Date of intake:: 2/7/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner Surrender

Previously lived with:: 1 adult, 2 children (11, 15)

Behavior toward strangers:: Poppa is friendly and outgoing

Behavior toward children:: Poppa is friendly and outgoing

Behavior toward dogs:: No experience

Behavior toward cats:: No experience

Resource guarding:: None reported

Bite history:: None reported

Housetrained:: Partially

Energy level/descriptors:: Very High

Other Notes:: Poppa is fearful of loud noises and tends to growl or hard bark at strangers and other dogs while on walks. Held/restrained: unknown Disturbed while sleeping: unbothered Startled: unbothered Pushed off furniture: Unbothered Feet touched: unbothered Collar grabbed: bark/growl

Date of assessment:: 2/9/2026

Summary:: Poppa was surrendered to MACC by his owner. The owner states that Poppa is reactive while on leash. He will hard bark and growl towards strangers and other dogs while on walks. During intake Poppa was observed to be highly reactive. Noted to lunge and hard bark every time a person walked by. Poppa was lunging at staff, the client realized that their hand was bleeding from the leash. Behavior staff members were able to leash Poppa and place him into kennel. While in care, Poppa has been observed to become tense with a forward body when another person approaches. This behavior is not able to be redirected. Due to the high level of reactivity, Poppa is not a candidate for a handling assessment at this time.

Summary:: 2/17/26: Poppa greets another dog at the gate with a forward body and high wagging tail.

Summary (4):: 3/4/26: Poppa is at the front of his kennel with a neutral body. He is easily leashed and brought out of kennel; once he steps out, Poppa immediately tries to pull towards the dog in the last kennel, but the handler pulls him away and walks him out the room. The handler then brings Poppa to the yard. There, sniffs around, often fixating on one spot. The handler uses a clicker and clicks when Poppa put his attention on them or sits when commanded. He often looks over at a dog in the adjacent pen, and he doesn’t redirect when he’s called or if a squeaker is used. Upon entry, the handler clips their leash and walks Poppa to his kennel; he pulls towards the same dog in kennel, but the handler brings into kennel.

Summary (5):: 3/2/26: Staff member is walking through the room. Poppa is observed to be jumping up high and in the kennel. 2/27/26: Poppa is observed to be barking and jumping very high in kennel as a staff member is in the room. He jumps so high his head nearly touches the top of the kennel 2/26/26: It is reported on the behavior board that Poppa go jumpy and mouthy while on a walk. 2/25/26: Poppa is at the front of the kennel, demand barking at the handler. He is offered treats, which he takes. He is easily leashed, then pulls towards another kennel. He pulls hard out of the kennel and is lead to the yard. He relieves himself multiple times. He pulls hard consistently in the yard. He pulls hard back to the kennel and gets in willingly. 2/18/26: Poppa is curled up in the front of his kennel. He wags his tail on the ground when the handler approaches. He takes treats. He stands up with a neutral body and is easily leashed. He pulls hard out of the kennel room to the yard. Once in the yard, he takes more treats and remains with a neutral body. He pulls moderately outside. Then, he pulls hard back to his kennel and gets in willingly.

