Date of intake:: 9/16/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Other Notes:: **10/02/26: Previous assessment available upon request**

Date of assessment:: 10/2/2026

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Mild Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: None Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Highly social Call over: Approaches readily Sociability comments: Exuberantly approaches handlers leaning into pets and jumping on them, accepts treats and explores the room Soft handling: Accepts contact Exuberant handling: Accepts contact Comments: Leans into handler accepting pets Arousal Jog comments: Follows exuberantly, bouncing forward and stopping to sit once complete Knock Knock comments: Approaches exuberantly with loose body, jumps on handler Toy Toy comments: Briefly becomes tense, grips toy and shakes intensely

Summary:: Due to entering the facility as a stray, there is no prior dog-to-dog history recorded. 9/23/6: Pumpkin Muffin is introduced to a novel intact male and is tense at the fence with high wags, then sniffs nose to nose through the fence and gives a couple play stomps. The other dog disengages and she does the same, sniffing in the pen and engaging with her handler. The other dog reapproaches and she returns to the fence loose and wiggly with high wags, toe tapping. The meet is kept to the fence due to the other dog's discomfort. She is then introduced to a novel intact male and is neutral at the fence with high wags, turning her head away when the other dog sniffs through the fence, then toe tapping and bounces along the fence line with an open panting mouth. The other dog is let into the yard and Pumpkin immediately stands on her hind legs with a tense body, flagged tail, and tight closed mouth. The two are separated and Pumpkin Muffin initially pulls strongly towards the other dog while whining but settles more with time, taking treats and engaging with handlers. The two reapproach and Pumpkin immediately stands on her hind legs with hackles raised, high wags, a tight c shaped mouth, attempting to push the other dog. As she is pulled off she is heavily panting and gives a short snarl towards the other dog.

Summary (4):: 11/01/26: Pumpkin Muffin is at the front of her kennel when handler approaches. She accepts offered treats (takes hard), allows leashing and readily exits the kennel. She follows the handler through the room and hallways, remaining focused on the treat trail. She passes neighboring dogs and staff members without any reaction. Once outside, Pumpkin relieves herself and walks alongside the handler on a loose leash. She slightly pulls toward certain spots she wants to discover but returns to the handler following recall. She frequently turns toward the handler, making eye contact with soft, relaxed eyes and a slightly open mouth. She repeatedly rises onto her hind legs and jumps toward the handler. She accepts petting, sits beside the handler, and leans against their legs. Her body remains loose with wagging tail. She readily takes treats and responds to basic verbal cues. She shows no reaction to any stimuli on the street. Upon return handler clips the leash and brings Pumpkin Muffin back into her kennel with ease. 10/25: Pumpkin Muffin is at the front of her kennel with a neutral body eager to exit and jumping up at the door, handler is able to leash her with a treat lure, she does exit very hot and pulling hard, handler uses treats to calm her on the way out, tossing them to the ground to create a treat trail. Outside she relieves herself and continues walking with a loose leash exploring her surroundings and sniffing, she is highly treat motivated and handler uses this to reward for her loose leash walking and working on handler focus and checking in throughout the walk which she does better when handler rewards her every time she turns to look and responds to her name. She shows no reactivity on the walk and upon returning to kennel she gives no issues.

