Date of intake:: 6/22/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Previously lived with:: Adults, children (3 months), dogs, cats

Behavior toward strangers:: Rocco will alert bark and tolerant

Behavior toward children:: Rocco is friendly and outgoing

Behavior toward dogs:: Rocco is friendly and outgoing with familiar dogs, with alert bark at unfamiliar dogs

Behavior toward cats:: Rocco is playful and tolerant

Resource guarding:: Valuable items: Toys Reaction: Has a tense body or hovers over them

Bite history:: None reported

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: High

Other Notes:: Behavior concerns: Jumps up often or non-stop, General anxiety (paces, whines, unable to settle), Barks a lot, Pulls hard on leash On walks Rocco may growl/hard bark at small animals (squirrels, birds, rats, etc.), Small dogs, Large dogs How this dog reacts when... - Held/restrained: Isn't bothered - Disturbed while resting/sleeping: Isn't bothered - Startled: Fearful - Pushed/pulled off furniture: Isn't bothered - Paws are touched: Fearful - Collar grabbed/touched: Fearful, Isn't bothered Rocco's previous owner describes him as social and affectionate.

Date of assessment:: 6/29/2026

Summary:: Rocco has been observed to be highly fearful while in care. Noted to balk and pancake on leash and refuse walks. During intake, he was noted to escalate to snapping at the ipad and at the owner's face. Due to the fear, stress, and anxiety observed, Rocco is not a candidate for a handling assessment at this time.

Summary (5):: 7/2/26: Rocco is standing at the front of his kennel with a neutral body; he stretches and presents a soft body and wagging tail. The handler opens the kennel and leashes Rocco, but he doesn't exit; they apply leashed pressure, but Rocco baulks and pulls to the back of his kennel. the handler waits to the side, out of sight for Rocco, to allow him to exit on his own, but Rocco slowly approaches the front and stands there. The handler applies more leash tension, but Rocco pulls away again. The handler then uses a hook to remove the empty food tray and dirty linen; they slowly place clean linen in his kennel. As the leash is clipped on the kennel bar and the kennel door is closed, the leash around Rocco is loose; he moves his head around for it to come off, and the handler removes the leash from the kennel; the interaction is shortly ended.

Summary (6):: 07/01/26(PM): Rocco is at the front of his kennel as handler approaches, he is offered chicken and accepts it gently before being leashed without issue. He is coaxed out of kennel with a large piece of chicken and once outside the kennel door is closed behind him. Rocco begins sitting in front of the door and refuses to move, he is muscled forward by handler as gently as possible for a few moments until he begins walking out of the room with handler. He continuously baulks throughout the walk to the yard but once outside he begins walking more readily. He is still very slow and stops often but he is less frantic. He is aloof for a bit but begins leaning into handler once they sit on a bench and walks for a while before being brought back inside. He begins panicking in the hallway ad pulls into random dog rooms and refuses to walk. He is pulled into the elevator and eventually walks back to kennel, his leash is clipped and interaction is ended. 7/1/26: Rocco is lying down at the front of his kennel, stretches, and then stands up with a neutral body. As the handler attempts to leash him, Rocco slowly retreats in the back, but the leash is then placed on him; he refuses to exit. when the handler applies leash tension, Rocco baulks and refuses to step forward. The handler then stands to the side, out of Rocco's sight and waits for him to come forward; Rocco slowly inches forward, but when the handler applies leash tension, he baulks again. After 10 minutes, the handler uses the hook to remove the dirty linen and food tray; they slow use the hook to place the clean linen and remove the hook.

