Date of intake:: 7/10/2025

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray, history unknown

Date of assessment:: 7/14/2025

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Moderate Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: None Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Highly social Call over: Approaches handler readily Sociability comments: Jumps up on handler persistently, mouths handler often Handling Soft handling: Over aroused Exuberant handling: Over aroused Handling comments: Jumping up on handler, mouthing hand with moderate pressure Arousal Jog: Follows handler exuberantly Arousal comments: Loose wiggly body Knock: Knock Comments: Approaches handler readily, jumps up Toy: Toy comments: Mouths assess-a-hand

Summary:: 7/31/25: Lightning Bug rushes towards the gate to greet the other dog. He is tense bodied while baring and growling.

Summary (6):: 08/06/25: (For morning walk) Lightning bug is standing at front of kennel, high-pitch barking, kennel door and floor are notably covered with feces. Lightning Bug does not take treats, when attempting to leash Lightning Bug bites on hold leash and pulling into kennel with moderate pressure. Treats remain ineffective, however squeaker sounds do seem to catch Lightning Bug's attention enough to release leash. After several attempts, Lightning Bug is leashed, pulls hard out of kennel and is barking head turned toward kennel passing by. Lightning Bug is taken to play yard, allows clipping to drag-line. Lightning bug jumps exuberantly/socially on handler, there is a small amount of blood left on the clothing of handler indicating a cut on Lightning Bug's paw. Lightning Bug is panting for entire interaction, vibrating body. Lightning Bug does engage in fetch, is social with handler but does intermittently try to mouth handler's hands with minimal pressure. Lightning Bug relieves himself, allows for easy re-leashing and enters MACC, barks at passing kennels with less intensity than when exiting but still does. Lightning Bug is re-enters kennel. 8/3/25: Lightning Bug is standing at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He begins jumping and barking at the door as the handler tries to leash him. He was not able to be distracted with treats or toys. Once leashed, he pulls hard out of kennel and would try to pull towards the dogs in kennels with a tense body and heavy panting. In the yard, he would pull hard ahead with a tense body with his hackles raised while vocalizing at all the dogs he saw. He would run around the yard in circles with heavy panting and would jump at the gates to look for dogs nearby. He pulls hard on the way back to his kennel with heavy panting and goes in with no issue.

Summary (7):: 7/29/25 (Trainer Note): Lightning Bug is laying down in the middle of her crate with a neutral body and panting as handler approaches. She is easily leashed using a treat as a lure and removed from kennel. She is taken for a brief street walk, she relieves herself and remains loose for the majority of her walk. She is very aloof and not very interested in treats or handler, handler is able to get her to engage using the 'zig zag' pattern game. She is then taken to the PAC interaction room for a training session. At first, Lightning Bug is very distracted and above threshold, pacing and whining in the room while on a drag leash. When hearing the dogs bark in PAC, she would become very tense, tail horizontal and stiff, ears perked up, and mouth closed with tense facial muzzles. She was recalled and rewarded. Handler began rewarding for every un-prompted check in, reinforcing Lightning Bug to return her attention to handler. After a couple of successful check-ins, handler switched over to the "Popcorn" pattern game and Lightning Bug was much more engaged and receptive with training. She is leashed and taken to the yard for a play session. Handler tosses two plush toys in a game of 'trade',' after every toss Lightning Bug runs underneath the bench, but remains successfully completing proper trade. Lightning Bug is taken back to her crate without issue. 7/21/25 (Trainer Note): Lightning Bug is in the middle of her kennel with a neutral body as handler approaches. He is easily leashed and brought to the yard for a training session. He has no interest in any treats, even high value treats. Handler begins a game of "Trade" with two plush toys and Lightning Bug is receptive and engaged. After every throw, Lightning Bug army crawls under the bench. Handler refrains from tossing toy until he drops the one in his mouth. Process is repeated. He mouths the handler hands monetarily and with mild pressure. He is returned to his crate without issue. 7/21/25: It is reported by an ACS that Lightning bug is moving his whole crate to the middle of the hallway as he kennel fights, reacting to the dogs walking past, and exiting/returning from the room 7/14/25- Lightning bug is at the front of his pop up crate with a soft body, he is easily leashed and taken for a street walk. He pulls hard at first after he relieves himself, he walks on a loose leash with a moderate pull towards spots to sniff. Handler offers treats but he shows no interest. He has no reaction to any stimuli. He is taken for his assessment, he was wiggly when being leashed. He was mouthy with handlers with slight pressure and would jump on them. He explored the room, sniffing around then come back to handlers seeking attention. Handler used a treat lure to re-leash and returned to his pop up crate without issue.

Date of intake:: 7/10/2025

Summary:: Wiggly, distracted, allowed collaring

Date of initial:: 7/11/2025

Summary:: Loose and wiggly, jumps up on handler

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Lightning Bug so we cannot be certain of his behavior in a home environment. However, he is a young dog who will need daily mental and physical activity to keep him engaged and exercised. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in additional to physical exercise, to positively direct his energy and enthusiasm.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to social hyperarousal we recommend an adult only home. Single-Pet Home/No Dog Parks: Due to the concerning behaviors that Lightning Bug has shown during playgroup, we feel that Lightning Bug should not visit dog parks and be the only resident dog. 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 Lightning Bug associate dogs with things he enjoys like toys or treats. Place with a New Hope Partner: Due to all noted concerns displayed in care, the behavior department recommends Lightning Bug be placed with a New Hope placement partner who is able to provide an experienced adult-only foster home. A period of decompression is recommended to allow Lightning Bug to acclimate comfortably to his new environment; force-free, reward based training only is advised when introducing Lightning Bug to new and unfamiliar situations. Consultation with a professional trainer/behaviorist is highly recommended for guidance to safely manage/modify any behavior Lightning Bug presents with outside of the care centers.

Potential challenges: : Social hyperarousal,Mouthiness/poor bite inhibition,Anxiety,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration

Potential challenges comments:: Social Hyperarousal: Lightning Bug quickly becomes over aroused in the presence of people, jumping up and mouthing. Positive reinforcement, force-free training should be used to teach Lightning Bug to remain calm when people and other exciting things are around. Lightning Bug should be rewarded with treats when calm. If they escalate to jumping or mouthing, people should immediately walk away from and separate themselves from Lightning Bug. Please see handout on Arousal. Mouthiness/Poor Bite Inhibition: Since arriving at the care centers there have been multiple reports of Lightning Bug mouthing handlers with mild pressure. Little pressure is applied, but this is a behavior that should be extinguished through training alternate behaviors and lack of reward (ex. walking away whenever Lightning Bug's teeth make contact with skin). Please see handout on Mouthiness. Anxiety: When walking Lightning Bug handlers report he will pant excessively and whine frequently even when there is no stimuli for him to react to. If these behaviors appear in a 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 handout on Generalized Anxiety. On-Leash Reactivity/Barrier Frustration: During walks Lightning Bug has displayed high levels of dog reactivity on-leash, intensely charging toward dogs and vocalizing at them as well as pawing at barriers that separate him from other dogs. Lightning Bug may need positive reinforcement, reward based training to teach him to look at you rather than other dogs. We recommend a front clip harness or head halter to help manage this behavior. Please see handout on On-Leash Reactivity and Barrier Frustration.