Date of intake:: 9/10/2025

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray(Unknown History)

Date of assessment:: 9/13/2025

Summary:: Due to Cupid's defensive behavior in care and leash biting, a handling assessment will not be conducted at this time.

Summary (5):: 09/23/25: Cupid is standing in the middle of his kennel. Upon the handler’s arrival, he approaches the front, wagging his tail in response to soft verbal engagement, ss the kennel door is cracked open, the handler offers him treats, which he takes gently from their hand while the leash is placed over his head. He is then escorted to the assessment room, where a drag leash is placed on him. Cupid immediately greets a secondary handler with excitement, jumping up on them in a social manner. When offered a snuffle mat with Vienna sausage, Cupid eagerly engages, remaining focused on the enrichment item without distraction when done Cupid runs over to the handler seated on the couch, jumping into their lap and leaning in to solicit butt rubs while maintaining a loose and wiggly frame. He remains affiliative and engaged throughout the session. Cupid is brought back to his kennel safely without any issues 09/17/25 Cupids behavior remains somewhat consistent with previous note. Cupid is leashed easier this time as he fixates on treats and spray cheese when being taken out of kennel. While in the assessment room, he is given licki matts and snuffle matts in order to regulate his arousal due to him being easily aroused. At one point, when praised, he gets the zoomies which cause him to then leash bite as his arousal increased. Cupid is guided to an area where spray cheese is administered too him, allowing him to decompress a bit. When returned to kennel, Cupid enters with no issue. 09/15/25 Cupid is at the front of his kennel with a tense frame and hard face. 2 handlers approach the kennel and one of them sprays a line of cheese under the kennel door. The main handler tosses treats into the kennel as well. As Cupid is distracted, collecting the treats from the ground, he is leashed and they proceed to the assessment room. There, Cupid has a drag leash placed onto him and he is allowed to free roam. Cupid will engage with a snuffle matt, appearing treat motivated as he spends his time collecting treats from the handlers as well. Cupid will allow petting while being in the room as he explores and approaches different handlers. Cupid is returned to kennel, trotting over with no issue.

Summary (6):: 9/14/25: Cupid is at the front of his kennel standing on his kennel door hard barking and tense when the handler approaches. Cupid's face is flushed, with his pupils dilated and heavily panting with a strained expression. Cupid when the door is opened begins to hard bark, but with less intensity. The leash is put into the kennel and takes treats hard from the handler, and begins to toss them under the door so he can put his head through the leash. Cupid is leashed and walked to the behavior office where he immediately engages with the snuffle mats and lick mat on the floor for a short amount of time, before going to the couch and licking the spray cheese put there by another staff member. Cupid begins to soften, and allow staff to pet his rear and neck, leaning his rear in for petting at some point. Cupid is still flushed red, panting heavily and pacing a bit in-between not interacting with the mats on the floor. Cupid remains loose bodied while exploring the room and sniffing different staff members, before he is distracted by spray cheese to be collared, where he looks back once but otherwise tolerates the handling. Cupid is brought back to kennel with no issue, and begins to bark at the handler and tossed treats. 09/13/25: Cupid rushes to the front of the kennel with a tense body as the handler approaches. The handler throws treats away from the door and he moves to get them, but runs back to jump on the door and growl and hard bark each time the door is touched. The handlers use treats and are able to open the door. He again jumps on the door, growling and hard barking, but takes treats through the gap in the door. The handler attempts to drop the leash over his head but misses. Cupid lunges and grabs the leash in his mouth briefly before letting go. The handlers throw treats to the back of the kennel and he goes to retrieve them, allowing the handler to remove the leash. The handlers repeat this process a second time and are able to successfully leash him. He exits the kennel with a tense body and walks to the canine training room. Cupid softens some, wagging his tail and taking treats with a soft mouth. He maintains a bright red face, heavy pant, and dilated pupils for the duration of the interaction. Cupid engages readily with a snuffle mat and a lick mat, but is only interested in the handlers when they are giving him treats. He is returned to kennel without issue, immediately jumping on the door again, but not vocalizing. Handler reinforces him for looking at them without barking for a few repetitions before walking away.

Summary (7):: 9/12/25: Cupid is at the front of his kennel with a tense body, hard barking with hackles raised and retreating back to his bed. Cupid will begin to hard bark continuously and lunge towards the front kennel door when its being opened. Cupid is fed high values in hopes to coax him through the leash, but once seeing the leash, bites at the leash once, backing away and continuing to vocalize and hard bark. Cupid is left alone for a couple of hours before being attempted again, where the handlers slowly toss treats away from him to create some distance so the handler can make a loop with there leash. After a bit of time, Cupid put his head through the leash where he was coaxed the entire time, and once out becomes stiff, with his hackles raised and walks out of kennel with a low body. In the behavior office, Cupid remains stiff for some amount of time, before finally eating spray cheese off the couch and exploring his surroundings. Cupid is mostly aloof, not interacting with staff and once his kennel is cleaned, is placed back into kennel with no issue. 9/11: ACS staff ask for assistance with removing Cupid for cleaning, stating that he was displaying whale eyes, growling, and backing away when approached in the kennel. The handler attempts to coax Cupid forward and offers him treats. Cupid continues to growl but will readily accept the treats. When attempting to leash him, Cupid would charge the kennel door, snarling with his teeth bared, biting and pulling on the lead before immediately releasing. He does come back for more treats but then repeats the aforementioned behaviors in addition to whipping his head out of the lead once it's on and snapping at it. The handler does not make further attempts to increase his stress and advises the ACS staff to transfer him to the other side of the kennel for cleaning.

Date of intake:: 9/10/2025

Summary:: jumped on staffs lap for pets and when staff stopped he leaned in for more.

Date of initial:: 9/11/2025

Summary:: BAR, hard barking and growling in kennel,

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Cupid Potential challenges, we reccomend he be placed in an adult-only home at this time. Place with a New Hope partner: Cupid came into the care center as a stray due to his behavioral history in a home environment is unknown. Cupid has displayed significant barrier reactivity and often presenting with a tense body, hard barking, growling, lunging, and snapping at the leash. He has escalated to grabbing equipment with his mouth and requires careful management, redirection with high-value food, and multiple handlers for safe leashing. In the behavior office and play yard, he demonstrates strong food motivation, engaging readily with enrichment items such as snuffle mats and lick mats. With time and patience, he will soften, accept petting, and lean in for contact, though he remains prone to heavy panting, pacing, and dilated pupils. Cupid will require placement with a New Hope partner experienced in working with defensive, barrier-reactive dogs. A slow, decompression-based approach, with force-free handling and consistent enrichment, will be essential to support him in transitioning successfully into a stable environment.

Potential challenges: : Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Leash-biting,Kennel presence,Low threshold for arousal

Potential challenges comments:: Low Threshold for Arousal / Fearful / Potential for Defensive Aggression/barrier frustration: Cupid has demonstrated significant barrier reactivity and fear-based defensive behaviors, including a tense body, hard barking, growling, lunging, and snapping at the leash. He has escalated to grabbing equipment with his mouth and requires careful management, multiple handlers, and redirection with high-value food for safe leashing. These behaviors indicate a low threshold for arousal and a need for structured, trust-building training focused on desensitization and impulse control. Please see the handout on Low Threshold for Arousal / Fearful / Potential for Defensive Aggression/barrier frustration. Kennel Presence / Leash-Biting: Cupid presents with intense reactivity in the kennel, including lunging, baring teeth, snapping at the lead, and growling when approached for removal. Please see the handout on leash biting.