Date of intake:: 8/18/2025

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:: 9/14/2025

Summary:: *9/14/25*: When brought into the assessment room Sysco was observed to be highly anxious and fearful. Noted to seek exit persistently at the assessment door. When the handler offers treats Sysco accepts the treats at first however returns to straining against the leash and pulling towards the door. When the handler approaches with a collar Sysco retreats quickly with raised hackles. Due to the high levels of fear, stress, and anxiety displayed. Sysco is not a candidate to receive a handling assessment at this time. *8/21/25* Sysco has been observed to be fearful during his stay in the care center. Noted to be tense and growl when approached by handlers. While on leash Sysco is observed to thrash and headwhip towards handlers. Due to the high level of fear, stress, and anxiety observed Sysco is not a candidate for a handling assessment at this time.

Summary:: 8/27/25: Sysco greets another dog at the gate with tall posture, hackles raised. He demand barks but when the other dog reacts back he becomes more tense and hard barks.

Summary (4):: 09/18/25: ACS reported Sysco was persistently standing on hind legs facing neighboring kennel, hard barking with tense body. Kennel covers were attempted to be used between kennel but were knocked down by Sysco. Sysco was swapped to an end kennel (with a neighboring kennel only on one side) in attempt to minimize fighting with occupied neighboring kennel. 09/17/25: Sysco is at front of kennel as handler approaches. Sysco stands on hind-legs with front paws on kennel door, is barking exuberantly and wide-eyed. Sysco is somewhat challenging to leash as his intermittently standing on hind-legs exuberantly. Sysco is eventually leashed, and walks out pulling with consistent hard pressure but also standing on hind legs exiting kennel. Sysco is neutral but forward bodied on walk, is somewhat aloof with handler, checks in for verbal cues but is inconsistent. Sysco sees and off-leash MMB with MOP approaching, as the MMB approaches with social posture Sysco is tense bodied and stands on hind-legs, handler pulls Sysco away and the owner of the MMB pulls away the dog when they are within 10 feet of Sysco. Sysco maintains neutral-forward body when headed back to MACC, re-enters kennel without issue.

Summary (5):: 9/14/25: Sysco is standing at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He begins jumping at the door as the handler unlocks it and while being leashed. He then pulls hard on his hind legs on the way outside for a walk. On the walk, he would pull ahead with a tense body and would hard stare at dogs nearby and across the street. He is unable to be redirected. He then pulls on his hind legs on the way to the behavior room for his assessment. Due to high anxiousness in the room, his assessment was unable to be completed. He pulls hard on his hind legs with heavy panting on the way back to his kennel. 09/10/25: Sysco is at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. Handler presents treats to distract Sysco while leashing but while attempting to leash him he jumps and paws at the kennel door while standing on his hind legs. Once he jumps down handler quickly places the leash over his head and tosses a treat in front of him as he exits to distract him further but he ignores the treat and pulls toward the dogs in kennel. Once out the room Sysco walks out to the street with handler, while outside he pulls moderately/hard and will briefly stop to sniff or use the bathroom. Sysco tries to zig zag left in front of handler throughout the walk. Handler walks with Sysco for a while before he is brought back inside, his leash is clipped and upon bringing him back to kennel he jumps on his hind legs all the way back inside, pulling hard until returning.

