Date of intake:: 3/25/2026

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray(Finder had for 2 weeks)

Previously lived with:: 2 Adults 1 Children

Behavior toward strangers:: friendly and outgoing with strangers. He will jump up in a playful way.

Behavior toward children:: friendly and outgoing with children.

Behavior toward dogs:: No experience with familiar dogs. He is friendly/outgoing with unfamiliar dogs on/off leash.

Behavior toward cats:: No experience

Resource guarding:: No history of resource guarding

Bite history:: No known reports of a bite history

Housetrained:: Unknown

Energy level/descriptors:: Maple is noted in the finders home to have a high energy level.

Other Notes:: Maple is described to be generally anxious and jumps up and bites on leash. He is a very playful dog and when on walks he hard pulls. He knows cues like "sit" "stay" and "paw"

Date of assessment:: 3/27/2026

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Loose Reactivity to humans: Ignores Reactivity to dogs: Ignores Leash walking comments: noted to not want to go back in his kennel Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Explores room- Soft body, Call over: Readily approaches- soft body, seeks Sociability comments: jumps up in a social manner Handling Soft handling: Allowed- sits, leans into touch, soft body Exuberant handling: Allowed- sits, leans into touch, soft body Handling comments: Arousal Jog: Follow- sniffs distracted Arousal comments: Knock: Ignores Knock Comments: Toy: Sniffs back away from dummy hand Toy comments:

Summary (5):: 4/26 (pm): Two handlers walk past and happen to see Maple walking out of main medical, and he is jumping up nearly to shoulder height with the staff member as he leash bites, climbing upwards quickly. One of the handlers quickly attempts to redirect him with a squeaky tennis ball as the other props the room door and tidies his kennel. Maple stops briefly when the doors to medical open and then immediately resumes leash biting, not responding to the handler. As he turns into the room, Maple becomes fixated on something behind the handler and begins screeching at the handler when they block his vision as they hold his kennel door open for the medical staff to maneuver him into the kennel. He grabs at the leash as it is being removed but does not get a secure hold.

Summary (6):: 4/25/26 (late entry): Maple is at the front of his kennel curled up as the handler approaches but will jump up and begins to screech and bark as he paws and jumps onto the kennel door as the handler approaches. Maple is leashed with ease as he attempts to push out of the kennel door. He will pull hard as they walk through the Care Center and when stopped to let other dogs/handlers pass, Maple will screech and pull hard towards them. Once out in the play yard, Maple will sniff around with a stiff frame and high tail. After he relieves himself, Maple will quickly turn around and begin leash biting before the handler can shorten up on the leash. He will grab the leash, pull down and vocalize as he does so, periodically shaking it. The handler will attempt to redirect his focus onto treats or a toy but Maple will continue to bite the leash. As the handler goes to pick up their phone to ask for high value food, he will jump up across the handler's body knocking the phone out of their other hand with his head as he goes to regrip higher on the leash about an inch away from the handler's hand. He will pull down and then continue to vocalize. The handler is able to ask for assistance and a second behavior staff member arrives to the play yard. Maple will then stop leash biting and the handler will shorten the leash and walk him back to his kennel quickly. Once he is back in the kennel, the leash will fall off of Maple's head and is retrieved using the hook. He is secured safely. 04/23/26: Maple is leashed without issue and taken outside for an enrichment walk. He immediately relieves himself. While walking uphill, he begins leash biting. The handler redirects using tossed treats on the ground however Maple resumes leash biting after consuming them. He is intermittently responsive to cues such as “sit,” which are reinforced. An air can is used away from the dog inside handler's treat pouch, utilized four times to interrupt the leash biting behavior. On the return, the handler anticipates leash biting and redirects early with cues and reinforcement, successfully reducing the behavior. Maple is returned to his kennel without further issues. 4/22/26: "Leash biting when returning" is reported on whiteboard