Summary (5):: 10/21/26: Pumpkin Muffin is at the front of her kennel, pacing back and forth when handler approaches. She is leashed with a treat lure and readily exits the kennel. She follows treat trail on the ground which makes her distracted from other dogs. Pumpkin follows the handler on the staircase without reaction to passing staff members. Once outside she immediately relieves herself and continues walking alongside the handler on the loose leash. She attempts to dart forward on leash but quickly goes back to the handler after recall. She is highly treat 10/20/26: Pumpkin Muffin is reported to rapidly exit her kennel, as well as spin and jump and attempt to bite the leash. Outside, she calmed down, but became aroused after receiving pets. 10/9/26: Prior to the walk, Pumpkin Muffin is observed to repeatedly bark and frantically jump off the walls in her kennel when dogs are walked past and while the room is overall active. As the handler approaches, she stands on her hind legs and presents a wagging tail; the handler presents a toy lure, and as she attempts to bite it, the handler leashes her. As she exits, the handler tosses the toy on the ground, and Pumpkin quickly picks it up. Pumpkin squeaks the toy while exiting the building. on the street, Pumpkin walks with mild leash tension and doesn't react to stimuli (people and dogs). Any time she relieves herself, she drops the toy. When she is done and attempts to walk away, he handler calls her and tells her to pick up her toy, and she promptly does so. Pumpkin walks with a loose body throughout. When walking back to the shelter, Pumpkin drops her toy and lick a thin puddle on the ground; as it is dirty, the handler pulls her away and picks up her toy, but she continues to pull to drink the water. Once the handler creates enough distance, they present her toy, and she picks it up again. upon entry, the handler pets Pumpkin as they ride the elevator. They clip their leash and walk Pumpkin into the room; she walks in between their legs, but enters her kennel with ease. 10/7/26: Pumpkin Muffin is reported to be kennel reactive while exiting the room; she will pull towards the kennels, even as the leash is shortened. She is also reported to leash bite.

Summary (6):: 10/2/26: Pumpkin Muffin is at the front of her kennel with a soft body; as the handler leashes her, she becomes loose. Pumpkin is brought out the room and she looks at the kennels while pulling moderately; when walking to the elevator, Pumpkin quickly turns around to bite the leash, but doesn't follow through. She sits on command and takes treats softly; during the elevator ride, she jumps on the handler and allows pets. Pumpkin walks with mild leash tension and no reactivity to dogs or people; when she notices a large dog and looks at them, she is easily redirected with a squeaker sound. Pumpkin is brought inside for her assessment (see notes); afterwards, as the handler leashes her with a slip lead, she bites the leash a few times with light pressure. With a treat and verbal cue, she stops. Pumpkin is returned to her kennel afterwards. 9/28/26: Staff reported that Pumpkin Muffin was leash biting upon exiting the kennel room. Behavior subsided once she was brought out to the backyard. 9/28/26: Pumpkin Muffin is observed to be highly rope reactive. When being leashed, she would grab the leash and begin to tug on it. While walking out of the kennel room, towards the yard she would grab the leash and begin to tug while vocalizing while tugging on it. This behavior wasn't able to be safely redirected and handler opted to using a pet corrector. Afterwards, she would chew on a ball and would not leash bite afterwards. 9/23/26 [playgroup]: Pumpkin Muffin is at the front of her kennel when handler approaches. She is panting and pawing at the door while handler is unlocking the kennel. She is not interested in treats but allows leashing and willingly exits the kennel. Pumpkin Muffin pulls hard out of the room and through the hallways. She has no reaction to other dogs, pop-up crates or staff members. Pumpkin Muffin is taken to the yard for the playgroup (see D2D notes). During return handler is able to pre-clip the leash and bring Pumpkin Muffin back into her kennel with no further issues. 9/23/26 (AM): Pumpkin Muffin is at the front of her kennel with a loose, wiggly body, jumping on the kennel door. She is easily leashed and brought out the room. Pumpkin walks with mild leash tension and no reactivity to dogs or people. She shows a soft body to a novel handler walking, sniffing them a few times; Pumpkin continues the walk, even as the novel handler walks away. Pumpkin exuberantly jumps on the handler and sprints around (zoomies) as the wind begins to pick up. She sits on command when treats are used as a lure. Pumpkin also allows pets. She is brought inside to the office. Pumpkin receives a toy, in which she shakes around repeatedly; she also eats spray cheese and engages with a snuffle mat. Pumpkin jumps on the handler and attempts to lick their ace. Upon entry, the handler clips their leash and returns Pumpkin to her kennel.

