Date of intake:: 4/7/2025

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray ( Unknown History)

Date of assessment:: 4/9/2025

Summary:: ***4/15/25:Snow is taken to the behavior assessment room for a handling assessment. Once in the room, snow displays a low body and stiff body, he begins to take treats roughly and begins to huff at the assessor and bow with a tense body. When the helper released him, he flinched and headwhipped. A handling will not be conducted at this time.*** ***4/9/25:Snow is taken to the behavior assessment room for a handling assessment. Once in the room, he begins to bark hard and lunge at the assessor, then starts to hide behind the helper's leg. Snow is taken back to his kennel, and a handling assessment is not conducted at this time.***

Summary:: Due to Snow entering the facility as a stray, there is no prior dog-to-dog history recorded. 04/17/25: When off leash at the Care Center Snow is introduced to a novel female dog. When the handlers attempt to collar Snow she will retreat fearfully and give mild head whips in avoidance. Snow was not collared. At the gate Snow approaches with a curious frame. Both dogs will scent one another through the gate. Snow will offer play bows as the novel female mirrors her behavior, play bowing as well. Snow will begin demand barking and bouncing in and out of play bows. Both dogs are separated thus ending the interaction. 04/12/25: When off leash at the Care Center Snow is introduced to a novel male dog. When the handlers attempt to collar Snow she will retreat fearfully and give mild head whips in avoidance. Snow was not collared. At the gate Snow approaches with a curious frame. Both dogs will scent one another through the gate. The novel male will quickly escalate from growling, to barking and lunging at the gate. When the the handlers attempt to separate both dogs the novel male will stand on the gate with a stiff frame. Snow will remain present before retreating from the gate. Both dogs are separated thus ending the interaction.

Summary (7):: 04/13/25: Snow is standing up in her kennel and greets the handler with a neutral frame. As the handler attempts to leash her, she pushes her head through the door, attempting to bolt out. Once leashed, Snow is brought to the live room for an enrichment session. When the handler attempts to attach a drag leash to her collar, Snow begins to head whip and displays whale eyes. Her tail remains downward, and she presents as very skittish in response to sudden movements. Snow will take treats roughly from the handler’s hand, creeping up to engage but becoming conflicted when the handler reaches toward her. Once the session has ended, Snow is escorted back to her kennel safely.

Date of intake:: 4/7/2025

Summary:: Fearful

Date of initial:: 4/8/2025

Summary:: hard barking, growling, lunging in kennel, sedated for medical handling

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Snow Defensive behavior in care, we recommend he be placed in an adult-only home at this time. Place with a New Hope partner: Snow arrived at the care center as a stray, so his behavioral history is unknown. During intake and his medical exam, he exhibited high levels of reactivity, including hard barking, growling, and lunging, and required sedation for handling. This behavior has persisted in care, as he continues to growl and lunge at staff. During an assessment attempt, Snow initially displayed defensive beahvior toward the assessor, barking and lunging, before retreating behind the helper’s leg. Given his fear-based reactivity and handling sensitivity, Snow requires placement through a New Hope partner with an experienced handler who can work on building trust and reducing his stress in a structured environment.

Potential challenges: : Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Kennel presence

Potential challenges comments:: Handling/touch sensitivity/Kennel presence/Fearful/potential for defensive aggression/On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration: During intake and his medical exam Snow is hard barking, growling, lunging in the kennel and sedated for medical handling. Snow has continued to display similar behavior in care and will growl and lunge at staff. Training should focus on reducing his fear and defensive behavior through gradual desensitization, creating positive associations with handling, and addressing his barrier frustration and on-leash reactivity with controlled exposure and reinforcement of calm behaviors. Please see the handout Kennel presence/Fearful/potential for defensive aggression/On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration.