Date of intake:: 5/10/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Previously lived with:: 2 adults, 4 children (1, 5, 11, 13)

Behavior toward strangers:: Tommy will hard bark and growl

Behavior toward children:: Tommy will lunge, can be playful

Behavior toward dogs:: Tommy will lunge at small dogs, can be tolerant

Behavior toward cats:: No experience

Resource guarding:: None reported

Bite history:: None reported

Housetrained:: Partially

Energy level/descriptors:: Medium

Other Notes:: Fearful of loud noises. Growls/hard barks at small animals on walks. Barks/growls when startled. Tommy's previous owner describes him as social and affectionate.

Date of assessment:: 5/14/2026

Summary:: Tommy has shown improvement with select handlers at the care center over time. While a handling assessment was completed and Tommy has shown the potential to do well with certain people, the below handling assessment is not a sole indicator of the behaviors they will display once they leave the care center as this assessment was done by a handler who has spent large amounts of time with Tommy over the course of their stay. Based on Tommy's history and their behavior at the care center, we recommend giving them ample time to decompress in a new home, always using a slow approach, and positive reinforcement when introducing them to new and unfamiliar situations and people. Consultation with a professional trainer/behaviorist is also advised for guidance to safely manage and modify any behavior they may present with outside of the care center. Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Moderate Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: None Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Highly social Call over: Approaches handler readily Sociability comments: Seeks contact, soft body Soft handling: Seeks contact Exuberant handling: Seeks contact Comments: Soft body, panting softly panting, leans into handler, rolls and exposes belly Arousal Jog comments: Follows handler readily Knock Knock comments: Begins pacing around the room when the handler leaves, Approaches handler readily Toy Toy comments: Grips light, relinquishes

Summary:: 5/15/26: Tommy greets another dog at the gate with a soft body while barking. Off leash, he continues to bark while moving away from the other dog attempting to sniff him.

Summary (6):: 5/15/26: When passing a staff member in hallway, Tommy is observed to be exuberantly social, he jumps on staff members in a social manner with a loose body soliciting contact. 5/13/26: Tommy is at the front of his kennel with a neutral body. The handler offers cheese cubes then holds up the leash offering cheese cubes through it, which he takes. Then the handler does the same on the other side of the door, however Tommy backs up when the leash touches him. The pole leash is used to leash him (draped over), which he avoids and he occasionally barks. He comes out of the kennel and through the hallway. He balks briefly at the door to the yard but goes out. He stops taking treats. Once in the yard, the second handler crouches down near him and offers him cheese, and he begins to eat it again and then stands on the handlers knees and wags his tail with a loose body. He sniffs around a bit then begins to seek exit. He is brought back to the kennel room and balks then thrashes at the entrance. Once in front of his kennel, he gets in. He takes more treats. 5/12/26:Tommy is at the front neutral body. Handler kneels and offers cheese cubes and he takes them from handlers hand. the door is opened and leash presented. Tommy retreats and barks. Handler uses spray cheese and other treats to lure him forward. He will not come forward when leash is present. A pole leash is used to extend into kennel and secure Tommy. He barks and dodges the leash, moving his head away. once secured, he comes right out of kennel. He is walked in the yard where he keeps his distance from handler. When attempting to re-enter the building, he pulls back on leash. Handler follows him and resets. He then follows handler into the building and goes into his kennel without issue. He allows the hook to be used to remove the leash.

Summary (7):: 5/11/26: Tommy is lying down at back of kennel as handler approaches. Handler gives Tommy some treats and he slowly eats them. Handler tries to leash Tommy but he snarls and moves away from leash. Handler gives him some more treats that he consumes before trying again. As handler’s hand is holding leash moves into kennel Tommy looks at leash and then looks at handler’s hand and lunges for hand. Handler decides to leave Tommy for now and let he decompress. 5/11/26: Tommy is at the front of the kennel when the handler approaches. He is receptive to treats and takes them with a soft mouth. When the handler presents the leash, he dodges the leash and retreats to the back of the kennel. The handler tosses him treats, and Tommy is receptive. However, when the handler attempts to lasso him, Tommy begins bearing teeth and hard barking at the handler. He will approach the handler while hard barking and baring teeth while fixating on their hand. The handler is able to use a pole leash to leash Tommy; however, once lease pressure is felt he begins thrashing in kennel. The handler is able to guide him out of kennel, and Tommy is taken to the driveway where he has a tense body but stays close to the handler. While in the driveway, Tommy is not receptive to treats. He will take them from the handler but spits them out on the ground. Intermittently he will thrash mildly. When returning to shelter, Tommy thrashes outside the shelter door. The handler is able to coax him in and guide him back to his kennel. Tommy balks slightly outside of the kennel. The handler is able to coax him in verbally, and the leash is removed.

Date of intake:: 5/10/2026

Summary:: Lunging, hard barking, and thrashing on leash

Date of initial:: 5/10/2026

Summary:: Thrashes and alligator rolls once leashed. Opted to sedate

ENERGY LEVEL:: Tommy is described as medium energy. They will need daily mental and physical activity to keep them engaged and exercised. And we recommend using force-free, reward-based training techniques for them.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to fearful behavior we recommend an adult only home. 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: : Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful Defensive: Tommy's previous owner states that he is fearful of loud noises and will growl/bark when startled. While in care, Tommy has been observed to be highly fearful. Noted to hard bark, bare teeth, snap, and lunge at handlers when they attempted to interact. On leash Tommy is observed to thrash and alligator roll. It is important to move slowly with Tommy, to build positive associations (treats/toys/praise), and to allow them to initiate interactions with new people. They should never be forced to greet or to interact if they are not comfortable and soliciting attention. Please see handout on Fearful and Defensive Aggression. On Leash Reactivity: Tommy's previous owner states that he will lunge at small dogs while on leash. Tommy will need positive reinforcement, reward based training to teach them to look at you rather than other dogs. We recommend a front clip harness to help manage this behavior. Please see handout on On Leash Reactivity and Barrier Frustration.