Summary (7):: 04/21/26: Maple is observed to leash bite for another handler while out on a walk. Due to behavior handler having a dog with them, they assist from the ramp while Maple is on the sidewalk. Maple's handler continues walking back towards the building, attempting to refocus Maple with treats but he shows no interest and continues to jump up and bite the leash, close to their hand. Behavior handler follows along from the ramp and will squeak their squeaker intermittently to distract Maple. This works but he will quickly look back to the leash and bite it again each time. Behavior handler helps to distract Maple until he is at the door to the building and he continues to leash bite as the handler walks him back into the building. 04/14/26: Maple is standing on his hind legs and jumping as handler leashes him. He is escorted to the play yard where a drag leash is placed on him. He immediately relieves himself, practices sit cues, and engages in scavenging for tossed treats. He explores the yard, interacts with toys, displays zoomies, and chases birds. During return, Maple attempts leash biting when the drag leash is removed and continues leash biting down the ramp. Treat redirection is only briefly effective. Once inside the building a figure-8 clipping to the leash is placed and he is returned to his kennel safely. 04/05/26: Maple is standing at the front of his kennel with a semi-stiff frame but allows the handler to leash him with ease. He is escorted to the behavior room, where a drag leash is placed on him. The handler offers a snuffle mat with treats; Maple begins to engage but disengages shortly after. A lick mat with cheese is then offered, which he engages with briefly before disengaging again to explore the room. He takes deep sniffs, maintains a neutral frame with a lowered tail and slightly raised hackles, and performs a shake-off. He later re-engages with the snuffle mat and consumes the remaining treats. Maple is returned to his kennel safely without any issues. 4/1/26: Maple is observed to be leash biting but is not interested in treats when attempted to be refocused. 3/27/26: Maple is standing at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He is able to be leashed with ease and is then taken to the behavior room for his assessment. In the room, he has a loose body and wagging tail as he would approach the handlers and jump up to receive treats and pets. Please see behavior assessment notes for more details. When returning back to his kennel, he quickly bolts back out after stepping into the kennel. He is able to be placed back in and he would jump up at the door as the handler locks it and walks away.

Date of intake:: 3/25/2026

Summary:: very high energy. He had a loose and wiggly body. He would bark but once given a treat he would bec

Date of initial:: 3/26/2026

Summary:: Easily examined, took treats readily, relaxed, seeking human attention and affection

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Maple's intense leash biting and low threshold for arousal, we recommend for him to be placed in an adult only home. Place with a New Hope partner: Maple has not acclimated well to the shelter environment has not acclimated well to the kennel environment and has allowed only minimal handling since intake. We recommend placement with a New Hope partner who can provide any necessary behavior modification (force-free, positive reinforcement-based) and re-evaluate behavior in a stable home environment before placement into a permanent home.

Potential challenges: : Basic manners/poor impulse control,Anxiety,Leash-biting,Strength/leash pulling,Low threshold for arousal

Potential challenges comments:: Basic manners/poor impulse control: Maple is noted to jump on handlers for petting and treats. Reinforcing calm alternative behaviors, such as sitting for attention, can help decrease jumping and promote more appropriate interactions. Please see the handout on Basic manners/poor impulse control. Anxiety: Maple is noted to have generalized anxiety in the finder's home. Training should emphasize predictable routines, low-pressure interactions, and reinforcing relaxed, voluntary engagement to help him feel more secure. Please see the handout on generalized anxiety. Leash-biting | Low threshold for arousal: Maple is noted in the finders home to leash bite while on walks. During his stay in care, his leash biting has intesified as his length of stay has progressed. Due to the intensity of his leash biting, he has been difficult to redirect. Training should focus on lowering excitement before exiting the home, reinforcing calm engagement with high-value treats, and redirecting her attention to appropriate behaviors to reduce leash-biting. Please see the handout on leash biting. Strength/leash pulling: Maple is noted in the finder home to hard pull while on walks.Training should emphasize loose-leash walking skills, rewarding engagement with the handler, and using supportive walking equipment to improve safety and control. Please see the handout on Strength/leash pulling.