Summary (6):: 9/2/25: Sysco is engaging with enrichment when handler approaches then kennel. He gets up and comes forward with a neutral body and wagging tail. Sysco is easily leashed and taken to the street where he pulls hard towards a stuffed toy dog in the driveway with a tense body. He is kept away and brought to the street. On the street, Sysco stops and sniffs various areas to relieve himself, he walks ahead of the handler with mild pulling and a loose body. He pulls towards people passing by with a neutral body. Handler offers Sysco treats and he does not eat them. He is walked back to the shelter and returns to kennel without issue. 8/27/25: Sysco is standing at the front of the kennel pacing back and forth with a loose body and wagging tail. He is easily leashed and is taking out of kennel where he pulls moderately. He jumps up on his hind legs and walks forward towards the backyard. He does a dog-dog interaction (see dog-dog not). After, Sysco is walked to another section of the yard where he relieves himself. He wanders around sniffing the pen and taking treats offered gently. Sysco is then walked back into the shelter and returned to his kennel without issue. 8/22/25: Sysco is standing at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He begins jumping at the door as the handler unlocks it. He would back away and shake the leash off as the handler tries to leash him. Once leashed, he pulls hard on his hind legs on the way out of his kennel room. While outside for a walk, he had a loose body and would take treats from the handler, but then spit them out. He is able to return back to his kennel with no issues. 08/21/25: Sysco is at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He jumps at the kennel door but is leashed without issue and exits kennel pulling moderately and jumping on his hind legs out to the hall and walks with handler to the street. Once outside he begins sniffing around and ignores a dog passing in front of him. Sysco walks with handler for a while and passes people on the street without issue. During his walk he pulls mildly and when seeing a second smaller dog in close proximity that begins reacting to him he begins pulling toward them and is difficult to redirect. After walking for a while he is brought back to the shelter and his leash is clipped before he is returned without further issue.

Summary (7):: 8/20/25: Sysco is standing at the front of kennel with a neutral body and a high flagging tail while he barks. He dodges the leash but handler is able to maneuver and leash him successfully. He is removed from the room and taken to the street for a walk. He mildly pulls while he sniffs his surroundings. He does not react to people but when spotting a dog he lunges with a tense body and begins to vocalize. Handler has to use leash pressure to muscle him away. Upon re-entering the care centers he becomes more frantic, head whipping, and bouncing back and forth in an unusual manner. He allows handler to clip him but as he is about to be returned to the room he retreats intensely and turns towards handler, briefly thrashing. Handler calls for help and canine rep assists in double leashing back to kennel. He thrashes as he is walked in the room, head whipping towards secondary handler as he is straight armed and muscled into kennel. He immediately bangs the kennel bars using his front paws. Leashes are attained using a hook. 8/19/25: Sysco is lying down in kennel upon approach. As handler unlocks the kennel he stands up with a soft body and wagging tail. Handler presents the leash and Sysco becomes tense and growls. The second handler tries to distract him with treats but he is not receptive. Primary handler drops the leash over Sysco's head as he growls. He is then leashed and taken out of the kennel. He pulls hard out of the room to the backyard following the second handler close behind. He walks around the perimeter of the yard sniffing his surroundings and greeting the second handler exuberantly with a soft body and wagging tail. The second handler walks away to clean Sysco's kennel and he begins to pace, whine and bark toward them as they walk away. The handler's switch and the primary handler leaves. Sysco is social with the second handler and allows brief petting, approaching with a soft body and wagging tail. When his kennel is ready, Sysco is walked back to his kennel to where he plants outside. Treats are tossed in and he is placed into kennel with leash pressure. As the leash is removed Sysco pushes his snout through the space. He begins barking, jumping up and pawing at the kennel door as its locked. The interaction is ended.

Date of intake:: 8/18/2025

Summary:: Barking and whining while in crate, growling when handler approach

Date of initial:: 8/19/2025

Summary:: Tense body for exam. Growled for tasks.

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Sysco 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),Recommend no dog parks,Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to fearful behavior we recommend an adult only home. No Dog Parks: Due to on leash reactivity we recommend 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: : Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful Defensive: Sysco has been observed to have a tense body and growl when approached by handlers. While on leash Syco has been observed to thrash and head whip towards handlers. It is important to move slowly with Sysco, to build positive associations (treats/toys/praise), and to allow them to initiate interactions with new people. They should never be forced to greet or to interact if they are not comfortable and soliciting attention. Please see handout on Fearful and Defensive Aggression. On Leash Reactivity: Sysco is observed to become tense, vocalize, pull hard, and lunge when seeing another dog. This behavior is not able to be easily redirected and the handler has to use leash pressure to guide him away. Sysco 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.