Date of intake:: 1/17/2026

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray(Limited History)

Resource guarding:: The owner was coming back from the store and went ro remove him from his crate where he growled and air snapped at their hand. Owner allowed Winter to calm down and leave the crate on his own, where he went back to being friendly and outgoing. Later after the incident Winter went to lie down in his crate and the owner noted that when they went near the crate and attempted to approach winter snapped at them in warning and started to growl.

Other Notes:: 3/21/26: Winter bit a staff member during a walk. Winter was reported to have become aroused and jumped up, biting the staff's right forearm, leaving a scratch that broke skin.

Date of assessment:: 1/22/2026

Summary:: 2/1: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: mild - moderate pulling Reactivity to humans: none -ignores Reactivity to dogs: inconclusive - did not pass Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): stays close to assistant, whines, will approach assessor to sniff but then retreats to assistant to seek attention, pants heavily, unable to settle Call over: approaches readily Sociability comments: due to Winter's avoidance of the assessor, the two handlers swap, and the assistant conducts the handling Handling Soft handling: leans in, pants Exuberant handling: leans in, pants Handling comments: Arousal Jog: follows, distracted Arousal comments: Knock: no response Knock Comments: Toy: avoids Toy comments: 1/22: Due to Winter high level of fearfulness and avoidance of touched. A handling assessment will not be conducted at this time.

Summary:: Due to entering the facility as a stray, there is no prior dog-to-dog history recorded. 03/02/26 Winter is introduced to a novel female while off leash. He readily approaches the gate with a loose, wiggly frame and play bows at the female. He sniffs her for a moment through the gate and then muzzle punches the gate and begins baring teeth. Winter is guided away and the gate is not opened.

Summary (3):: 4/8/26: Winter is at the front of his kennel jumping onto the bars of the kennel door as the handler approaches. His collar is clipped with ease and he exits his kennel pulling moderately and towards neighboring kennels. He is then brought out to the play yard where the handler will drop the drag leash so he can run around freely. He will bounce around and play bow at the handler's feet, jumping up on them and leaning into contact. The handler will then try to lure him onto the A frame in the yard and Winter will quickly jump onto it and over it, doing so multiple times. The handler will then take Winter back, passing multiple dogs as they walk down the ramp. Once at the bottom of the ramp, they wait for three dogs to come out of the Care Center and Winter will start to pull and vocalize but will loosen with some distance. He will attempt top pull towards neighboring kennels upon entering his kennel room. He is secured safely in his kennel. 3/27/26: Winter is jumping and barking at his kennel as handler approaches. He is able to clipped to his collar and is then taken outside to the yards. In the yard, he would pace around while whimpering and would demand bark at the handler to receive pets. He engages in chasing tennis balls and would stare at people and dogs that would pass by. When the dog was passing by the pen barking at Winter, Winter begins to jump up at the gate and manages to escape due to the door latch being broken. He runs towards the other dog and baulks to the ground in front of her. They then begin to growl and bark at each other as the handlers pull them away. The other dog tries to snap towards Winter as he is being pulled away. Winter is then placed back into the play pen and the door is closed and the handler that had the other dog stands in front and blocks it. The behavior handler then takes the other dog back to her kennel due to her becoming frustrated. She is then returned back to her kennel with no issues. The handler then returns back to get Winter and he is then brought back to his kennel with no issue.

Summary (4):: 3/26/26: Winter is standing up at his kennel door as handler approaches. He is able to clip his collar as he tries to quickly exit the kennel. He then pulls on the way to the behavior room. In the room, he would constantly jump up on the handlers with a loose body and would mouth at their hands. He is able to sit to receive treats. He would lean into the handlers to receive pets. He would lay down on the ground to engage in chewing treats and would engage in a snuffle mat and cheese lick mat. He pulls on the way back to his kennel and is able to enter with no issues. 3/23/26: Winter is jumping up and down at the front of his kennel while barking and whining as handler approaches. He continues to whimper as the handler clips his collar and he then pulls hard out of kennel and begins to jump up and mouth at the handler's sweater sleeves while barking. He is able to continue walking to the behavior room while heavy panting and whimpering. Once in the room, he would pace around with heavy panting and whimpering. He would constantly approach the handlers in the room and jump up with an open mouth. He would mouth and bark at the handler's hands. He is able to engage in a snuffle mat full of treats and a cheese lick mat. He would lean into the handlers to receive pets. He would bark at the handlers to demand for pets and treats. He would chase after toys but doesn't pick them up. He pulls on the way back to his kennel and enters with no issues. 3/22: Winter is toe-tapping at the front of his kennel when a familiar handler approaches. He whines and jumps up as the door is unlocked. Winter allows his collar to be clipped and bounces out of his kennel. Winter whines and jumps up on the handler as he is walked to the behavior office. But his body remains loose. Once in the office, Winter alternates between soliciting attention from both handlers or chasing toys. He is returned to the kennel without issue. 3/18/26: Winter is reported to be reluctant to approach the kennel to be clipped and removed from kennel, and took a bit of coaxing to do so but was eventually taken out for his walk and returned with no issue.

