Date of intake:: 10/10/2026

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

Date of assessment:: 10/13/2026

Summary:: Coco Bear has been observed to low growl at handler and during intake was lunging at handlers while hard barking. Out of concern for his overall stress level, an assessment will not be attempted at this time.

Summary:: Due to entering the facility as a stray, there is no prior dog-to-dog history recorded. 10/17/26: Coco Bear is introduced to a novel intact female and is neutral-tense at the fence with high wags while sniffing nose to nose. The other dog demand barks and Coco Bear flinches, then toe taps and continues giving mid level wags. The other dog's leashes are being swapped out and Coco Bear alert barks twice towards the handler of the other dog, then seeks out reassurance from a familiar handler. The other dog is let into the yard and Coco Bear pulls strongly towards them, tolerant of being leapt on and pushed but raises his hackles and stands on his hind legs in response, then jumps down on his own. The other dog then attempts to push him again, and he gives a short correction growl. The two are separated and he is heavily panting with red eyes and alarm barks a few times at nothing in particular. 10/15/26: Coco Bear is introduced to a novel intact female and is neutral at the fence with high wags while sniffing nose to nose. The other dog play bows and bounces and he will flinch occasionally but then continues giving high wags and following the other dog along the fence line with soft eyes. He is let into the yard and sniffs in the yard initially. The other dog bounces towards him and he stands on his hind legs moving his head back, but remains tolerant of the other dog consistently leaping on him. He will flinch back and turn away, then continue seek out interaction. The two are given a break and he pulls over to the other dog to continue play. He bounces along with the other dog and engages in start stop play. Both dogs are let off leash and run laps across the yard together, he is tolerant of moderate bumping and some mouthing. At one point the other dog crashes into play yard equipment and gives an air snap towards him in response, Coco Bear is non reactive and allows the other dog to recover and reapproach him, remaining loose.

Summary (3):: 10/18/26: Coco Bear is at the front of his kennel with loose body when handler approaches. He gently accepts offered treat and is easily leashed. He willingly exits the kennel and walks through the room and hallways with no reaction to other dogs or staff members. Coco Bear is taken to the yard where he immediately relieves himself. Coco Bear exuberantly jumps onto the handler. He remains loose body and shows tail wags when handler pets him. Coco is highly treat-motivated and follows verbal cues. He has no reaction to other dogs or staff members in neighboring pens. When handler sits on the bench, he sits next to them, leaning his body on their legs seeking attention. Upon return handler clips the leash and brings Coco Bear back into his kennel with no issues. 10/17/26: (Dog-Dog) Coco Bear is at the front of the demand barking with a soft wagging tail. Handler offers treats and he takes them and spits them out. Coco is easily leashed and taken out of the kennel. He pulls moderately out towards the backyard. When observing unfamiliar handlers, he will alert bark towards them with a tense body. He is kept away from them. He does a brief interaction with another dog and after he is brought back to his kennel. He plants slightly and ignores treats tossed towards him. He is returned to kennel with leash pressure. 10/17/26: Coco Bear is at the front of his kennel as handler approaches, he is loose bodied and jumps excitedly at the kennel door as handler unlocks it. He is leashed slowly which he tolerates and exits kennel pulling moderately outside for his walk. Outside there are multiple dogs Coco sees but he does not react to them, he is offered treats and takes them but spits them out shortly after, Coco relieves himself quickly and walks out to the street with handler, on the street he passes people without issue and walks in front of handler continuing to pull moderately. After walking for a bit he is eventually returned to kennel, when attempting to clip his leash Coco becomes a bit tense but tolerates the leash being clipped and returns to kennel without issue.

Summary (4):: 10/16/26: Coco Bear is sitting at the front of his kennel with mid level wags when the handler approaches, taking a treat gently through the kennel bars. He is leashed without issue and walks by the handler's side going out of the kennel room. He is taken to the street and pulls moderately on leash, hypervigilant of his surroundings. He is non reactive to people/dogs, at times he will attempt to sniff people from behind as they pass by but is easily redirected. When the handler stops walking, he leans into their legs for pets and is able to settle as crowds walk by. He flinches at loud construction noises and will walk with a slightly lowered body but is able to keep walking without issue. He is brought back inside to the behavior office and explores independently, intermittently greeting his handler with a loose body. He takes treats but often drops them and continues exploring, picking them up later. He greets handlers that enter the room with low wags and will stand on his hind legs while allowing pets. He performs sit and paw enthusiastically for treats. The handler attempts to coax him onto the couch, he will put his front paws on it for treats and at one point fully jumps up but then quickly scrambles back off the couch. He will avoid eye contact and lower himself with further attempts at coaxing. He approaches the handler when they crouch and settles on the floor without issue, rolling on his side while receiving pets. He hops into kennel on his own and takes a treat through the kennel bars. 10/15/26: Coco Bear is sitting at the front of his kennel and gives low wags when the handler approaches with a loose body. He is leashed without issue and walks by the handler's side while going outside, staying behind/next to them closely while passing people/dogs. He relieves himself once outside and greets his handler once in the yard, jumping on them with mid level wags. He allows the handler to place a drag leash on without issue, and independently explores the yard and goes to the bathroom. He greets the handler with mid level wags and takes treats gently. He begins sitting for treats and giving paw. He still flinches with fast movements and loud sounds, but is more confident with handler interaction, soliciting pets often. He chases after a tennis ball a couple of times but does not take it. He runs around the yard with the handler, bouncing and play bowing. He approaches the handler with mid level wags as they present the leash to go back inside, sitting while they swap it out. Coco Bear enters kennel without issue, taking a treat as the leash is removed. He sits at the front looking to the handler with soft eyes while the kennel is closed, and is given another treat.

Summary (5):: 10/14/26: Coco Bear is lying down at the back of his kennel and approaches the front with low wags as the handler unlocks the door. He lowers his head from the leash, but comes forward when the handler crouches, giving low wags as they slowly drape the leash over him. Coco Bear exits kennel on his own, walking with no pulling right by the handler's side. He does not react to people or other dogs, but does flinch and look to the handler for reassurance while being barked at. He relieves himself once outside and walks slowly towards the yard, sniffing and checking in with the handler often. He is put on a drag leash in the yard and independently explores and uses the bathroom. After a few minutes, he approaches the handler with low wags and leans into head and back pets. He gets startled with sudden movements and will retreat, but return on his own with time. He is inconsistently responsive to handler coaxing for reapproaching, and is more motivated to engage with the handler when they are turned away and not interacting with him. He joins the handler on a kurunda bed in the yard, resting his head in their lap and closing his eyes with pets. He paws at the handler's leg a couple times, soliciting more pets. He is non reactive to 2 familiar handlers entering the yard, sniffing them from behind but does not approach when they call him or offer treats. He returns to the primary handler, lying down next to them on the kurunda bed. He shows moderate interest in other dogs in neighboring yards, approaching the fence with a loose body and mid-high level wags. He is able to be redirected without issue when the handler takes their leash and leads them to the other side of the yard. He has mild interest in a tennis ball, watching it bounce with perked ears but does not engage in play. He sniffs a squeaky toy briefly but also does not engage with it and is non reactive to the handler moving it while close to him/removing it. He does not take treats and is also non reactive to the handler moving it. On the way back inside, Coco Bear pulls moderately and enters kennel on his own, allowing the handler to reposition his bedding while giving low wags.