Summary (7):: 06/30/26: Rocco is at the front of his kennel as handler approaches, he is offered treats but is tense and avoidant of handler and walks back further into kennel. He backs away and lip licks frequently, over a long period of time he is coaxed forward slowly but walks up to the front and eventually allows handler to drape the leash over his head. He eventually exits kennel but walks to the back of the room before re-entering kennel and moving to the back. Handler retrieves his leash and interaction is ended shortly after. 6/29/26: Rocco was lying down in the back of his kennel as handler approached. He was easily leashed and pulled from kennel. Handler was taking Rocco to the driveway since he is in ISO. As handler opened door to the driveway Rocco saw a staff member cleaning his truck and Rocco immediately turned around and pulled as hard as he could to go back to shelter. Handler tried treats, squeak, baby talk, propping door open, jogging to get him to go outside to no avail. Handler returned him to his kennel with no further issue. 6/29/26: (Midday) When Rocco was pulled from kennel he balked and pancaked in the hallway. He refused to out to the yard and continued to pull hard back to the kennel room. 6/29/26: It is reported that when a handler pulled Rocco from kennel, he ran to the back corner of the kennel room and balked. The handler had to muscle him out of the kennel room. 6/28/26: (Midday Walk) It is reported that Rocco refused their walk. 6/28/26: (AM Walk) It is reported that Rocco refused their walk. 6/26/26: It is reported on the behavior board that Rocco balks going up the yard stairs. 6/26/26: It is reported on the behavior board that Rocco balks going up the yard stairs. 6/25/26: Rocco is at the front of his kennel with a neutral body and wagging tail; he is easily leashed and brought out the room. The handler brings him to the driveway; he sniffs around and relieves himself. The handler then walks Rocco across the street. After Rocco relieves himself, the handler proceeds to walk him down the street, but he baulks; the handler tries to walk him down the other direction, but he retreats. Rocco then pulls hard across the street, back to the shelter; the handler then brings him to the yard. After relieves himself, Rocco pulls towards the pen's door; he also begins to salivate. Upon entry, the handler clips their leash and walks Rocco to his room; he pulls hard and enters his kennel on his own. 6/24/26: Rocco is at the front of his kennel with a neutral body; as the handler attempts to leash him, he retreats. The handler lassos him and he exits the kennel with ease. The handler brings Rocco to the yard; there, he relieves himself and sniffs around. The handler slowly presents a treat and their hand, but Rocco shows no interest. Rocco is walked around the perimeter, which he does with mild leash tension. Upon entry, the handler clips their leash and returns Rocco to his kennel.

Date of intake:: 6/22/2026

Summary:: Lunged and snapped at handler and at owner

Date of initial:: 6/23/2026

Summary:: Avoiding leash, Allowed muzzle to be placed and sat with tense body for exam.

ENERGY LEVEL:: Rocco is described as active and enthusiastic. They will need daily mental and physical activity to keep them engaged and exercised. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in addition to physical exercise, to positively direct their energy and enthusiasm. We recommend feeding with puzzle feeders and food-dispensing toys. And we recommend using force-free, reward-based training techniques for Rocco.

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: : Resource guarding,Basic manners/poor impulse control,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Anxiety

Potential challenges comments:: Resource Guarding: Rocco's previous owner states that he will have a tense body and hover over toys in his possession. Nothing should ever be taken directly out of Rocco's mouth, and any time something is removed they should be rewarded with a high value treat or toy. Please see handout on Resource Guarding. Basic Manners: Rocco's previous owner states that he will jump up often or non stop. It is recommended that default behaviors such as "Sit" and "Off" are reinforced to substitute any frustration and teach them to control their impulses instead of simply reacting; proper management is also advised. Force-free, reward-based training only is recommended. Please see handout on Basic Manners. Fearful Defensive: During intake Rocco was observed to jump up and snap at the ipad and at the owner's face. His previous owner states that he is fearful when startled and when his paws are touched. It is important to move slowly with Rocco, 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. Anxiety: Rocco's previous owner states that he is anxious in the home and barks alot. If Rocco displays anxious behavior in their future home, we recommend puzzle toys, long walks, and giving them other things to focus on to alleviate their anxiety. Positive reinforcement, force-free training should be used. Please see handout on Generalized Anxiety. On Leash Reactivity: Rocco's previous owner states that he will growl and hard bark at small animals and dogs while on leash. Rocco will need positive reinforcement, reward based training to teach them to look at you rather than dogs and other stimuli. We recommend a front clip harness to help manage this behavior. Please see handout on On Leash Reactivity and Barrier Frustration.