with a slow, low-pressure approach, he remains cautious and occasionally balks or thrashes when startled, particularly by sudden movements or unfamiliar objects. Outside, Coco explores briefly before withdrawing to a corner. Due to his fear-based behaviors and sensitivity to environmental stimuli, Coco Puffs is available for rescue through one of New Hope partners. Recommend no dog parks: Due to Cocopuff's behavior during play group, we recommend he avoid all dog parks.

Potential challenges: : House soiling,Resource guarding,Fearful,Anxiety,Strength/leash pulling

Potential challenges comments:: House Soiling: In his prior home, Coco Puff uses the bathroom both outside and inside on wee-wee pads, but he is reported to have accidents a few times a month. Training should focus on reinforcing consistent bathroom habits by establishing a regular schedule and rewarding him for using the designated areas. Resource Guarding: Coco Puff values food and protects it by hovering over it with a tense body. Training should focus on reducing resource guarding behavior by teaching him to share and relinquish items willingly through positive reinforcement and controlled exercises. Anxiety: Coco Puff is reported to have general anxiety. Training should aim to create a calm and secure environment for him, using techniques like counter-conditioning and providing safe spaces to help reduce his anxiety. Fearful: On walks, Coco Puff tries to hide from moving objects like bikes and skateboards. In the care center, he remains cautious and occasionally balks or thrashes when startled, particularly by sudden movements or unfamiliar objects. Training should focus on gradually desensitizing him to these triggers, using positive reinforcement to build his confidence and reduce fear responses. Strength/Leash Pulling: Coco Puff pulls fairly hard while on a leash. Training should involve teaching him proper leash manners through techniques like loose-leash walking, using rewards for walking calmly beside the handler, and consistent practice to reduce pulling.