Date of intake:: 11/4/2025

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Date of assessment:: 11/5/2025

Summary:: In the Care centers, Pumpkin Spice is fearful. He was observed to growl, tense up and avoid contact. When in kennel, Pumpkin Spice cowers away from staff slip leash. Due to these behaviors, Pumpkin Spice will not receive a handling assessment.

Summary:: 11/11/25: Pumpkin Spice greets the other dog at the gate with a tense body and tightly tucked tail.

Summary (5):: 11/10/25: When brought into the behavior office to wait for his kennel to be cleaned, Pumpkin darted under the desk with a tense body and hid. A lot of coaxing was needed to get Pumpkin to come out from under the desk. He was unreceptive to treats and did not interact with handlers. 11/10/25: Pumpkin Spice is siting in his kennel with a tense body as handler approaches. He comes forward and is quickly leashed with ease. He is then taken to the yard. In the yard, he would pull to the corners of the pen and sits while trembling. He has no interest in treats or toys and does not interact with the handler. He is then taken the behavior room due to his kennel not being cleaned yet. Please refer to above note (11//10) for more details. 11/9/25: Pumpkin Spice is siting at the back of his kennel with a tense body as handler approaches. He would come forward with a tense body and then retreat to the back as the handler attempts to leash him. He is able to be quickly leashed when he comes forward again and he pulls frantically with a tense body on the way to the yard. In the yard he has a tense body and tucked tail. He would hop and launch himself onto the bench and begin trembling. He would try to climb his way up the back gate and then pulls to hide under the bench. He pulls hard on the way back to his kennel and leaps in with no issue.

Summary (6):: 11/08/25 (PM): Pumpkin Spice is at the front of his kennel as handler approaches, he is tense and his head is low but he accepts treats offered from handler. He is given more treats as handler unlocks the kennel door and begins pushing his head out of kennel but dodges around the leash. He ignores more treats offered and retreats to the back of kennel so handler enlarges the leash loop and he again approaches the front and is successfully leashed this time. Pumpkin Spice walks with a tense body and walks with handler past staff in the hall to the yard. He sniffs around with handler in the backyard, and explores the play yards with handler. He is brought around the perimeter of the yard and occasionally flinches when hearing sudden noises. When offered treats Pumpkin Spice ignores them and sits on the play yard bench trembling slightly. After sitting for a while they walk around the play yards for a bit more before heading back inside, due to his kennel still needing to be cleaned Pumpkin Spice is brought into the behavior office where he waits with handler for the kennel to be cleaned. Pumpkin Spice begins accepting treats again and sits in between handlers legs and while still tense, lays down for a while until his kennel is eventually cleaned. He is brought back and flinches with a tucked tail and low body as the dogs he passes react to him and he runs into kennel, interaction is ended shortly after. 11/8/25: For AM walk Pumpkin Spice was observed to approach the front of the kennel and allowed to be leashed with ease. Exiting into hallway Pumpkin Spice remains tense bodied, low head, and tucked tail. In play-yard Pumpkin Spice is kept on leash, often attempted to stay between handler's legs. Pumpkin Spice jumped on to bench, allowed light petting, but did not take treats offered. When walking back to kennel through hallway Pumpkin Spice becomes tense again, tucked tail, low-head, and pulls hard into kennel.

Summary (7):: 11/7/25: Pumpkin Spice is at the back of his kennel as handler approaches. Handler attempts to coax him towards the front using treats and squeaker sounds which isn't successful. Pumpkin would begin to lip lick with a slight whale eye and is slowly lassoed. Handler then swings the kennel door wide open and Pumpkin Spice would slowly exit. Once out of the kennel he would pull hard out of the room with a tight tucked tail and his ears pinned back. Pumpkin is then taken to the yard where he would continue to pull hard, as he's in the pen he would dart towards the bench and is placed on a drag line. He would remain to sit on the bench and avoid any interaction with the handler as he would flinch and become tense anytime they would get close to him. These behaviors would continue on the walk and shortly after he is easily re-leashed and returned to his kennel with no issues. 11/5/25 (late entry)- Pumpkin spice is at the middle of his kennel with a tense body, handler tosses in some cheese and he slowly comes to the front with a low body, ears pinned to eat the cheese. He then retreats again to the back as handler attempts to leash. They tossed in more cheese and he again slowly came to the front to eat it then retreats. Handler was able to slowly lasso the leash onto him. He slowly exits the kennel with a low body, ears pinned side eyeing the kennels while exiting the room as dogs bark at Pumpkin. He is taken for a street walk and is hypervigilant (low body, ears pinned, looking around). Handler softly talks to him and offer treats, he just sniffs at them. He sniffs around a little on the street and randomly pulls in various directions with a tense body and shaking. Handler softly talks to him and gently scratches his chin. He is then taken to the K9 behavior office and handler was slowly able to collar Pumpkin and placed on a drag leash. He sniffs around the office and handler holds out treats. He slowly comes over and eats the treats from their hand. They sit on the floor with him and give more treats. He is easily leashed, clipped and readily returns to his kennel without issue. 11/5/25: Pumpkin Spice is at the back of the kennel but comes forward as handler tosses in treats. His body is low and tense and tail tucked. He will take treats from handlers hand through the bars. Kennel door is opened and he retreats. Treats are tossed and he comes forward for them. Retreating as the leash is presented. Higher value treats are used to successfully lure his head through the loop. Once secured the door is opened wide but he begins to thrash and move to the back of the kennel. Leash is loosened. The door remains wide open and high value treats are tossed into kennel. He will come forward to get the treats but not to the edge of the kennel. He will sit at the back of the kennel tail tucked. Interaction is ceased due to stress levels.

Date of intake:: 11/4/2025

Summary:: Growling, tense, fearful

Date of initial:: 11/5/2025

Summary:: Fearful, attempts to hide, flails

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Pumpkin Spice so we cannot be certain of their behavior in a home environment. However, they will need daily mental and physical activity to stay 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.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Pumpkin Spice's fearful behavior, Pumpkin Spice should go to a home with older children. Place with a New Hope partner: Pumpkin Spice is highly fearful and should go to a New Hope Partner that can manage his behavior.

Potential challenges: : Fearful/potential for defensive aggression

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: In the Care Centers, Pumpkin Spice growls and hides from staff. Positive reinforcement should be used to help Pumpkin Spice associate new people with things he likes such as treats and toys. Please see the handout on Fearful/potential for defensive aggression.