Summary (5):: 3/14/26: Winter is standing up at his kennel door as handler approaches. The handler is able to clip his collar as he tries to quickly exit the kennel. He then pulls hard on the way outside for a walk. On the walk, he would constantly jump up on the handler with a loose body and would mouth at their hands and jacket sleeve. He is able to sit to receive treats. He would pull hard ahead and would try to pick up trash items that were flying around on the ground. He pulls on the way back to his kennel and is able to enter with no issues. 03/06/2026: Winter stands at the front pawing at the door occasionally expressing that they want to come out the kennel. when clipping the collar winter is calm and relaxed. when coming out the kennel winter expresses excitement looking to leave the nearest exit. Winter is very calm on walks and pays attention to the handler in anticipation for treats. when returning to kennel Winter goes back into kennel without any issues and allows you to unclip the leash. 03/02/26 (PG Note): Winter is standing at the front of his kennel and allows handler to clip a flat leash to his collar. He is escorted to the play yard to meet a female playmate. Once inside the yard, he approaches the gate for a nose-to-nose greeting. He displays a play bow but also muzzle punches the gate and bares his teeth toward his playmate. Due to this escalating behavior, Winter is immediately removed from the yard and returned to his kennel safely without any issues. For more details, see Dog-to-Dog notes. 02/15/26: Wynter is standing in the back of his kennel and approaches the front appearing skittish of handler. Handler offers a treat by hand, Winter sniffs and licks handler’s hand, allowing a drag leash to be placed on his collar. He is escorted to the live room for enrichment. Once inside and off tension, Winter paces anxiously around the room while panting and scanning his surroundings. He intermittently seeks attention from handler, leaning in for touch and rolling onto his back to solicit belly rubs. He engages with the snuffle mat, consuming treats, and also interacts with a lick mat with cheese. Despite engaging in enrichment, Winter continues to pant and vocalize intermittently. Winter is returned to his kennel safely without any issues.

Summary (6):: 2/13/26: Winter is at the back of his kennel barking at the handler when approached, and will approach to the front of the kennel and allow to be clipped to his collar and walked to the live room. Winter whines, seeks exit and will approach the handler at times reluctantly when coaxed, and lean into petting. Winter will go between leaning into petting, whining and ducking away from the handler even with slow movements. Winter engages with a lick mat but at some point just keeps seeking exit. Winter is walked back to kennel with no issue. 2/6/26: Winter is standing at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He is able to be clipped to his collar with ease and he then pulls while heavy panting on the way outside for a walk. On the walk, he would jump up on the snow and jump up on the handler constantly while heavy panting and whimpering. He has no interest in treats or toys and would try to pull towards dogs as they passed by. He would pace in in front of the handler back and forth while whimpering and heavy panting. He pulls on the way back to his kennel and enters with no issues. 2/1 (BA): Winter is at the front of his kennel, whining when he sees the handler approach. The handler offers treats while slowly clipping his collar to avoid startling him. He doesn't take the treats but readily exits. He skitters as he walks to the behavior office. Once on a drag leash, he stays close to the handler, briefly approaching to sniff the second handler before retreating to the handler who took him out, tail semi-tucked. The second handler attempts to coax Winter over to attempt a handling assessment, but he stays close to the other handler and seeks attention from them, while still whining and panting heavily. Due to him stay close to the first handler, they swap, and the first handler conducts the handling assessment. Once completed, Winter returns to his kennel without issue. 2/1/26: Volunteers report that Winter was very social during his interaction. Winter was loose/wiggly, playing in the snow and soliciting contact often from two volunteers in the play yards with them, and easily leashed to come out and be returned to kennel. 1/30/26: Winter greeted handler at front of kennel with a loose and wiggly body. When handler attempted to leash Winter he took a stop back but then immediately stepped forward allowing himself to be leashed. On his walk Winter would walk next handler, occasionally getting ahead of handler... which he would then look back at handler and would fall back to walking next to handler. Winter didn't take the treats that were offered him and would jump anytime the handler's legs would brush against Winter. He was returned to kennel with no issue

