Date of intake:: 6/29/2026

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner Surrender (1 year)

Previously lived with:: adults

Behavior toward strangers:: friendly and curious

Behavior toward children:: unknown

Behavior toward dogs:: hide, actively avoid

Behavior toward cats:: unknown

Resource guarding:: Choco Bean is a resource guarder with food and toys. Choco Bean will hover and growl when interacted with while eating and playing with toys. 

Bite history:: none reported

Housetrained:: Partially

Energy level/descriptors:: Choco Bean is reported to have a very high energy level.

Other Notes:: Choco Bean is known to have a lot of energy and jump up on people. He also will playfully lunge/pull hard at things he wants to interact with on walks.

Date of assessment:: 7/20/2026

Summary:: 7/20: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: none - loose leash Reactivity to humans: did not pass Reactivity to dogs: did not pass Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): intially enters room with low hunched body, but once greeted by handlers immediately becomes wiggly and seeks attention Call over: approaches readily Sociability comments: stays close to assessor Handling Soft handling: seeks contact, leans heavily Exuberant handling: seeks contact, leans heavily Handling comments: Arousal Jog: jumps up, bites leash, easily refocuses with treats Arousal comments: Knock: no response Knock Comments: Toy: no interest in toy, backs away from prop hand Toy comments: 7/1: Before entering the behavior office, Choco Bean was reported to leash bite during leashing and once out of the kennel. He was able to be managed with treats. In the behavior office, his body was tense, and his tail was tucked. Due to his original collar being a martingale and seemingly secure, handlers did not attempt to remove it and clipped a drag leash to it to allow Choco Bean to have space. Choco Bean becomes conflicted when attempting to start the handling assessment. He would have bursts of bounciness and choose to approach the assessor but then would become tense with his tail tucked when they engaged with him. While trying to position him to begin the petting portion, Choco Bean begins leash biting. He stops for treats. Due to his arousal, he was returned to his kennel, and a handling assessment was not conducted.

Summary:: According to Choco Bean's previous owner(s), he will hide and actively avoid other dogs. 07/25/26 Choco Bean is introduced to a novel female while off leash. He approaches the gate with a neutral frame, low tail, and will sniff the female who solicits play through play bows. Choco Bean is guided into the yard where he will engage in mutual sniffing with a tense frame but whenever the female walks away, he will follow her exuberantly to greet again. He continues to become stiff whenever the female is actively sniffing him and when she walks away, he becomes overly aroused and will chase behind her, snapping at her hind end before being guided away.

Summary (5):: 08/12/26: Behavior handlers observe Choco Bean leash biting for handlers in the hallway. Behavior Handlers approach and attempt to distract Choco Bean with a squeaker, novel sound, and treats, but none are effective. Behavior handler ask's primary handler to transfer the leash and Choco Bean stops leash biting once with behavior handler. 08/10/26: An ACS Coordinator reports that Choco Bean was leash biting coming out of the kennel. Handlers were eventually able to redirect his attention with treats, and there were no issues on the rest of his walk. 08/06/26 (Trainer Note): Choco Bean is at the front of his kennel with a loose body as the handler approaches. He is easily leashed and pulls moderately to the canine training room. He leans into contact and rolls over to display his abdomen. The handler works with him on the leave it cue and he is able to leave a treat on the ground. Choco Bean persistently tries to lean into contact as the handler attempts to train. The handler pets him for several minutes before returning him to kennel without issue. 07/28/26 (Trainer Note): Choco Bean is at the front of his kennel sitting with a sweeping tail wag as the handler approaches. He is easily leashed and pulls moderately to the canine training room. The handler puts him on a drag leash and he approaches a familiar handler. Choco Bean rolls over to display his abdomen and urinates though he maintains a loose body and sweeping tail wag. He then approaches another handler and jumps up onto them. Choco Bean begins to vocalize so the original handler picks up the leash and redirects him. The handler works with Choco Bean on the leave it cue and he is able to engage, leaving a treat in a flat hand. He is easily leashed and returned to kennel without issue. 7/25/26 (Playgroup): Choco bean is at the front of the kennel laying down as the handler approaches. he will get up and is leashed with ease, pulling hard out of kennel and jumping up to grab the leash. he is redirected with treats and treat trailed out to the ramp where he will shift his focus to sniffing. Choco Bean is brought out to the yard to meet another dog. (see dog-dog for more information) Once the greet is over, he is returned to kennel with no issue 07/21/26 (Trainer Note): Choco Bean is standing at the front of his kennel with a wiggly body as the handler approaches. He is easily leashed and pulls moderately to the canine training room. Choco Bean is loose and social with the handler, leaning into contact with a soft body. He approaches an unfamiliar handler and shies away, but the handler gives him treats and he softens. Choco Bean responds to the sit cue and offers down and rolling onto his back. He is intermittently able to leave a treat. Choco Bean is easily leashed and returned to kennel without issue.

Summary (6):: 07/20/26(BA Note): Choco Bean is standing at the front of his kennel and allows the handler to leash him with ease. He is brought to the assessment room, where he leans into the handler while allowing a collar and drag leash to be placed on him. Throughout the assessment, he solicits attention from the handlers and allows all handling. During the run portion, Coco Bean initially follows appropriately but becomes aroused and attempts to leash bite, ultimately losing his balance and rolling onto his back. He does not respond to the knock stimulus. During the toy assessment, he backs away from the toy and hides behind the handler. For more information, see Behavioral Assessment. 7/18/26: ChocoBean is standing at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He is able to be leash while being distracted with treats and he then launches out of kennel. He then jumps up onto the handler and begins to bite and grab the leash. As the handler continues to take him outside, he is able to drop the leash when the handler tosses treats. On the walk, he would pull hard ahead while heavy panting and would hard stare at dogs that were nearby. He is able to be redirected when treats are tossed on the ground. While in the yard, he is comfortable exploring around and would approach the handler and sit to receive treats. He pulls hard while heavy panting on the way back to his kennel and is able to enter with no issues. 7/16/26 (AM Trainer Note): Choco Bean is standing at the front of kennel with a neutral body as handler approaches. He becomes loose when the kennel is unlocked and is easily leashed. He is removed from kennel and taken up the ramp for a street walk. He attempts to defecate but is heavily straining and nothing comes out. Throughout the walk he attempts to defecate about 7 times, straining every time, and having a fecal score of D7. He mildly pulls on his leash and regularly checks in with handler unprompted. When handler attempts to pet him under the chin, he briefly leans in but then begins to lip lick, handler stops petting. Towards the end of the walk, Choco Bean begins to leash bite on the street but is easily redirected with treats. He is returned to his kennel without issue. 7/15/2026 (AM Trainer Note): Choco Bean is standing at the front of kennel with a neutral body as handler approaches. He becomes loose as the door is unlocked and treats are used leash him. As he exits the kennel he begins to leash bite, he briefly continues to do so down the hallway but is easily redirected with treats. He walks up the ramp where he strains to relieve himself. He is taken for a long walk on the street and remains lose bodied, often checking with handler. He knows the "sit" cue and is rewarded with treats. Handler attempts to pet and Choco Bean leans in. He is returned to his kennel without issue.

Summary (7):: 07/14/26 (PM Trainer Note): Choco Bean is sitting at the front of his kennel with a stiff body as handler approaches. He softens as the kennel door is unlocked and becomes loose and wiggly. He accepts treats through the kennel bars and is easily leashed to be removed from kennel. In the hallway he briefly leash bites but is easily redirected with treats. Choco Bean walks up the ramp towards the yard and attempts to defecate. He heavily strains for a couple minutes without anything coming out. He continues walking, no longer accepting treats, and is taken to the yard. He sniffs around and remains neutral bodied with a relaxed tail. Handler attempts to pet but his body stiffens, handler ceases petting and continues to walk around the yard. As he is being returned to kennel, Choco Bean intensely pulls all the way back to his kennel. 07/14/26: Choco Bean is at the front of his kennel as the handler approaches. He stares at the handler and his body is stiff, but he is otherwise leashed with ease and taken outside. Once outside, Choco Bean relieves himself, then refuses to continue walking. He will stand on the ramp with the handler, but will occasionally attempt to pull back towards the building. When his kennel is clean, the handler returns Choco Bean inside and without issue. 07/14/26 (Trainer Note): Choco Bean is standing at the front of his kennel as the handler approaches. He is easily leashed and pulls moderately to the canine training room. He leans into contact from the handler and sniffs the room intently. The handler works with him on the leave it cue and he is able to leave a treat in a flat hand, but quickly loses interest. Choco Bean leans into contact before becoming aroused. He bites the leash for approximately 30 seconds, briefly taking his mouth off to follow a treat or toy, but then quickly resuming. However, he ceases after this interval. He is returned to kennel without issue. 07/11/26 (Training Note): Choco Bean is standing at the front of his kennel as the handler approaches. He is easily leashed and pulls moderately to the canine training room. He leans into contact with the handler, but shies away when they attempt to collar him. The handler works with him on the doggie zen game before transitioning to leave it. He is able to leave a treat in a flat hand. Choco Bean is easily leashed and returned to kennel without issue.

Date of intake:: 6/29/2026

Summary:: friendly but became nervous when staff handled, tucked tail

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): Due to Choco Bean's reported fearfulness, his resource guarding, and low threshold for arousal, we recommend that he be placed in an adult-only home. Recommend No Dog Parks: Due to the concerning behaviors that Choco Bean has shown during playgroup (see DOG-DOG SUMMARY), we feel that he should not visit dog parks. The Behavior Department recommends that he be socialized in a more controlled setting until his behavior towards other dogs can be further addressed. Reward-based, force-free training can be utilized to help Choco Bean associate dogs with things he enjoys like toys or treats. Place with a New Hope partner: Due to all noted concerns displayed in a home environment and during his stay in care, the behavior department recommends that Choco Bean be placed with a New Hope placement partner who is able to provide an experienced adult-only foster home. A period of decompression is recommended to allow Choco Bean to acclimate comfortably to his new environment; force-free, reward-based training only is advised when introducing him to new and unfamiliar situations. Consultation with a professional trainer/behaviorist is highly recommended for guidance to safely manage/modify any behavior Choco Bean presents with outside of the care centers.

Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Basic manners/poor impulse control,Fearful,Leash-biting,Low threshold for arousal

Potential challenges comments:: Resource guarding: Choco Bean is reported to resource guard food and toys. He will hover and growl when interacted with while eating and playing with toys. For this reason, we advise against ever removing items from Choco Bean's possession without safely trading for an item of equal or equal value. Guidance from a professional trainer/behaviorist is highly recommended to aid in safely managing/modifying this behavior in a new home environment. Please see handout on Resource guarding. Basic manners/poor impulse control: Choco Bean was reported to jump up often in the home. It is recommended that default behaviors such as "Leave it", "Sit/Stay", "Down" are reinforced to substitute any frustration and teach him to control his 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: Choco Bean is a bit fearful at the care center. It is important to always go slow and give him the option to walk away from any social interaction. Choco Bean should never be forced to approach anything that he is uncomfortable with or to submit to petting or handling. It should always be Choco Bean’s choice to approach a new person or thing. He would do best in an initially calm and quiet home environment and should be given time to acclimate to his new surroundings. Please see handout on decompression Period. Low threshold for arousal | leash biting: Choco Bean is quick to grab the leash in his mouth. We recommend walking him with a toy to dissuade him from grabbing the leash. Positive reinforcement and force-free training are advised to teach him to focus on you rather than grabbing the leash. Please see handout on Arousal.