Date of intake:: 9/16/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray, No known history

Date of assessment:: 9/22/2026

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Moderate Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: Mild Leash walking comments: Vocalized when seeing another dog Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Highly social Call over: Approaches handler readily Sociability comments: Explores around the room, checks in with handlers, and jumps up on them Soft handling: Accepts contact Exuberant handling: Accepts contact Comments: Loose and wiggly body, jumps up on handler Arousal Jog comments: Follows handler exuberantly Knock Knock comments: Approaches handlers readily Toy Toy comments: Pounces on the toy, then pulls towards the assess-a-hand, and jumps up on with a loose body, bites it, and pulls it out of the handler's hands

Summary:: Due to entering the facility as a stray, there is no prior dog-to-dog history recorded. 10/1/26: Courage is introduced to a novel intact female and is loose at the fence with high wags, shaking off and walking away. He quickly reapproaches and begins bouncing along the fence line and stands up on the fence door. The other dog is let into the yard and Courage immediately leaps on her and wraps his front legs around her neck with a hard grip, doing chin overs. The two are given a break and Courage shakes off, then toe taps towards the other dog at a distance and pulls strongly towards her. He reapproaches and begins mounting her with a closed mouth. The other dog displays signs of discomfort and the two are separated, Courage continues to pull strongly towards her but the other dog does not reapproach.

Summary (5):: 10/3/26: Courage is at the of his kennel with a loose body; he is easily leashed and brought out. As they exit the room, Courage begins to bite the leash and stops when the handler moves the leash out his mouth. He also nips their pant leg as they walk to the elevator. During the elevator ride, Courage allows pets; he bites the leash briefly while walking to the exit. In the driveway, Courage bites and tugs the leash as the handler attempts to walk him to the street. he only stops when a handler and dog walks past; the handler walks Courage to the yard, and places him on a dragline. Courage notices another dog in the next pen; when the dog approaches, Courage exuberantly jumps on the fence, pawing at it. Both dogs sniff each other, but the other dog walks away; this is repeated a few times, with Courage nipping at a dragline attached to the fence a few times. After that dog leaves, Courage relives himself and approaches the handler as they sit down. He jumps and stands on his hind legs with a soft body; he allows pets. Courage becomes mouthy towards the handler's hand, so they give him a verbal cue and he stops; he attempts this a few more times. As the handler stands up to switch the leash, Courage nips the handler's pant leg again. After the handler switches the leash, the handler picks Courage up and carries him inside; they place him in his kennel, remove the leash and end the interaction.

Summary (6):: 10/2/26 (PM): Courage is reported to leash bite without being redirected with treats or a squeaker; K9 behavior is called to help in the driveway. Upon approach, Courage is seen tugging the leash while in a leash harness that the handler is holding. K9 behavior takes the leash and uses the pet corrector, which gets Courage to stop. Courage is then walked inside; as they wait for the elevator, the handler pets courage to distract him as they undo his leash harness. they clip the leash in the elevator; while walking to the room, Courage begins leash biting. He baulks in front of his kennel, but eventually climbs in on his own. Courage bites and tugs the leash again; the handler uses their squeaker and tosses treats at him, but he shows no interest. The handler uses the pet corrector again, and he finally lets go; the handler quickly removes the leash from Courage and closes the kennel. 10/1/26: Courage is at the front of his kennel with a loose body; he is easily leashed and brought out the kennel. As soon as he exits his kennel, Courage attempts to leash bite, but the handler straight arms the leash. Courage bites and releases the leash a few more times in a seemingly playful manner. When a familiar handler lowers their body and pets him, Courage jumps on them and paws their face. As they stand up, he bites and release their leash. Courage is brought outside for playgroup (see notes); afterwards, the handler brings Courage upstairs. He attempts to bite the leash again, but the handler straight arms the leash again. When the handler clips the leash, Courage mouths their wrist in attempt to get the leash. He is returned to his kennel.

Summary (7):: 9/30/26: Courage is reported to bite the leash over his shoulder while walking with the handler. He will mildly bite and tug on the leash frequently. 9/29/26: Courage is reported to leash bite intensely to the point that a pet corrector and air horn is used to redirect him. 9/27/26: Courage is at the front of his kennel with loose body when handler approaches. He is easily leashed and taken out of the room. He willingly exits and walks through the hallways ahead of the handler with no leash tension. Courage is taken to the yard. He enters the pen and briefly sniffs around before relieving himself. Courage exuberantly jumps onto the handler seeking attention. He jumps on the bench and sits next to the handler. He gently takes offered treat and continues leaning onto the handler for more pets. Courage has no reaction to other dogs or staff members in neighboring pens, remaining focused on the handler. His body is loose with wagging tail. Upon return, handler is able to pre-clip the leash and bring Courage back into his kennel with ease. 9/22/26: Courage is at the front of his kennel with a soft body and wagging tail; he jumps and stands on the kennel door as the handler opens it to leash him. Courage is lured with a treat, and as he jumps down, the handler leashes him. Courage is walked to the staircase, he thrashes; the handler takes him to the elevator and rides downstairs. In the driveway, Courage is at the far end of the leash with a forward body when he watches a small dog walk by; as the small dog goes inside, Courage leaps forward twice and vocalizes; the handler continues the walk to disengage him. Courage walks with moderate leash tension. He solicits and allows pets from the handler. When he sees a large dog, Courage doesn't react to it. He is brought inside for his assessment (see notes). Afterwards, as the handler brings Courage to the elevator, he fixates on a small dog in the hallway; the handler has to pull him into the elevator to disengage him. Courage is brought to his kennel, which he refused to enter; but he eventually climbs into the kennel.

Date of intake:: 9/16/2026

Summary:: Fearful

Date of initial:: 9/17/2026

Summary:: Seeking attention, but will occasionally flinch and move away from handling

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Courage 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 addition 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 mouthy behavior and poor impulse control we recommend an adult only home. Recommend No Dog Parks: Due to the concerning behaviors that Courage has shown during playgroup (see DOG-DOG SUMMARY), we feel that he should not visit dog parks. The Behavior Department recommends that he be socialized in a more controlled setting until his behavior towards other dogs can be further addressed. Reward-based, force-free training can be utilized to help Courage associate dogs with things he enjoys like toys or treats. 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: : Basic manners/poor impulse control,Mouthiness/poor bite inhibition,Fearful,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Leash-biting

Potential challenges comments:: Basic Manners: Courage has been observed to jump up on handlers in a social manner. It is recommended that default behaviors such as "Sit" and "Off" are reinforced to substitute any frustration and teach them to control their impulses instead of simply reacting; proper management is also advised. Force-free, reward-based training only is recommended. Please see handout on Basic Manners. Mouthiness: Courage has been observed to grab items that the handler was holding. He has also been observed to mouth handler's hands and nip their pants. We recommend never playing with bare hands, always with a toy, and ending play or attention whenever Courage puts teeth on skin. They should be rewarded with attention and treats when they stop and/or when they are seeking attention in alternate ways. Please see handout on Mouthiness. Fearful: Courage was noted to thrash when the handler attempted to walk down the stairs. They should never be forced to approach anything that they are uncomfortable with or submit to petting or handling. It should always be their choice to approach a new person or thing. Courage would do best in an initially calm and quiet home environment and should be given time to acclimate to their new surroundings. Please see handout on Decompression Period. On Leash Reactivity: Courage has been observed to vocalize when seeing another dog while on leash. Courage 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. Leash Biting: Courage has been observed to be highly rope reactive. Noted to jump up and bite the leash. This behavior is very difficult to redirect. We recommend walking them with a toy to dissuade them from grabbing the leash. Positive reinforcement, force-free training is advised to teach them to focus on you rather than grabbing the leash. Please see handout on Leash Manners.