Date of intake:: 12/4/2025

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

Previously lived with:: 2 adults

Behavior toward strangers:: playful, friendly, outgoing, and lunges towards strangers.

Behavior toward children:: No experience.

Behavior toward dogs:: playful around familiar and unfamiliar dogs.

Behavior toward cats:: No experience.

Resource guarding:: She values toys, treats, and food. There have been no attempts to touch or take these items from her.

Bite history:: No known reports of a bite history.

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Hot Coco is noted to have a very high energy level in the prior home.

Other Notes:: 2/27/25: She uses the bathroom outside. She is reported to jump frequently, pull hard on leash, and jump/bite the leash during walks. While on walks she lunges towards other dogs. She is not bothered when held/restrained, when startled, when pushed/pulled off furniture, when her paws are touched, or when her collar is grabbed. She is a active and playful dog. She spends most of her time in the living room. She loves bath time/water. She pulls hard while on leash. In her previous home she would go on five 10-15 minute walks a day. She has never been crate trained. She has never been in a car. She is very playful, and has a lovely smile. She loves playing fetch, getting belly rubs, and being carrier. She eats Blue Buffalo and Royal Canine dry food. 12/04/25: Hot Coco 1st stay she came is as Stray; with finder profile (spent 2 weeks in finder home) Previously lived with: 3 adults How is this dog around strangers? She is tolerant, playful, friendly and outgoing How is this dog around children? she hasn't spent time around kids so behavior is unknown How is this dog around other dogs? she spent time around a MMB and was friendly and outgoing How is this dog around cats? she hasn't spent time around cats so behavior is unknown Resource guarding: no known history of resource guarding Bite history: no known bite history Housetrained: No Energy level/descriptors: medium Other Notes: she isn't bothered when she is held/restrained, disturbed when sleeping, startled, push/pulled off furniture, feet/paws are touched or when her collar is grabbed Has this dog ever had any medical issues? Yes Medical Notes potentially pregnant For a New Family to Know She is social/affectionate, very active and playful and vocal. She likes to be where people are, the bedroom, and in the living room. She allows bathing and brushing and goes on 20min walks 3-4x daily.

Date of assessment:: 3/10/2026

Summary:: 2/28/26: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: mild Reactivity to humans: Ignores Reactivity to dogs: inconclusive - did not pass Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): highly social - wiggly ,jumps up for petting Call over: Approaches readily- wiggly, seeks attetion Sociability comments: Handling Soft handling: Allowed- leans in,wiggly Exuberant handling: Allowed-leans in, wiggly Handling comments: Arousal Jog: Follows- bouncy Arousal comments: Knock: Approaches, loose body Knock Comments: Toy: no response Toy comments: ***12/7/25: Behavioral assessment upon request*** 12/6/25: Did not conduct handling assessment due to Hot Coco being mildly sedated for post op medical treatment. 12/5/25: Did not conduct a handling assessment due to Hot Coco getting spayed.

Summary:: According to Hot Coco's previous finder, she spent some time with a medium mixed-breed dog, and she was reported to have been social and outgoing with them. 03/06/26 Hot Coco is introduced to a novel female while off leash. She approaches gate with mild hackles and a low frame, sniffing the female lightly through the gate. Hot Coco is guided into the yard on leash and slowly approaches the female to sniff but maintains a tense frame, tucked tail throughout and will disengage, seeking exit. Hot Coco is walked back to her yard and the interaction is concluded. 03/05/26: Hot Coco was introduced to a novel male dog. At the gate, she approached with mild hackles. Both dogs engaged in mutual greetings, during which Hot Coco displayed paw raises and a high, curved tail. She maintained a squared body posture and remained at the gate for the remainder of the interaction as the novel male disengaged. The dogs were then separated, concluding the interaction. 12/7: Hot Coco is unable to attend playgroup due to recovering from her spay surgery.