Summary (7):: 1/23/26: Winter is standing in his kennel with a tense body while whimpering as the handler approaches. He is able to be clipped to his collar and is then taken the behavior room. In the room, he would pace around while panting and whimpering. He would approach the handlers in the room and is comfortable receiving a few pets. He would try to seek exit at the door when handlers would enter and exit the room. He is able to return back to his kennel with no issues. 1/21/26: Winter is in front of his kennel when the handler approaches. The handler opens up his kennel door and begins feeding him treats with a slow approach he allows the handler to place the lead over his head. Winter is stetich when coming out of the kennel room and will display a tucked tail and whale eyes in the hallway. He is taken to the behavioral office, where he allows the handler to slowly place a collar around his neck. Winter spends his time exploring the behavioral office and sniffing the handlers in the room. Winter will quickly go back to his primary handler for checks in and allows the handler to pet him, which he leans into touch. Winter begins to huff and do playbows towards the handler but then spooks himself. Winter allows the handler to walks him back to his kennel while on the drag lead, the handler unclips the lead and returns back into kennel without issue. 1/20 (AM): Winter is sitting with his back against a wall, eyeing as he sees the handler approach. He grumbles a bit as the handler offers him sliced cheese and chicken breast. He extends himself to sniff the treats and almost takes the cheese, but then does eat the chicken. The handler continues to feed him and he slowly comes forward but then retreats. The handler places chicken in their loop that's on the ground, but Winter bypasses it. After several minutes, the handler is able toleash Winter, but he growls and mouths it once, after the handler secures the loop. Winter readily exits the kennel and is taken to the behavior office. While in the office, Winter seeks exits and is easily startled by the slightest movements from handlers. He is returned to the kennel to prevent further stress. 1/19/26: Winter is at the back of her kennel with a tense body as handler approaches. She begins to growl and lower her body to the ground as the handler unlocks the door and slowly presents their leash. She continues to remain in the back of the kennel and will turn her head away as the handler slowly tries to leash her. She begins to snap at the leash as the handler id slowly is able to get her head through the loop. Once leashed, she pulls hard on the way to the behavior room. In the room, she has a tense body and will lay flat to the ground while trembling. She would flinch and try to seek exit when sudden sounds what happen. She pulls hard on the way back to her kennel and quickly enters with no issues.

Date of intake:: 1/17/2026

Summary:: Fearful

Date of initial:: 1/18/2026

Summary:: Limited ability to examine, resistant to handling, body tense, tries to flee

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),Recommend no dog parks,Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): We recommend Winter be placed in an adult-only home at this time due to the behavior concerns reported by his previous owner and the concerns observed in care. Place with a New Hope partner: Winter entered the care center after police were called by his owner to remove him from the home following an incident of snapping. In the prior home the owner was coming back from the store and went to remove him from his crate where he growled and air snapped at their hand. Owner allowed Winter to calm down and leave the crate on his own, where he went back to being friendly and outgoing. Later after the incident Winter went to lie down in his crate and the owner noted that when they went near the crate and attempted to approach winter snapped at them in warning and started to growl. Due to his behavioral cocnerns in the prior home, fearfulness, and aorusal shown in the care center, Winter is available for rescue through one of our new hope partners. Recommend No Dog Parks: Due to escalations when off-leash with another dog while in care, the Behavior Department recommends that Winter not be taken to dog parks. Reward-based, force-free training can be utilized to counter-condition and desensitize Winter to help him associate other dogs with positive experiences, such as toys or treats.

Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Basic manners/poor impulse control,Social hyperarousal,Mouthiness/poor bite inhibition,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Anxiety,Bite history (human)

Potential challenges comments:: Resource guarding/Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Winter is noted to be fearful and will attempt to flee. Winter is noted to become avoidant of touch. In the prior home the owner was coming back from the store and went into the room to remove him from his crate where he growled and air snapped at their hand. Owner allowed Winter to calm down and leave the crate on his own, where he went back to being friendly and outgoing. Later, after the incident Winter went to lie down in his crate and the owner noted that when they went near the crate and attempted to approach winter snapped at them in warning and started to growl.These incidents suggest guarding of space combined with fear and a defensive response when pressured. Training should emphasize respecting his need for space, choice-based interactions, and gradual desensitization to approaches near the crate to reduce escalation and support safety. Please see the handout on Resource guarding & Fearful/potential for defensive aggression. Anxiety: Winter appears anxious while in the care centers. He would pace, pant heavily, and whine during his handling assessment. If Winter displays anxious behavior in his future home, we recommend puzzle toys, long walks, and giving him other things to focus on to alleviate his anxiety. Positive reinforcement, force-free training only should be used. Please see handout on Generalized Anxiety. Social Hyperarousal|Basic manners/poor impulse control| Mouthiness/poor bite inhibition| Bite history (human): ACS staff was walking Winter outside the building when Winter became over-aroused and jump up and bit the ACS on the right forearm leaving a scratch mark that broke skin. The wound which was treated on site. Winter quickly becomes over aroused in the presence of people he is familiar with, jumping up and mouthing. Positive reinforcement, force-free training should be used to teach him to remain calm when people and other exciting things are around. Winter should be rewarded with treats when calm. If he escalates to jumping or mouthing, people should immediately walk away from and separate themselves. Please see handout on Arousal, asic manners/poor impulse control, and Mouthiness/poor bite inhibition.