Date of intake:: 9/20/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray, No known history

Date of assessment:: 9/23/2026

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Mild Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: None Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Fearful Call over: Approaches handler with coaxing Sociability comments: Timid with handlers, receptive to high value treats Soft handling: Accepts contact Exuberant handling: Accepts contact Comments: Arousal Jog comments: Follows handler, neutral body Knock Knock comments: Approaches handler with coaxing Toy Toy comments: Sniffs, No reaction

Summary:: Due to entering the facility as a stray, there is no prior dog-to-dog history recorded. 9/30/26: Babka is introduced to a novel intact female and is loose at the fence with mid level wags. When the other dog walks away, Babka disengages without issue and greets his handler. He is let into the yard and remains in place as the other dog approaches, turning his head away when face to face but still loose with mid level wags. He attempts mutual sniffing but the other dog initiates play, bumping him and doing chin overs. He stands still and is tolerant but does not reciprocate play, retreating. When given space, he begins leaping towards his handler multiple times. He is able to be redirected with treats and shakes off. He then continues leaping towards his handler and has to be consistently distracted with treats. 9/29/26: Babka is introduced to a novel spayed female and is loose and wiggly at the fence with low wags. He sniffs in the catch pen and then reapproaches remaining loose. He is then introduced to a novel intact female and is loose at the fence with mid level wags, quickly disengaging and looking towards handlers while huffing. He reapproaches but is hypervigilant, looking back towards the same handlers. He will give low wags towards the dog but then remains fixated at the same area. The meet is kept to the fence due to Babka's hypervigilance and fixation.

Summary (6):: 10/9/26 - Babka is at the back of his kennel when handler approaches, handler talks to him in a soft tone and tosses treats, he comes to the front of kennel with a loose body and wagging tail. Babka is easy to unleash and exit from kennel. Outside on his walk he walks with a loose body and engages with the handler in verbal commands and treats, he does grab a bottle from the ground but with a treat trade handler was able to remove it from him. He solicits pets and jumps on the handler socially, when returning to kennel there are no further issues and he is easily unleashed. 9/30/26 [playgroup]: Babka is at the front of his kennel, pawing at the door when the handler approaches. He barks in demanding way while handler unlocks the kennel. Handler uses a treat lure to leash Babka, and he willingly exits the kennel with no reaction to neighboring dogs. Babka pulls strongly ahead of the handler while walking through the hallways. He shows no reaction to pop-up crates or staff members and remains focused on moving forward. Babka is taken to the yard for the playgroup (see notes). While in the yard, he ignores another dog and attempts to jump onto the handler. He is panting and his eyes are wide and red. After he gets distracted by a trash bin and pulls toward it, muzzle-punching the bin and fixating while attempting to open it. He responds to recall and redirects with leash tension. During return, handler pre-clips the leash. When approaching the kennel, Babka retreats and refuse going back and has to be muscled in. Once inside, he attempts to jump onto the kennel door. However, handler closes the door before he is able to push it and gets the leash back without further issue.

Summary (7):: 9/29/26: Babka is at the front of his kennel with a soft body and slow wagging tail; he is easily leashed and brought out the room. During the elevator ride, Babka allows pets from the handler, leaning into them and curving his body as they pet his rear. Babka is brought to the yard for playgroup (see notes); before the interaction, he allows more pets from the handler. When other unfamiliar handlers call him, Babka slowly approaches them, but then walks away and ignores them; when he approaches again and one of the handlers takes out their phone to take a picture, Babka lowers his body and slowly backs away. Babka then gnaws on the garbage bin twice in a non-aroused state. At the beginning of the interaction, Babka fixates on the handlers standing on the side; as another one of them slowly approaches, Babka barks at them and the handler quickly pulls him away to create distance. The interaction is stopped, and Babka is brought inside. After receiving pets, babka jumps up high towards the handler's face. He is returned to his kennel afterwards; Babka jumps on the kennel doors and barks at the handler as they walk away. 9/24: Volunteer Note - Babka paused briefly coming out of his kennel, but responded to baby talk and slowly walked out. On the way to the backyard pen, he crouched low and paused a few times in the unfamiliar environment, needing gentle encouragement. But as soon as he saw a ball, he completely transformed into a playful, confident boy! He LOVES fetch and plays very politely, bringing the ball right back and even re-tossing it toward me to ask for another throw. He knows sit, paw, and other paw. Once out of his fear mode, Babka is such a sweet, smart, playful, and polite boy. 9/23/26: Babka stands up at the front of his kennel with a neutral body and slow wagging tail; he is easily leashed and brought out the kennel. There's a few brief instances that Babka stops walking, from exiting the room to entering the hallway; each time, the handler applies gentle leash pressure and says his name in a baby voice. On the street, Babka initially walks next to the handler, but then he walks ahead with mild leash tension; he doesn't react to people or dogs. Babka is brought inside for his assessment (see notes); afterwards, he is brought to his kennel. Babka refuses to enter his kennel, as he walks away from it; the handler brings him closer and muscles him into the kennel.

Date of intake:: 9/20/2026

Summary:: Initially loose and wiggly, become when when walking to kennel

Date of initial:: 9/21/2026

Summary:: Reluctant to exit kennel, Allowed full exam and all tasks.

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Babka so we cannot be certain of their behavior in a home environment. However, they will need daily mental and physical activity to stay 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.

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 object fixation, we recommend an adult only home. Recommend No Dog Parks: Due to the concerning behaviors that Babka has shown during playgroup (see DOG-DOG SUMMARY) indicating possible redirection risk, 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 around other dogs can be further addressed. Reward-based, force-free training can be utilized to help Babka associate dogs with things he enjoys like toys or treats. 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: : Fearful,Low threshold for arousal

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful: Babka has been noted to be reluctant to exit kennel. During intake he was reported to be fearful when walking towards his kennel. They should never be forced to approach anything that they are uncomfortable with or submit to petting or handling. It should always be their choice to approach a new person or thing. Babka would do best in an initially calm and quiet home environment and should be given time to acclimate to their new surroundings. Please see handout on Decompression Period. Arousal: Babka has been observed to fixate on inanimate objects such as the trash can and will begin muzzle punching it. He has also been observed to fixate on handlers and jump up high towards their face. Positive reinforcement training should be used to teach Babka to remain calm during arousing situations. If they begin to escalate, people should pause the interaction, and create distance from the trigger. Pattern games such as 1-2-3 treat and the cue “mat” can be used to reinforce calm behaviors. Please see handout on Arousal.