Date of intake:: 12/16/2024

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

Other Notes:: Finder stated that she will growl when you try to touch her food or anything high value that falls on the floor.

Date of assessment:: 12/19/2024

Summary:: Due to Zima handling sensitivity and has shown to snap when her neck is touched we are unable to conduct a handling assessment at this time.

Summary:: Due to Zima entering the facility as a stray, there is no prior dog-to-dog history recorded. 12/23/24 Zima is introduced to a novel male dog while off leash at the care center. Zima scents the novel male dog at the gate and is nervous, lip licking and creating distance. Zima will displace, sniffing away from the gate in which she greets the novel male dog. Zima is returned to her kennel.

Summary (6):: 01/07/25: Zima is jumping up on kennel door as handler approaches. Her kennel is covered in smeared feces, and she is salivating and panting heavily. Zima is leashed with ease and pulls mildly up to the play yard. She shows interest in toys in handlers pouch but once they are tossed, she is no longer interested. Zima takes treats roughly from hand. Zima will sit for treats and scent for tossed treats along the yard. Zima is brought to the Live Room where a second handler offers her a puzzle toy which she spends several minutes engaging with. Second handler kneels down and Zima approaches with a loose frame. As handler slowly raises their hand under her chin to pet, Zima quickly snaps at their hand, making contact but does not break skin. Zima is redirected with a treat scatter and engages with a puzzle toy for several more minutes before returning to kennel safely. 1/3/25: Zima is at the front of the kennel pawing at her kennel door, with saliva on her kennel door. Zima is also spinning as the handler walks up to her kennel unlocking it, smearing feces on the floor of her kennel. Zima is a bit head shy and will not put her head into the loop of the leash without coaxing. Zima is coaxed with treats into the leash, and taken out for a walk where she pulls mildy, exploring her surroundings and does engage with the handler offering sit cues for treats. Zima is a bit hesitant to take the treats from the handlers hand, but overtime begins to do so with less hesitation each time. Zima does not react to any dogs, or strangers that pass and is brought back to kennel with no issue. 12/23/24: Zima was standing at the front door to her kennel as handler approached. She then started to jump and paw at at the door as the handler was unlocking it. She was able to be leashed with ease after a quick hesitation. She was able to walk to the play yard for play group with no issues. She showed little interest in greeting the other dog with a upward slow waging tail. Please see dog to dog notes for more details. She was able to be taken back to her kennel with no issues. 12/19/24 (PM): Zima was lying in kennel when handler approached. She approached front of kennel and was leashed with ease. Zima walked on a loose leash outside to the yard. Zima spent time sniffing on the ramp and was disinterested in other dogs/staff passing by. She was kept on the slip leash due to not yet being collared. Zima ate many treats and favored the crunchy milkbone marrow treats. She was highly food motivated and would catch treats in her mouth or lick crumbs off handler's hand. Zima was returned to kennel with ease and offered a soft, squeaker toy.

Summary (7):: 12/18/24 (PM) Zima is easily removed from kennel and taken to the play yard with two handlers. Her behavior correlated these mornings, however, when attempting to collar, she attempts to nip handler #2. Zima is then left alone as she explores before being returned to kennel. 12/18/24 Zima is standing in front of her kennel door with a neutral frame. The handler unlocks the kennel door and leashes her with ease as she steps forward. They proceed outside for a walk. Zima will maintain her neutral frame as she trots alongside the handler. Zima will explore in different areas. Zima discovers something that sparks her interest in a garbage bag and attempts to bite through the bag but is moved away by the handler. She remains neutral walking off. Their walk commences as Zima maintains her relaxed frame. She is returned to the facility where she will allow clipping to the lead prior to entering the building. She enters the building as well as her kennel with no issue. 12/17/24: (AM) Zima greets the handler standing in the front of their kennel with a loose frame and slow swaying tail. Zima is easily leashed and escorted to the "Live Room". When on leash Zima will very mildly pull sightly ahead of the handler. Zima enters the live room scenting around her new environment. When the handler passes a counter with chicken sitting on it, Zima immediately takes interest. She hastily rushes from one side of the room to scent beneath where the chicken was sitting. Zima attempts to climb the counter scenting. The handler guides Zima away. Zima approaches the handler and begins scenting their treat bag. Zima circles back to the chicken but this time when guided away Zima begins panting and very lightly whining before approaching the handlers treat pouch. Zima repeats the cycle again. The handler escort Zimba back to her kennel where she is unleashed and secured without any issues. - (PM) Zima greets the handler standing in front of his kennel with a loose frame and slow swaying tail. Zima is easily leashed and escorted out of the building for walks. When on street walks Zima will walk ahead of the handler with a loose frame. Zima will scan the environment, consistently scenting where other dogs have marked. Zima begins drooling. The handler escorts Zima back to her kennel where she is unleashed and secured without any issues. -

Date of intake:: 12/16/2024

Summary:: loose body allowed collar to be removed, head whip low growl, tired to snap when attempting id tag

Date of initial:: 12/16/2024

Summary:: easy to leash, snapped when tried to scan, muzzled for precaution

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13)- Due to Zima potential behavior challenges we recommend she is placed into an adult-only home at this time. Place with a New Hope partner-Zima arrived at the care center as a stray and has shown both social and challenging behaviors. She is often social with handlers, greeting them with a loose body and wagging tail, and walks well on a leash. However, Zima exhibits resource guarding, and growling when high-value items are approached, and shows handling sensitivity, including growling and snapping when attempting to collar. Due to these behaviors, Zima is available for rescue through one of our New Hope partners who can provide patient handling, positive reinforcement, and management strategies for her sensitivities.

Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression

Potential challenges comments:: Resource guarding- Finder stated that she will growl when you try to touch her food or anything high value that falls on the floor.To address her resource guarding, start by creating a calm and controlled environment during feeding times and when high-value items are present. Gradually desensitize her to your presence around her food and valued items by standing at a distance and slowly moving closer over time, rewarding her with treats for calm behavior. Practice trading games, where you offer her a high-value treat in exchange for the item she is guarding, to teach her that giving up resources leads to positive outcomes. Avoid taking items directly from her to prevent reinforcing her guarding behavior. Please see the handout on Resource guarding. Handling/touch sensitivity/Fearful/potential for defensive aggression- During intake she had a loose body with a wagging tail. She allowed the counselor to leash her and remove her collar with no issues. When the counselor went to collar her with an id band, she whipped her head around low growling and tried to snap. No further handling was done, and Zima was walked back to her kennel. When attempting to collar Zima later in the week she attempted to nip the handler. To address Zima's handling and touch sensitivity, as well as her fearfulness and potential for defensive aggression, start by creating a calm and predictable environment. Use desensitization and counter-conditioning techniques to gradually get her comfortable with handling. Please see the handout on Handling/touch sensitivity/Fearful/potential for defensive aggression.