Summary (6):: 2/12/26: Poppa is laying down at the back of his kennel when handler approaches. Handler offers a treat and Poppa comes to the front with soft body. He is easily leashed and taken to the play yard. Poppa is sniffing a lot and discovering the pen with neutral body and wagging tail. Poppa is not reacting to other dogs on the yard while passing by them. He reliefs himself and after keep sniffing certain spots. Poppa is aloof with handler, but gently takes treats and allows petting. Poppa is not interesting in toys/fetch neither and just keep sniffing around. Handler is able to put the leash on and bring Poppa back to the kennel without further issues. 2/11/26 (late entry)- Poppa was laying down at the back of his kennel with a neutral body, handler softly talks to him and he comes to the front with a soft body. He is easily leashed and is taken to the play yard. He has a slight tense body with a low tail. Handler presented treats and he gently took them from their hand. He sniffed around and relieved himself multiple times. Handler softly spoked to him and lightly petted his chin. He had a neutral body with a medium tail. Handler went to sit on the bench and they patted their lap, Poppa jumped up on the bench and allowed handler to scratch his head, neck and chin. Handler got up and Popppa jumped down following handler. He became looser bodied and had a wagging tail, he did a mild bouncy zoomies jumping on handler once with a soft body. Poppa followed the command to sit and he was rewarded. He went back to neutral body with a medium tail. He was aloof at times then social with handler being loose and wiggly. When returning to clip he just moves his head to look at handler and he was easily clipped. He was returned to kennel without issue. 02/11/26: Poppa is at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He is leashed while distracted with treats and taken to the yard for his walk. Outside Poppa is generally aloof and stops to relieve himself throughout his walk. He ignores passing dogs in the yard and walks around the perimeter of the yard for a bit. He is brought into the play yards and briefly explores there for a bit before being brought back inside. He allows handler to clip his leash and returns to kennel without issue.

Summary (7):: 2/10/26 (PM Walk): Poppa is at the front of his kennel with a neutral body. The handler tosses and hand feeds treats, which he is receptive to. He is easily leashed and brought out the room. The handler brings Poppa to the yard, where he sniffs around and relives himself. As the handler sits down, Poppa approaches and sniffs them with a neutral body. The handler then hand feeds Poppa which he eats softly. They also present their hand and Poppa sniffs briefly. When walking around the perimeter, Poppa walks behind the handler. Upon entry, the handler clips their leash and returns Poppa to his kennel with ease. 2/10/26: Poppa is laying toward front of kennel, turned sideway from kennel door with soft body. He takes a treat offered through kennel door slowly, gently. He is easily leashed and exits kennel, slightly tense body, wide eyed. Poppa is walked to play yard. Poppa relieves himself in the yard, sniffs and investigates the yard. Poppa remains slightly tense, low tail. Poppa takes treats offered. After some time Poppa is walked back to kennel, he enters without issue. 2/9/26: Poppa is standing at the front of the kennel when the handler approaches. He has a tense forward body. He is easily able to be leashed, upon exiting the kennel Poppa eats the treats that are on the ground. He is then taken to the yard. In the yard a different handler approaches. Poppa becomes tense with a forward body. Poppa is not able to be redirected using verbal coaxing or squeaky sounds. When the handler retreats, Poppa shakes off and begins sniffing around. He relieves himself and continues sniffing around. When returning to kennel, the handle is able to clip their leash, and he is returned with no issue.

Date of intake:: 2/7/2026

Summary:: Lunging at staff

Date of initial:: 2/8/2026

Summary:: Avoided muzzle and then lunged at staff with open mouth as they tried to place muzzle

ENERGY LEVEL:: Poppa is described as active and enthusiastic. They will need daily mental and physical activity to keep them engaged and exercised. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in additional to physical exercise, to positively direct their energy and enthusiasm. We recommend feeding with puzzle feeders and food-dispensing toys. And we recommend using force-free, reward-based training techniques for Poppa.

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 on leash reactivity we recommend a home with no children. Single Pet Home/ No Dog Parks: Due to on leahs reactivity we recommend a single pet home with no trips to the dog park. 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: : Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration

Potential challenges comments:: Handling Sensitivity: Poppa's previous owner states that he will bark and growl when his collar is grabbed. Positive reinforcement, reward based training should be used to pair touch with good things such as food rewards in order to teach Poppa to be more comfortable with this. Please see handout on Handling and Touch Sensitivity. Fearful: Poppa's previous owner states that he is fearful of loud noises. 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. Poppa 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: Poppa's previous owner states that he will growl or hard bark at strangers and other dogs while on leash. During intake Poppa was observed to lunge and hard bark towards people passing by. Poppa will need positive reinforcement, reward based training to teach them to look at you rather than dogs and other stimuli. We recommend a front clip harness to help manage this behavior. Please see handout on On Leash Reactivity and Barrier Frustration.