Summary (6):: 10/13/26: Coco bear is at the front of his kennel alert barking at the handler with a neutral body; the handler tosses treats into his kennel, but he shows no interest. Coco stops barking when the handler opens the kennel and leashes him. When he is brought out, Coco barks at a handler bring their dog into the room; as they step to the side, Coco barks at another handler before they move out the way. Coco is brought to the yard. After sniffing around and relieving himself, Coco looks at and sniffs the handler. As he notices other handlers and dogs, he pulls towards those directions and barks at them. When he sees another familiar handler, Coco alert barks at them to; they present their hand and other items through the fence, and he briefly sniffs it. The familiar handler enters the pen and sits down, Coco approaches them with a somewhat loose body and panting, and leans into them for pets. After a few minutes, both handlers walk with Coco to enter the building. Coco is returned to his kennel with ease. 10/12/26: As handler approaches Coco Bear is at the front of his kennel heavily panting, widened eyes and a neutral body. He is easily leashed and removed from his kennel where he has a hard pull forward, Coco Bear is then taken out to the yard. Once outside, he would relieve himself with ease and is brought to a pen. He is then easily placed on a drag leash, where he would begin to explore the pen. He would slowly approach the handler, sniffs them and walks away. Handler would present a long treat, which Coco Bear would sniff but wouldn't take. He would then slowly jump onto the bench the handler was sitting on, he would sit and allow brief pets. As another staff member was walking past with a dog, he would let out a low growl and is then re-leashed afterwards. Handler walks around the pen, which he would remain neutral bodied. He is then clipped and brought back inside, upon reaching his kennel a brush would fall and he would pancake in front of his kennel, handler applies mild leash pressure forward and he steps into his kennel with no further issues. 10/11/26: Coco Bear is at the front of his kennel with a tense body and widened eyes. Handler would begin to speak in a soft voice, Coco would then let out a low growl. He approaches the front of the kennel and sniffs a treat that is being presented to him, he doesn't take but is then easily leashed. Once leashed, he slowly exits his kennel and has a moderate pull forward. He is then taken out to the yard, where he would relieve himself and would remain neutral bodied throughout the interaction. Handler would attempt to coax him towards the handler, which he wouldn't become receptive towards. He would watch other dogs and would have widened eyes towards the handler as they try to gain his attention. Shortly after, handler would walk around the perimeter and he is then clipped and brought back inside with ease

Summary (7):: 10/10/26: Coco Bear is sitting at the front of his kennel with wide eyes, lip licking when approached. He gives a brief low growl, then comes forward to sniff a treat but does not take it. When the door is opened, he retreats and lifts a paw with a tense body. The handler speaks to him softly and he takes a few steps forward, then retreats again. The handler crouches and he comes forward, attempting to exit kennel but dodges the leash. The handler is able to slowly drape the leash over his head, he is non reactive and exits slowly on his own. He flinches from other dog's barking, walking with a lowered tense body against the wall with moderate leash tension. He is taken to a yard and begins exit searching with a low tail, pacing across the yard. He has no interest in treats or toys, or handler coaxing. He sits nearby the bench when the handler sits down, and allows them to collar him and place him on a drag line, remaining neutral but does flinch at the sound of the collar being buckled. Once on a drag, he continues exit searching while heavily panting with red eyes. He shows mild curiosity in dogs walking by, approaching the fence with a soft body. He allows back and head pets, but does not solicit more at first. With time, he pants less heavily and leans into the handler's legs, giving a few low wags and allows more head pets, looking to the handler with soft eyes. He is taken back inside, pulling moderately with no interest in pop up crates, people, or neighboring kennels. He hesitates when outside of his kennel, initially baulking, but when the handler gives him a moment and does not apply leash pressure, he goes in with light coaxing. The leash is removed without issue 10/10/26: (Intake Behavior) k9 behavior was requested to help out with an intake as the dog was tied to our side gate and lunging and barking at admissions. the primary handler handed their leash to the finder to slide over the dogs head and then a second leash for the second handler was slid over his head. he was easily walked to kennel using a double leash. He baulked in the door way but with slight leash pressure continued. He baulked again at the kennel door and had to be muscled in by two handlers due to his weight. he was low growling in kennel as leashes were removed.

Date of intake:: 10/10/2026

Summary:: Lunging and barking, balked on leash

Date of initial:: 10/10/2026

Summary:: Reported to be lunging outside of shelter and hard barking. Barking in kennel but able to be leashe

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Coco Bear we cannot be certain of his behavior in a home environment. However, he is a young, enthusiastic 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 addition to physical exercise, to positively direct his energy and enthusiasm.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No Children (under 13): Due to Coco Bears potential for defensive aggression we recommend an adult only household. Place with a New Hope Partner: Due to Coco Bears potential for defensive aggression we recommend placement with a New hope partner.

Potential challenges: : Fearful/potential for defensive aggression

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Coco bear has been observed to low growl, whale eye and lip lick when approached by handlers. His signs of discomfort must be respected; Coco Bear should never be forced to interact, he should always be given the opportunity to walk away from situations or people he finds uncomfortable. We recommend a slow approach and we recommend ONLY force-free, reward-based training methods for Coco Bear. More aversive techniques are likely to increase fear, increase the risk of aggression, and decrease Coco Bear's quality of life. Please see hand out on Defensive Aggression.