Date of intake:: 11/2/2025

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray; history unknown

Date of assessment:: 11/5/2025

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Loose Reactivity to humans: N/a Reactivity to dogs: N/a Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Anxious- wide eyes, flushed face, heavy open mouth panting Call over: Anxious-takes treats but stops heavy open mouth panting, Sociability comments: Handling Soft handling: Tolerant- reset into handling, heavy panting Exuberant handling: Tolerant- Heavy open mouth panting, stiff, wide eyes Handling comments: Arousal Jog: Follow- low body, balking Arousal comments: Knock: Puckered lips, square tense Knock Comments: Toy: Sniff, walks away sniffing floor displacement Toy comments: 11/4/26: Otis is taken to the behavior for a handling assessment he displays a low body and tucked tail. Once in the office, he smells the handlers but remains with a low body, with fast movement, he will drop to the floor and flich away. He allows the handler to collar him and give him light pets but due to his fearfulness, he is given more time to decompress.

Summary:: Due to entering the facility as a stray, there is no prior dog-to-dog history recorded. 11/05/25 Otis is introduced to a female helper dog while off leash at the care center. Otis will approach the gate and sniff the female dog through the gate displaying a neutral body and a wagging tail, chattering in the process. Otis is guided into the pen, maintaining a neutral body as he approaches the female dog. Otis displays wide eyes and will immediately attempt to mount the female dog, appearing sexually motivated. Both dogs are separated and Otis is returned to kennel, concluding the interaction.

Summary (6):: 11/19/25: Otis is at the front of his kennel standing when the handler approaches, and sniffs the handlers treats out of there hand but otherwise remains quiet. Otis is tossed food behind him, which he turns arounds and begins to eat. 11/17 (PM): Otis is sitting at the front of his kennel when two handlers approach. Otis's kuranda bed is flipped, he has knocked his water bucket over, and pulls the tray with the water bowls into the kennel. Handler 1 begins feeding Otis sausage while Handler 2 attempts to leash him. Otis immediately begins muzzle punching the kennel door when the handler attempts to leash him. Handler 2 can leash him, and he charges out of the kennel. Otis attempts to grab at the back of Handler 1's leg as he is walked ot a new kennel in a different room. He is reluctant to enter the kennel, but once sausages are tossed in, Otis then walks in. 11/17/25: Otis is standing at the front of kennel with a square, tense, frame as handler approaches. He begins jumping up at the kennel door incessantly. As handler reaches to unlock the kennel door, he begins mouthing at the kennel door repeatedly. Handler offers treats through the kennel door to distract Otis while leashing and he bites and releases their thumb (no broken skin). Otis begins biting at the lead and is redirected momentarily with tossed treats but as handler is positioning their lead again, he begins jumping up and biting at the door. Handler is able to quickly toss their lead and remove him from kennel. Otis pulls hard toward the neighboring kennels on the way out and is quickly ushered out of the room and into the Canine Behavior Office. Otis intermittently engages with a slow feeder and snuffle mat. He takes treats gently from hand. After his session, he pulls hard back to kennel, returning safely.

Summary (7):: 11/16/25 (staff report) PM: Otis is reported to fixate on handler's hand while leashing. Handler is able to distract momentarily with a toy and leash him quickly. On the way out of kennel room, Otis pulls towards kennels to kennel fight. Out on the walk, Otis is tense-bodied and will jump up at the lead and bite it, releasing quickly. On the way back to kennel, he begins to kennel fight again and is returned to kennel safely. Otis flips his kuranda bed and picks up his bucket of water and tosses it. (staff report) AM: Otis is reported to fixate on handler's hand when leashing. He nips their hand but does not break skin. Handler is able to leash Otis and he is taken out for a walk. On the way back to kennel, he begins kennel fighting but is returned safely. 11/15/25 (staff report): Otis is reported to have lunged toward handler's hand twice when trying to leash him. Another staff member assists distracting him with treats and the handler is able to throw their lead over his head and take him out for a walk. He is returned to kennel safely. 11/7/25: Otis is noted to not want to go back into kennel and a towel is used to sling him back inside. 11/5 (assessment): Otis is lying at the back corner of his kennel when a handler approaches. He displays whale eyes and begins trembling when he sees the handler. The handler tosses treats towards him, and he eats the ones closest to him. Otis stands and begins following a trail to the front of the kennel. The handler continues to feed him treats while slipping the lead over his head. Otis does begin to balk at the intersection of rooms in the hallway; the handler bends to one knee and coaxes him over, and it takes a few tries before he begins walking on his own again. He is taken to the behavior office and put on a drag leash. Otis remains tense but will approach for treats. Once his assessment is complete, Otis begins to balk as the handler leads him to the exit of the office. The handler makes a trail of sliced cheese leading out of the office, down the hallway, to the room. Once in front of the room, Otis plants and slowly stops taking the cheese. Another dog in the room begins barking at him, and he bolts forward, and the handler tosses the remaining cheese they have into the kennel for Otis to follow in. 11/04/25 (BA) Otis is at the front of his kennel sitting in front of his kennel door. Otis displays whale eyes as he trembles. The handler unlocks the kennel door, and Otis will lightly dodge the lead, appearing nervous as he paw raises. Once leashed he will quickly exit the kennel room, with a slight tucked tail, pulling on leash. Otis will scurry towards the behavior office displaying a low head. Otis still appears nervous, displaying a still frame, whale eyes and a low head. Otis's tail remains tucked and he is avoidant of handlers. He will allow light pets from the assessor but due to his fearfulness, returned to kennel in order to decompress.

Date of intake:: 11/2/2025

Date of initial:: 11/3/2025

Summary:: tolerated all handling and tasks, very food-motivated

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): We Reccomend Otis be placed in an adult-only home at this time. Place with a New Hope partner: Otis came into the care center as a stray. Due to this, his behavioral history in a home environment is unknown. Due to Otis high level of fearfulness and selectivity of touch from handlers, we reccomend he be placed through one of our new hope partners.

Potential challenges: : Fearful,Anxiety

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful/Anxiety: Use low-stress handling and avoid sudden movements or loud environments. Provide calming enrichment like scent work, soft music, and puzzle toys to help him decompress. Gradual desensitization to triggers, paired with high-value rewards, can help build confidence. Walks should be in quiet areas with minimal stimulation, and handlers should use slow, predictable body language to reduce hypervigilance and prevent escalation. Please see the handout on the decompression period and generalized anxiety.