Date of intake:: 8/12/2025

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray(Limited history)

Date of assessment:: 8/14/2025

Summary:: 8/20/25: Sunny is taken to the behavior office for a handling assessment. She displays pinned back ears and a lower body. Sunny begins to flinch at fast movements and tucks in her tail. Sunny does take treats quickly from the handlers, but will quickly head whip and turn her body when touched. Due to her fearfulness, a handling assessment will not be conducted at this time. 08/14/25: Due to Sunny's high level of fearfulness and avoidance of handling, a handling assessment will not be conducted at this time. ***08/13/25: Sunny is given more time to decompress due to displaying fearful/ anxious behavior during her DVM today.***

Summary:: Due to entering the facility as a stray, there is no prior dog-to-dog history recorded. 08/25/25 Sunny is introduced at the gate to a novel male dog. Sunny initially approaches the gate with a still frame and tucked tail, however, when sniffing the male dog, begins to loosen up. Sunny displays a wagging tail and softer frame, remaining present as the male dog displaces, sniffing away from the gate. Sunny is moved away, concluding the interaction. 08/14/25 Couldn't conduct due to fearfulness. Will be revisited at a later date.

Summary (6):: 9/2/25: Sunny was sitting on her blankets in kennel as handler approached. She came forward to be leashed and walked to the yard. Handler crouched down and clipped Sunny to a drag leash. She allowed handler to slide leash loop over head. Sunny had a tucked tail and her hind legs trembled at times. She would approach handler when they sat down and sniffed them while they spoke to her without trying to pet her. Sunny was neutral as another dog passed by the pen. She stood beside handler and ate pieces of chicken jerky gently hand fed. After some time in the yard Sunny's tail became untucked and she continued to approach on her own terms. She was switched back to the slip leash and walked back into kennel without issue. Handler removed leash and engaged Sunny in "find it" by tossing pieces of chicken jerky over top of kennel.

Summary (7):: 08/21/25 (PM): Sunny is sitting on her kuranda bed upon handler's approach. As handler goes to unlock kennel, she hops off the bed and approaches the kennel door. Handler easily leashed Sunny and she walks out of the room with a low body and tucked tail. She is led outside towards the play-yards, and she intensely begins sniffing her surroundings throughout the walk. She is taken into a yard, and she continues investigating her surroundings. She looks up at handler as handler calls to her, but she does not engage further. Handler kneels down slowly, and Sunny approaches, sniffing with a neutral body. She continues to sniff her surroundings - showing little interest in treats throughout the interaction. After some time, she is brought back inside. Her kennel has not been cleaned, so she is brought to the assessment room and another staff member sits with her while her kennel is cleaned. She is then brought back to her kennel with no incident. Interaction is ended. 08/21/25: Sunny is sitting at the front of her kennel and allows the handler to leash her. She is then brought to the assessment room, where she displays a stiff body, tucked tail, touch sensitivity, and whale eye when the handler attempts to touch her. Sunny’s assessment is not completed, and she is returned to her kennel safely without any issues. For more information, see behavioral assessment. 8/14/25: Sunny is laying down in her kennel with a tense body and widened eyes as handler approaches. She continues to have a tense body and avoid eye contact with the handler as they slowly leashed her. Once leashed, she slowly is able to walk out of kennel and she walks with a tense body and tucked tail on the way to the play yard for play group. In the yard, she would have tense body and tucked tail and her eyes would widened as the handlers try to collar her. When the handler tries to toss a treat on the ground to distract her, the treat taps her and she quickly head whips and air snaps towards the handler that was closest to her. Due to this, the handlers then gave her space and she is then slowly taken back to her kennel. She would have a tense body and would try to run away from the fan blower along the way, and enters her kennel with no issue.

Date of intake:: 8/12/2025

Summary:: Allowed leashing, whale eyes

Date of initial:: 8/13/2025

Summary:: Whale eye, firmly tucked tail.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Sunny's high level of fearfulness, we recommend she be placed in an adult-only home at this time. Place with a New Hope partner: Sunny came to the care center as a stray with a limited history. In the care center Sunny has displayed significant fear-based behaviors in the care center, including a tense body posture, tucked tail, widened eyes, and avoidance of eye contact with handlers. While she tolerated slow leashing, she maintained a tense demeanor throughout her walks. Sunny will react to sudden movements by head whipping and air snapping. Sunny is noted to become fearful of loud noises and will attempted to flee. Due to her consistent signs of fear and potential for defensive aggression when startled or approached, Sunny would benefit from placement with a New Hope partner experienced in working with undersocialized and handling-sensitive dogs.

Potential challenges: : Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Low threshold for arousal

Potential challenges comments:: Handling/touch sensitivity: It is noted that when touched, Sunny will headwhip and jump away; she will also flinch with fast movements. Low threshold for arousal/Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: During Sunny medical exam it is noted she displayed "Whale eye, firmly tucked tail. Hiding at back of kennel initially, came forward for treats and will take cheese from examiner's hand. Lifting paw and displacement sniffing when in exam room, tail untucked somewhat with time, treats, allowing to explore room. Tenses and lifts leg when touch is attempted. Able to lure forward with treats to attempt muzzling--whale eye, head whip, backed away rapidly when muzzle is attempted. Recovered and started approaching again for treats immediately afterward." Sunny will react to sudden movements by head whipping and air snapping. Sunny is noted to become fearful of loud noises and will attempted to flee.A slow, confidence-building approach with gradual exposure and positive reinforcement can help him feel more secure and reduce fear-based responses. Please see the handout on Fearful/potential for defensive aggression.