Date of intake:: 8/15/2025

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner Surrender( they found her a year ago)

Previously lived with:: 2 adults, 1 child, 1 cat, 1 dog

Behavior toward strangers:: Shy at first and fearful. Africa may bark at strangers in the beginning.

Behavior toward children:: Friendly, affectionate, respectful, tolerant, and plays gently.

Behavior toward dogs:: Tolerant, affectionate, and friendly.

Behavior toward cats:: Tolerant, affectionate, and friendly.

Resource guarding:: No reported resource guarding.

Bite history:: No known reported bite history.

Housetrained:: Partially

Energy level/descriptors:: Africa is noted in the prior home to have a medium energy level.

Other Notes:: Africa is known to use the bathroom on wee-wee pads. During loud noises, she is nervous and may hide. She is comfortable when she is brushed, bothered when resting, or pushed off furniture. Africa is fearful when her nails are trimmed. She will bark at strangers approaching her or her family. She occasionally leash bites. Africa is described as caring, timid, fearful, and protective. She likes to chew on chew toys and her favorite toys are balls and frisbees. She spends most time next to her people or in the bedroom. Africa was fed wet and dry food but her favorite was chicken hearts. Africa knows commands in Spanish like sit, come, stay, and give paw.

Date of assessment:: 8/28/2025

Summary:: 08/28/25 Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Loose Reactivity to humans: N/a Reactivity to dogs: N/a Leash walking comments: tucked tail low body Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Fearful- warms up with slow approach but remains with a low body tucked tail Call over: Some when coaxes- shaking, tucked tail low body, allows light petting Sociability comments: skittish with fast movement Handling Soft handling: Allowed- lip, tucked tail, low body Exuberant handling: Allowed- lip, tucked tail Handling comments: Arousal Jog: Follow- low body, tucked tail Arousal comments: Knock: Approaches- low body, tucked tail Knock Comments: Toy: No repsonse Toy comments: 08/20/25: Due to African fearfulness, a handling assessment will not be conducted at this time.

Summary:: According to Africa's previous owner, she is tolerant, affectionate, and friendly with other dogs. 9/9: When off-leash at the Care Center, Africa is introduced to a novel male dog. She stands at the gate with a stiff, forward-facing posture, hackles raised, eyes hard, lips puckered. Africa muzzle punches the gate in response to the male's escalations. The interaction is then ended to prevent further incident.

Summary (5):: 9/9: Africa is at the front of her kennel when a handler approaches. Her tail is low but wags slowly. When the handler unlocks the kennel door, she retreats to the far side of her kennel. The handler coaxes her to the front with treats and can leash her slowly. Africa readily exits and is taken to the play yard. She immediately relieves herself once attached to a drag leash. She then goes to the other end of the pen and relieves herself before her dog-dog interaction. Once that is complete, the handler begins to walk Africa back to her kennel. As they exit the yard, Africa sees another dog/handler pair on the outside of the fence, and she begins hard barking at them. The handler is able to continue walking with her and she returns to her kennel without issue.

Summary (6):: 08/28/25: Africa is standing at the front of her kennel with a tucked tail, but she remains still and allows the handler to leash her with ease. She is then brought to the assessment room, where a drag leash is placed on her slowly and gently. Africa remains skittish, displaying a lowered body posture, tucked tail, and avoidant behavior toward handlers. The handler kneels down and offers her chicken, which she takes, then slowly stands and walks away to create space. After a brief moment, Africa approaches the same handler and stands up on her hind legs, soliciting attention and showing signs of warming up. Once the session is complete, Africa is escorted back to her kennel safely without any issues. 08/26/25 Africa is standing in front of her kennel door with a soft frame. She is easily leashed and taken for a walk. Africa will hop out of her kennel with a soft, wiggly frame, trotting her way to the exit. Africa maintains her soft frame and moderate pace as they go for a walk. Africa will become startled from a truck's noise; however, she shakes off and commence working. Africa is returned back to the facility where she will enter the building as well as her kennel with no issue. 8/24/25: Africa was waiting at front of kennel and was leashed with ease. She walked to the yard and was clipped to a drag leash. Africa seems housetrained and relieved herself once outside. Africa would poke her head under the visual barrier to observe dogs passing by on the street. When handler crouched down, Africa would approach with a bouncy frame and then stand neutrally while pet. She would jump up on handler to solicit contact but still seemed conflicted as she was panting and had her ears slicked back. She did not display any distance increasing behavior when pet with breaks every few seconds. As Africa moved around the pen handler noticed her tail was completely untucked and wagging loosely. Africa was returned to kennel with ease. 8/20/25: Africa was on a drag leash in the pen as a staff member and MOP walked past with another dog. Africa did not react to the staff member or dog. The MOP was above average height and on a video call, holding his phone up at chest height. He noticed Africa and turned to face the fence front on while still holding the phone up. Africa began to low growl and bark. She remained in the middle of the pen and did not approach the fence. Africa stopped vocalizing as soon as the MOP turned away. She was returned to kennel without issue. In progress.

Summary (7):: 8/18/25: Africa is laying down on her bed as handler approaches the live room door. She comes forward to the front when she sees the handler through the small window on the door. She remains at the gate blocker as the handler opens the door and turns on the light. She has a tense body and begins to whimper as the handler speaks to her. The handler then allows her to sniff them and then walks over and sits on the couch. She was comfortable approaching the handler and would jump up and lay her body across the handler and accepted petting. She would walk away and then come back to the handler and start whimpering again. She is able to be transferred to a slip lead and is slowly brought back to her kennel. She jumps at the door and starts whimpering as the handler locks it and walks away. 08/17/25: Africa's behavior remains consistent with PM note from 08/16/25 (see below). She is collared and clipped to a drag lead, free to explore the space. After her session, she follows handler into kennel, returning safely. 08/16/25 (PM): Africa is lying on her kuranda bed with a slightly tense frame as handler approaches. She slowly comes forward and is leashed with ease, walking with a low, tense frame to the Canine Behavior Office. Africa slowly walks around the room with a tense trembling frame. She will slowly approach handlers to sniff before walking away. Handler sits on the couch and Africa will stand close by, accepting light petting along her neck and side. She will take cheese offered to her but does not eat it. After her session, she is returned to kennel, balking at kennel front and is not easily lured with treats or squeaker. Handler walks into kennel and Africa will follow, returning to kennel safely. (AM): As the handler approaches, Africa lowers her head and ears while watching them. During the leashing process, she displays mild avoidance, subtly shifting her head to evade the leash. Once leashed, she is escorted out of the care center. On leash, Africa walks cautiously, keeping her head low and shoulders high, frequently scanning her surroundings or checking in with the handler—consistently showing signs of being in a flight state. When passing the parking lot gate, her fear increases, and she attempts to create distance by moving away. Upon reaching the end of the lead, she may exhibit very mild thrashing. The handler maintains control of the leash and slowly approaches her; Africa remains still until the handler reaches her. She is then escorted back to the care center, mildly pulling back toward the kennel. Once at her kennel, she is safely secured.

Date of intake:: 8/15/2025

Summary:: visibly nervous and attempted to hide behind the owner whenever staff entered the waiting room. Staf

Date of initial:: 8/18/2025

Summary:: Whale eye, furrowed brow, panting. Allowed all handling while moving slowly, started leaning into pe

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to African fearfulness, we recommend she be placed in an adult-only home at this time. Place with a New Hope partner: Africa came into the care center as an owner surrender due to having found her a year ago and having no luck in rehoming her or finding her owners. In the care center Africa has shown consistent signs of fearfulness, anxiety, and sensitivity to her environment. She often presents with a tense body, lowered head, trembling. In quieter, controlled settings, Africa will cautiously approach handlers, accept light petting, and occasionally seek comfort from selective familiar handlers by leaning or lying across them, though she may whimper and display conflicted behavior. Africa would benefit from placement with a New Hope partner experienced in supporting fearful dogs, ideally in a calm environment where she can continue to build trust at her own pace.

Potential challenges: : Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Anxiety,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Leash-biting

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful/potential for defensive aggression | Anxiety: Africa shows signs of fear and anxiety in response to loud noises and handling, particularly during nail trims. In the care center, she presents with a tucked tail and low body posture, indicating discomfort and a need for gentle, confidence-building interactions and desensitization to stressful stimuli. Although during her time in care, she has escalated to hard barkng and growling at a passerby. Please see the handout on Fearful/potential for defensive aggression and general anxiety. On-Leash Reactivity/Barrier Frustration: In her previous home and during walks, Africa barked at strangers approaching her or her family. This behavior reflects barrier frustration or protective tendencies, and may require structured training to reduce reactivity and build positive associations with passersby. Please see the handout on On-Leash Reactivity/Barrier Frustration. Leash-Biting: Africa has been noted to occasionally bite the leash, which may be a sign of frustration, overstimulation, or a coping mechanism. This behavior can be redirected through engagement exercises and teaching alternative behaviors during walks. Please see the handout on Leash-Biting.