Summary (7):: 9/21/26: Pumpkin Muffin is standing at the back of her kennel as handler approaches. When kennel door is opened Pumpkin Muffin comes forward where she is easily leashed and pulled from kennel. Pumpkin walked next to handler with a neutral body and a slack lead. She ignored treats that were offered and tolerated petting on her head and back. After her walk she was returned to her kennel with no issue. 9/19/26: Pumpkin Muffin is standing at the front of her kennel with a neutral body. She is easily leashed and pulled from kennel and taken for a street walk. She accepted treats really hard. After her walk her kennel was not clean due to her being behind a TDO dog, so handler took Pumpkin to the behavior office. In the room she was social with the other handlers present. She did keep getting aroused and handler would try several different things that calmed her (like take a breath). Another handler put together a snuffle mat and a puzzle toy which Pumpkin engaged with both items. Her kennel was ready and she was returned with no issue. 9/18/26: Pumpkin Muffin is standing at the front of her kennel when the handler approaches. As the kennel door opens, she repeatedly presses her muzzle to punch the bottom part. After few seconds, she stops and begins pacing back and forth while panting. She does not accept offered treats but still allows handler to leash her. Pumpkin Muffin exits the room with pulling forward all the way out. She continues pulling through the hallways but does not display any reaction to neighboring dogs, pop-up crates, or staff members. Once outside, Pumpkin Muffin continues pulling ahead of the handler with moderate tension and repeatedly darts on the leash. She has no interest in dogs, people passerby or other stimuli on the street. She frequently scans her surroundings and maintains an open-mouth panting. Her eyes are wide, and she repeatedly licks her lips. She does not accept treats; she looks back at the handler during the walk but does not respond to any attempts of engagement. During return, handler is able to pre-clip the leash; upon approaching the kennel, Pumpkin Muffin backs away and places her front paws forward against the floor, resisting going back. Handler have to muscle her in and is able to get the leash back after with no further issues

Date of intake:: 9/16/2026

Summary:: Friendly, Growled

Date of initial:: 9/17/2026

Summary:: Wiggly and seeking attention from handler, but tense for exam. Easily distracted with viennas and c

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

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: Level 4

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),Recommend no dog parks

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Pumpkin Muffins high levels of anxiety and on leash reactivity we recommend her be placed in an Adult only home. Recommend No Dog Parks: Due to the concerning behaviors that Pumpkin Muffin has shown during playgroup (see DOG-DOG SUMMARY), we feel that she should not visit dog parks. The Behavior Department recommends that she be socialized in a more controlled setting until her behavior towards other dogs can be further addressed. Reward-based, force-free training can be utilized to help Pumpkin Muffin associate dogs with things she enjoys like toys or treats.

Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Anxiety,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Leash-biting

Potential challenges comments:: Resource Guarding: Pumpkin has been observed to become tense when interacting with toys. Nothing should ever be taken directly out of Pumpkin's mouth, and any time something is removed he should be rewarded with a high value treat or toy. He should be taught the "drop" cue and trade-up games. Please see handout on Resource Guarding. On Leash reactivity/Barrier frustration: At the care center, Pumpkin Muffin has been observed to growl at staff coming close to her when she is on leash. Pumpkin Muffin may need positive reinforcement, reward based training to teach her to look at you rather than other people. We recommend a front clip harness or head halter to help manage this behavior. Please see hand out on Barrier Frustration Anxiety/Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Pumpkin Muffin has escalated to growling during intake. Pumpkin muffin has shown signs of discomfort in the care center such as having whale eyes and repeatedly lip licking on a walk. Her signs of discomfort must be respected; Pumpkin Muffin should never be forced to interact, she should always be given the opportunity to walk away from situations or people she finds uncomfortable. We recommend a slow approach and we recommend ONLY force-free, reward-based training methods for Pumpkin Muffin. More aversive techniques are likely to increase fear, increase the risk of aggression, and decrease Pumpkin Muffin's quality of life. Please see handouts on Anxiety and Defensive Aggression. Leash Biting: Pumpkin has been observed to bite the leash when walking with handlers. We recommend walking her with a toy to dissuade him from grabbing the leash. Positive reinforcement, force-free training is advised to teach him to focus on you rather than grabbing the leash.