Date of intake:: 3/7/2026

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

Bite history:: During Mustang Borough Break "Mustang was playfully jumping and he got tangled into the harness, when they tried to untangle, he nipped their finger" Mustang was excited while the Borough Breaker was in close contact, attempting to untangle the harness. They explained that the bite was not in any way aggressive and was just due to mouthiness mixed with excitement, and he got their finger on accident.

Date of assessment:: 4/7/2026

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Mild Reactivity to humans: N/a Reactivity to dogs: N/a Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Social- seeks attetion, flushed face Call over: Readily approaches- mouthy on handler arms/hands mild pressure, leans into handling, allows petting Sociability comments: takes treats roughly, panting Handling Soft handling: reset in handling position, jumping around Exuberant handling- sits, panting, distracted Handling comments: Arousal Jog: Follow- distracted Arousal comments: Knock: Ignores Knock Comments: Toy: Ignores Toy comments:

Summary:: Due to Mustang entering the facility as a stray, there is no known history of interactions with other dogs prior to intake. 03/12/26: Mustang was introduced to a novel female dog. He approached the gate with a loose frame and slight tail wag, engaging in mutual greetings before disengaging. Mustang returned to the gate to re-engage when the female dog approached again. After mutual greetings, both dogs disengaged and engaged in displacement scenting, and the interaction was concluded.

Summary (6):: 4/13/26: Mustang is standing at the front of his kennel with a loose and wiggly body as handler approaches. He is able to be leashed with ease and he then pulls hard the way to the behavior room. In the room, he is able to engage in a snuffle mat and would sit for more treats. He would jump up on the handler with a loose body and is able to be distracted with treats. He would approach the handlers that would enter the room with a loose and wiggly body while jumping up on them. He begins to thrash and bite at the leash in the hallway on the way back to his kennel, and is able to be redirected with treats as they are tossed on the ground. He enters his kennel with no issues. 4/10/26: Mustang is standing at the front of his kennel with a loose and wiggly body as handler approaches. He is able to be leashed with treats and is he then pulls hard with heavy panting on the way to the behavior room. In the room, he begins to jump up on the handler and constantly bite at the leash. He is able to settle with treats that were in a snuffle mat and would then sit for more treats. He engages in sitting on a stool/climb to receive treats. He would jump up and lean into the handler to receive pets as they sat on the couch. He begins to jump and bite at the leash in the hallway on the way back to his kennel, and is able to be redirected with treats as they are tossed on the ground. He enters his kennel with no issues. 4/8/26: Mustang is at the front of his kennel with a loose/wiggly body, is easily leashed and brought into the office space. Mustang is loose and wiggly, leaning in for petting with staff and beings to jump on staff in a social manner. Mustang is a bit mouthy with staff and will run around the room occasionally picking up his leash and interacting with the enrichment laid out. Mustang is brought onto the slat mill where he is a bit reluctant but slowly understands that he can control the speed and begins to explore how fast he goes. Mustang runs on the mill at a moderate pace and given water. Mustang is easily leashed and brought back to his kennel where he will stop outside the room and begin to chew on his leash, but with a bit of leash pressure is walked into his kennel with no issue.

Summary (7):: 4/6/26: Mustang is reported to be leash biting intensely on walks and that he will not trade for treats or toys. 4/5/26: It is reported Mustang was reusing to com down ramp and also extreme leash biting. 03/31/26: Mustang is standing in his kennel panting moderately as the handler approaches. He is easily leashed and pulls moderately to the canine training room. He shows minimal interest in toys but does take treats from the handler. Mustang jumps up towards the leash multiple times as he is being returned to kennel. 3/30/26: Mustang is standing at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He begins jumping at the door as the handler unlocks it. He is able to be leashed with treats and then pulls on the way to the behavior room. In the room, he has a loose and wiggly body as he pulls around to explore. He would constantly jump up on the handler with a loose body and wagging tail with an open mouth. He would mouth at the handler's hands while being petted. He is comfortable siting to receive treats and would pull towards handlers that would enter the room with a loose body. He would jump up to receive pets. He pulls on the way back to his kennel and is able to enter with no issues. 3/26/26: Mustang is lying on his bed as the handler approaches. He comes forward with a loose body. He is quickly leashed and taken to the play yard for group play. While walking, he tends to move ahead of the handler, leaning into them. He frequently jumps up on the handler and mouths at their hand and treat pouch, but otherwise is social with the handler and easily refocused. Mustang is brought back to kennel with no issue. 3/12/26: Mustang is laying down on his bed as handler approaches. He comes forward to the front with a loose body and begins jumping at the door as the handler unlocks it. He is able to be quickly leashed and is then taken to the play yard for play group. Along the way, he would walk in front of the handler and lean into them. He would constantly jump up on the handler and mouth at their hand and treat pouch. In the yard, he would continue to jump up on the handlers with a loose and wiggly body and mouth at their treat pouches and hands. He would lean into the handler to receive pets. He greets the other dog at the gate with a loose and wiggly body. Please see dog to dog notes for more details. He had to be muscled back into his kennel due to not wanting to go back in.

Date of intake:: 3/7/2026

Summary:: friendy, jumps on handler, wags tail ,licks handlers

Date of initial:: 3/8/2026

Summary:: 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): We reccomend Mustang be placed in an adult only home at this time. Place with a New Hope partner: Mustang is noted to leash bite in the care center, making it difficult for the handler to walk him. 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,Social hyperarousal,Mouthiness/poor bite inhibition,Anxiety,Leash-biting,Bite history (human)

Potential challenges comments:: Basic manners/poor impulse control: Mustang jumps up non-stop, indicating a need for training to improve his impulse control and basic manners. Consistent training to teach him to sit or stay when greeting people, using positive reinforcement and redirection, will help manage this behavior. Please see handout on Basic manners/poor impulse control. Social hyperarousal: Mustang is noted to jump up on handler with a flushed having trouble settling and is noted to become mouthy.This indicates that he becomes easily overexcited and has difficulty controlling his impulses, leading to impulsive and potentially inappropriate behaviors. It's important to implement training and management techniques to help Mustang learn to regulate his arousal levels and redirect his energy appropriately. Consistency, positive reinforcement, and providing outlets for physical and mental stimulation can help address this behavior effectively. Bite history (human): During Mustang Borough Break "Mustang was playfully jumping and he got tangled into the harness, when they tried to untangle, he nipped their finger" Mustang was excited while the Borough Breaker was in close contact, attempting to untangle the harness. They explained that the bite was not in any way aggressive and was just due to mouthiness mixed with excitement, and he got their finger on accident. Mouthiness/poor bite inhibition: During assessment, Mustang takes treats roughly and becomes mouthy towards handlers arms and hands with mild pressure. Training should focus on offering treats with an open hand and using cues like "gentle" or "easy." Rewarding him for taking treats softly and providing chew toys can help improve his bite inhibition. Please see the handout on Mouthiness/poor bite inhibition. Anxiety: Mustang began to display heavy panting, flushed face during his assessment. Managing his anxiety will require creating a calm environment, providing enrichment activities, and using stress-reducing techniques like puzzle toys and regular exercise. Please see handout on generalized anxiety. Leash-biting: In the care center, Mustang is noted to leash-bite during walks. Training should focus on lowering excitement before walks, reinforcing calm engagement with high-value rewards, and redirecting attention to alternative behaviors to reduce leash-biting. Please see the handout on Leash-biting.