Date of intake:: 5/19/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray (No Known History)

Date of assessment:: 5/22/2026

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: None Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: Inconclusive Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Fearful Call over: Approaches with coaxing Sociability comments: Fearful and tense, slow to approach, receptive to cheese and allows collaring without issue. Soft handling: Accepts Contact Exuberant handling: Accepts contact Comments: Slow to approach but upon approach begins soliciting pets from handler. Arousal Jog comments: Follows slowly Knock Knock comments: Approaches with soft wagging tail Toy Toy comments: No response

Summary:: 5/29/26: Surfer greets another dog at the gate with a neutral body and tail wag. He demand barks becomes tense growls then goes back to being neutral bodied.

Summary (6):: 6/1/26: Surfer was at front of kennel vocalizing when handler approached. He was easily leashed and pulled from kennel. coming out of kennel he pulled hard towards the other kennels while barking and showing teeth. When he exited the room he pulled towards all the crates that had dogs in them. Handler had to keep Surfer on a very short leash to get past the kennels and the crates. While on his street walk he walks ahead of handler continuing to pull hard. He accepts treats as handler offers them, sometimes gently and other times harshly. On return to kennel he once again pulls hard toward kennels and crates alike attempting to snap at the dogs inside. 5/31/26: Surfer was at front of kennel with a tense body as handler approached. He was easily leashed and pulled from kennel. Exiting the kennel Surfer pulled hard to try to get the kennels near him while vocalizing. Handler kept stead leash pressure and kept him moving forward out of room. While on walk Surfer would alternate between light pulling and heavy pulling. He would take treats when offered. Surfer kept a tense body with ears back and tail up. He was returned to kennel with no issue.

Summary (7):: 5/29/26: Surfer was standing at front of kennel with a loose body as handler approached. He was easily leashed and pulled from kennel and taken for a street walk. He walked next to handler for most of the walk but would moderately pull when he saw a spot that he wanted to mark or investigate. He was returned to kennel with no issue. 5/28/26: Surfer is at the front of his kennel, neutral body barking. He is not intersted in treats but easily leashed without. A handful of treats are tossed to a neighboring dog who is at the front of their kennel barking. AS that dog engages with treats handler removes Surfer from his kennel and walks him to the street. He pulls hard forward to spots to sniff and mark. He is aloof with handler. When seeing a dog a bit ahead on the sidewalk, he stands, body still staring but when the dog turns away and walks in the other direction, Surger resumes sniffing. His kennel is not yet cleaned so he is brought to the behavior office. He is not interested in treats and is focused on the door. Handler squeaks a toy and he jumps onto handler, bouncing on his back legs a few times before stopping and going back to the door. When another handler enters the office, Surfer is neutral with wagging tail as he greets before staring at the door again. He returns to kennel without issue. 5/28/26: It is reported that on the 27th during the PM shift, Surfer began jumping off the walls, and lunging towards the other dogs while exiting the kennel room. When returning to kennel the room was quiet so the handler was able to make it further into the room without issue. When reaching the dog in the kennel next to him (Hailey) began barking. Surfer lunged towards the other dog. Surfer then began jumping up and spinning around with an open mouth and lunging towards the handler. A second handler had to step in and assist with putting Surfer into the kennel. 5/22/26: (assessment walk) Surfer is laying down in middle of kennel as handler approaches, soft body. When handler begins to unlock door, Surfer stands, approaches with soft body with furrowed brow. He stretches briefly, allows easy leashing. He steps out of kennel, walks with loose leash out to sidewalk. Surfer shows no interest in people, does not see dogs on walk. Surfer maintains loose leash, soft body on walk, relieves himself. Surfer is walked into office, he does not initially approach but does accept high value treats (See assessment). He allows leashes to be switched back, and is walked back to kennel. He does not enter kennel, treats are ineffective to lure him, he is muscled into kennel.

Date of intake:: 5/19/2026

Summary:: Social with handlers, leaning in for pets, sitting for treats

Date of initial:: 5/20/2026

Summary:: Thrashed with restraint, growled for vaccines, snapped at muzzle

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Surfer so we cannot be certain of his behavior in a home environment. However, he will need daily mental and physical activity to keep him engaged and exercised. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in additional to physical exercise, to positively direct his energy and enthusiasm.

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 Surfer's fearful disposition and escalation to defensive aggression, we recommend a home with no children. No Dog Parks: Due to his dog to dog interaction and his kennel reactivity we recommend no trips to the dog park. 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: : Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration

Potential challenges comments:: Handling Sensitivity/Fearful Potential for Defensive Aggression: During his medical intake exams it was reported that Surfer would thrash when being restrained and escalated to growling and snapping when being muzzled and vaccinated. During his assessment he also displayed a tense body and was slow to warm up. Surfer should never be forced to interact, he should always be given the opportunity to walk away from situations or people he finds uncomfortable. We recommend a slow approach and we recommend ONLY force-free, reward-based training methods for Surfer. More aversive techniques are likely to increase fear, increase the risk of aggression, and decrease Surfer's quality of life. Please see handouts on Fearful and Defensive Aggression as well as Handling and Touch Sensitivity. On Leash Reactivity: Surfer has been observed to lunge towards the other dogs in the kennel room. During one instance, Surfer spun and lunged at a handler after reacting to a dog in the kennel room. Surfer 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.