Date of intake:: 6/23/2026

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

Date of assessment:: 6/26/2026

Summary:: 06/26/26: Due to Baxter snapping at handlers during leashing and his fearfulness shown in care, a handling assessment will not be conducted at this time.

Summary (5):: 7/5/26: Baxter is laying down in his crate with a tense body as handler approaches. He begins to whale eye and lip lick while the handler unlocks the door. He then stands up to be leashed and then pulls on the way outside for a walk. On the walk, he continues to pull ahead and would hard stare at dogs that would pass by. He is able to be redirected with a squeaker, but he does not take treats. He would head whip and whale eye at the handler when re-entering the building and would hard stare at the handler as they use the hook to retrieve their leash back when he is returned back into his crate. 7/4/26: Baxter is laying down in his crate with a tense body as handler approaches. He begins lip lick while the handler unlocks the door and he then slowly stands up and allows the handler to leash him. He is then taken the behavior room. In the room, he would sniff around and would approach the handler to receive treats. He would jump up on the handler and then become tense when the handler tries to interact with him. He whale eyes at the handler as they attempt to clip their leash. The handler then returns him back to his crate and retrieves their leash with a hook.

Summary (6):: 7/2/26: Baxter is ls laying down in his crate as handler approaches. He has tense body as he hard stares at the handler when he is leashed. He then slowly steps out of the crate and then pulls on the way outside for a walk. On the walk, he continues to pull hard ahead as he sniffs around to explore. While another is passing by, he becomes tense and tries to pull towards the dog while hard barking. He is able to be pulled away but he has no interests in treats. He would head whip while the handler quickly clips their leash and he is then taken back to his crate with no issues. 06/30/26: Baxter is at the back of his crate as the handler approaches. The handler leashes him with ease and brings him to the office. Baxter relieves himself, then walks quickly around the room, glancing back at the handler repeatedly. When the handler kneels, Baxter approaches the handler with his tail tucked, but does rub his head on the handler's leg. The handler pets his head briefly. Baxter does not walk away from the handler, but he also does not solicit more petting. The handler tosses treats in an attempt to distract Baxter while clipping the leash. The handler is able to clip the leash, but Baxter whips his head around and tries to run from the handler. The handler offers him more treats and lets him settle again before returning him to his crate. 06/29/26: Baxter is at the back of his crate as the handler approaches. He comes forward and puts his head through the leash, exiting his crate with no issue. The handler takes him outside to a play yard. He walks at the end of the leash, but doesn't consistently pull. When in the yard, Baxter sniffs and explores, shows little interest in toys, and relieves himself. At one point, he approaches the handler and stands in front of their legs, gently leaning into them. When returning, the handler is able to clip the leash while Baxter is looking at someone passing by. Baxter has no reaction, but pulls harder when reentering the building. He is brought back to his crate with no issue.

Summary (7):: 06/28/26: Baxter is at the back of his crate as the handler approaches. The handler is able to move some bedding out of the way and leash Baxter. As soon as he feels the leash tighten just a bit, he jumps backwards. He is brought to the office where he sniffs around, relieves himself, and licks a lick mat. He startles at any sudden noise and will try to find a spot to stand that is far away from anyone in the room. When the handler bends down to clip him, Baxter whips his head around. He is brought back to his crate and the leash is removed with a hook. 6/27/26: Baxter is at the back of his kennel where he is curled up as the handler approaches. The handler will off him some treats but he will not get up. They leave the room and come back with some cheese and when they come back, he is at the front of the kennel and will stare at the handler with wide eyes. He will eat the cheese from the handler's hand and from the kennel floor inside the leash loop. He is leashed slowly and brought out of kennel to the behavior office where he will sniff around and eat cheese and treats from the handler's hand and the ground. Another handler will bring him a licki mat and he will get very startled and runs away from the licki mat. He will then slowly approach the licki mat and eats the cheese off of it. After he is done, the handler will start up/down game and Baxter will engage readily and even re-engages with the game after being startled by noises outside of the room. After a while, the handler will try to clip the ring but he will back away from it so the handler chooses to take the leash off with the hook. He is secured safely. 06/26/26( late entry) On the white board it is noted that he will snap at handlers during leashing attempts. 06/25/26(Dog to Dog Note): Baxter is standing at the front of his kennel and allows the handler to leash him with ease. He is then brought to the play yard to meet a female playmate. Once inside the yard, the handler attempts to place a drag leash and collar on him, but he continuously avoids the handler. When escorted to the greeting gate, Baxter briefly sniffs his playmate and then disengages, walking away and showing no interest in further interaction. He is brought back to his kennel safely without any issues. For more information, see Dog to Dog Assessment.

Date of intake:: 6/23/2026

Summary:: fearful but very tolerant of all handling. He was easily scanned, leashed, walked, pet, and placed

Date of initial:: 6/24/2026

Summary:: timid, food motivated but when attempt to approach for exam backs up, attempted to muzzle and began

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Baxter's fearfulness, we reccomend he be placed in an adult-only home at this time. Place with a New Hope partner: Baxter came into the care center as a stray due to this, his behavioral history in a home environment is unknown. Baxter has not acclimated well to the kennel environment and has allowed only minimal handling since intake. We recommend placement with a New Hope partner who can provide any necessary behavior modification (force-free, positive reinforcement-based) and re-evaluate behavior in a stable home environment before placement into a permanent home.

Potential challenges: : Fearful/potential for defensive aggression

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: During Baxter medical exam he is noted to be timid, food motivated but when attempt to approach for exam backs up, attempted to muzzle and began to thrash. In the care center he is noted to snap during leashing attempts.Baxter will benefit from low-stress handling approaches, allowing space, slow introductions to procedures, and careful attention to his body language to prevent defensive responses. Please see the handout on Fearful/potential for defensive aggression.