Date of intake:: 5/15/2025

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner Surrender, 4 Years

Previously lived with:: 1 adult, 3 children (ages 3, 5, 16)

Behavior toward strangers:: When around strangers, Shadow Boy is tolerant and playful at times.

Behavior toward children:: When around children, Shadow Boy is friendly, outgoing, and playful.

Behavior toward dogs:: No experience with dogs.

Behavior toward cats:: No experience with cats.

Resource guarding:: Shadow Boy considers toys, treats, and food valuable and will hover over them but allows his owner to take them from him.

Bite history:: No bite history.

Housetrained:: No

Energy level/descriptors:: Medium

Other Notes:: Shadow Boy is described as social and affectionate. He spent most of the time in a shed. He allows the owner to bathe and brush him.

Date of assessment:: 5/18/2025

Summary:: 5/24/25 Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Hard pull Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: None Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Stays near handlers heavy panting, attempts to jump on the handler distracted with treats takes with hard pressure Call over: Readily approaches- heavy panting will grow stiff with touch Sociability comments: shakes off body doesn't settle Handling Soft handling: Allowed- turns to look at handler, heavy panting Exuberant handling: Allowed- distracted, heavy panting, pulls away from handling Handling comments: Arousal Jog: Follow - panting Arousal comments: Knock: Jumps on helper chest twice, has to be removed by the assessor Knock Comments: tense body, heavy panting Toy: Growling, tense body Toy comments: 5/17/25: Due to Shadow Boy's fearfulness displayed in care and potential low threshold for arousal, a handling assessment was not conducted at this time.

Summary:: According to Shadow Boy's previous owner(s), Shadow Boy has bot interacted with dogs having no experience with them. 05/21/25: When off leash at the Care Center Shadow Boy is introduced to a novel female dog. When the novel female approaches the pen, Shadow Boy will immediately begin hard barking and lunges in her direction. When out of sight Shadow Boy will decompress. The novel female will begin displacement scent reluctant to approach the gate. Shadow boy approaches with a hard expression on his face. Quickly Shadow Boy will escalate to baring his front teeth and prey bowing while hard barking. The novel female will return to displacement scenting. Both dogs are separated, concluding the interaction.

Summary (6):: 05/24/25 (staff report): Staff report that Shadow Boy is reactive to cars, bikes, and dogs while on walks. 05/24/25 (reassessment): Shadow Boy is standing at the front of kennel with a neutral frame as handler approaches. He is leashed with ease and pulls hard to the Canine Behavior Office for reassessment (see Behavior Assessment for further details). Shadow Boy immediately approaches assessor, and attempts jump up onto them and is easily distracted with tossed treats. Shadow Boy is collared with the use of spray cheese. He pants and paces throughout his time in the room and becomes tense bodied at times when contact is made. He takes treats roughly from hand. When handler re-enters room after knock, he will jump up with a tense frame twice, attempting to mount. Shadow Boy is passed off to the assessor who walks him over to a licky mat. He immediately engages and the lead is passed back to handler and the assessment continues. He becomes tense and low growls during toy portion of assessment. After assessment, Shadow Boy is leashed and returns to kennel safely.

Summary (7):: 05/23/25 (Trainer Note): Shadow Boy is standing at the front of his kennel with a neutral body as the handler approaches. He is easily leashed and pulls moderately to the canine training room. Shadow Boy shows no interest in toys, but readily takes treats. He moves through the various enrichment items from item to item with the handler. Handler then works with him on taking deep breaths on cue. He participates readily and responds to sit and paw cues. He then leans into contact with a slightly tense body. Handler pauses and he reinitiates, leaning back in. When handler stops, Shadow Boy jumps up onto the handler and begins to vocalize. Handler throws treats onto the snuffle mat and he follows them, redirecting without issue. He is returned to kennel without issue. - 05/21/25 (trainer note): Shadow Boy is standing at the front of his kennel with a neutral frame. He was easily leashed and walked to the live room on a loose leash. He is kept on leash in the room due to not having a collar. His demeanor was aloof as he slowly explored the room. He was not interested in toys and favored the licky mat with peanut butter. When offered a treat from hand, he took them roughly and his pupils became dilated. Handler practiced doggy zen which he caught on to quickly. He was returned to kennel with no issues. 05/21/25: Shadow Boy is standing at the front of his kennel and allows the handler to leash him with ease. He is brought to the play yard to meet a playmate. When the playmate enters the yard, Shadow Boy presents a play bow followed by a hard bark. As he approaches the gate for a nose-to-nose greeting, he begins hard barking, baring his teeth, and growling. While inside the yard, Shadow Boy attempts to mount the handler trying to wrap paws around handler's leg. On the way back to his kennel, he makes another attempt to mount the handler, prompting the handler to stiff-arm him to prevent escalation. Shadow Boy is returned to his kennel safely with no further issues. See Dog-to- Dog note for more information. 05/16/25 (Assessment Note): Shadow Boy is lying down in his kennel and slowly gets up, approaching the front with caution as the handler stands nearby. When the handler attempts to leash him, he startles as the leash touches the back of his neck, appearing spooked and jumping back. After a brief pause, he allows the handler to leash him and slowly walks out, being escorted to the assessment room. Due to his high stress level and fearful behavior, Shadow Boy is given additional time to adjust to the environment. See behavior assessment for more information. Shadow Boy is brought back to his kennel safely.

Date of intake:: 5/15/2025

Summary:: barked, social with owner, appears anxious

Date of initial:: 5/16/2025

Summary:: wraps arms around the person, possibly trying to hump, a few times did a low growl while on the staf

ENERGY LEVEL:: Shadow Boy is described by his previous owners as having a medium energy level. He will need daily mental and physical activity to keep him engaged and exercised.

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 Shadow Boy's fearfulness and resource guarding, we recommend he goes to an adult-only home. Place with a New Hope partner: Due to Shadow Boy's fearfulness and resource guarding, we recommend he is placed with one of our New Hope Partners.

Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Basic manners/poor impulse control,Mouthiness/poor bite inhibition,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Strength/leash pulling,Low threshold for arousal

Potential challenges comments:: Resource guarding: Shadow Boy is reported to hover over his food and treats when approached. Nothing should ever be taken directly out of Shadow Boy's mouth, and any time something is removed he should be rewarded with a high-value treat or toy. He should be taught the "drop" cue and trade-up games. See handout on Resource Guarding. Mouthiness/poor bite inhibition/Basic manners/poor impulse control: Shadow Boy is noted to take treats with hard pressure and jump on handlers and attempt to mount. Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Shadow Boy has been intensely fearful in care, and has growled a staff member. He should never be forced to greet or to interact if he is not comfortable and soliciting attention. Shadow Boy would do best in an initially calm and quiet home environment and should be given time to acclimate to his new surroundings. See handouts on Decompression Period and Fearful and Defensive Aggression. On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration: Shadow Boy is noted to become reactive with dogs, cars, bikes. Strength/leash pulling: Shadow Boy is noted in care to heavy pull while on walks. Low threshold for arousal: Shadow Boy has a low threshold for arousal and may become overstimulated quickly, as seen when he mounted and growled at a staff member. Interactions should remain calm and structured, with arousal levels monitored closely. If he begins to escalate, redirect with a known cue, give space, and allow time for him to settle. See handout on Arousal and Impulse Control.