Summary (7):: 04/09/26 (Trainer Note): Hot Coco is brought to the canine training room where she allows handlers to place a harness on her. She is encouraged up onto the slat mill. Hot Coco is initially nervous, walking with spread toes and an inconsistent gait, but becomes more confident over time. Hot Coco trots at a moderate pace for several minutes before she is removed and returned to kennel without issue. - 4/5/26: Hot Coco is at the front of her kennel, jumping onto the door a few times as the handler approaches. She is lured off the door and through the leash with a treat and will come out quickly. She will pull moderately through the Care Center and is taken out on a long walk. At first, Hot Coco will pull moderately while sniffing but as the walk progresses, she will loosen up on the leash as she continues to sniff and explore. She will walk through puddles and will occasionally scratch the soil with one paw before sniffing a spot. She will pull moderately across cross walks and past driveways to reach the next patch of soil or grass. She is returned to her kennel with no issue and is secured safely. 3/30/36: Hot Coco is at the front of her kennel as handler approaches. She begins jumping up with a loose body as the handler unlocks the door. She is able to be leashed with ease and she pulls hard on the way outside for a walk. On the walk, she has a loose and wiggly body and she would jump up on the handler to receive treats and pets. She finds a toy on the ground and picks it up. She begins to shake the toy around in her mouth. She continues to hold the toy in her mouth and then begins to pull in the direction back to her kennel. She carries the toy all the way back to her kennel and enters with no issues. 03/07/26: When the handler approached the kennel, Hot Coco was standing at the front of the crate with a loose body posture. She was easily leashed and escorted to the play yard. While on leash, Hot Coco pulled moderately ahead of the handler but maintained a loose frame. In the yard, the handler transferred her to a drag leash. While on the drag, Hot Coco spent time running around the yard. Her arousal increased during this time but she was able to settle afterward. When the handler moved around the yard, Hot Coco became demanding and briefly began biting and pulling at the handler’s pant legs near the ankles. As the handler began to retrieve the leash, Hot Coco targeted the handler’s hand, jumping toward it and briefly bouncing off the handler. The handler paused and stepped on the leash to prevent further escalation in arousal before safely re-leashing Hot Coco. Once leashed, Hot Coco began to decompress and was escorted back to her crate. While returning, she resumed moderate pulling on leash. She was safely secured in her crate.

Date of intake:: 2/27/2026

Summary:: Upon intake she was loose and wiggly. She allowed staff all handling.

Date of initial:: 2/27/2026

Summary:: Social and friendly

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: Level 4

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),Recommend no dog parks

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Hot Coco behavior We reccomend she be placed in an adult-only home at this time. RECOMMEND NO DOG PARKS: Due to the concerning behaviors that Hot Coco has shown during playgroup (see DOG-DOG SUMMARY), we feel that Hot Coco should not visit dog parks. The Behavior Department recommends that she be socialized in a more controlled setting until her behavior towards other dogs can be further addressed. Reward-based, force-free training can be utilized to help Hot Coco associate dogs with things she enjoys like toys or treats.

Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Basic manners/poor impulse control,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Leash-biting,Strength/leash pulling

Potential challenges comments:: Resource guarding: She values toys, treats, and food. There have been no attempts to touch or take these items from her. It is essential to work on desensitizing her to having her possessions handled by using techniques like trading up for higher-value items and practicing "drop it" and "leave it". Please see handout on Resource guarding. Basic manners/poor impulse control: Hot Coco would jump up for more petting or treats during her handling assessment. It is recommended that default behaviors such as "Leave it", "Sit/Stay", "Down" are reinforced to substitute any frustration and teach her to control her impulses instead of simply reacting; proper management is also advised. Force-free, reward based training only is recommended. Please see handout on Basic manners/poor impulse control. Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Hot Coco is noted to snap and growl at handlers when returning back to her crate.To address her fearfulness, gradual desensitization and counter-conditioning, especially around crates and new environments, will build her confidence. Please see the handout on the Decompression period. Please see the handout on Fearful/potential for defensive aggression. On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration: Hot Coco is noted in the prior home. While on walks she lunges towards other dogs. Consistent training sessions and positive reinforcement will help reduce Hot coco reactivity and improve his behavior on walks. Please see the handout On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration. Leash-biting: In the prior home Hot Coco is noted to leash bite.When she starts to bite the leash, distract her with a toy or treat to redirect her attention. Reward her when she stops biting the leash and engages with the toy or focuses on you. Please see the handout on Leash-biting. Strength/leash pulling: Hot Coco is noted to hard pull while on walks.This behavior highlights her strength and the need for training to teach her to walk calmly on a leash. Using tools like a no-pull harness and consistent leash training can help manage her pulling behavior. Please see the handout on Strength/leash pulling.