Date of intake:: 10/3/2025

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

Behavior toward dogs:: lived with another dog

Bite history:: No known bite history is reported.

Other Notes:: Is reported to be friendly, outgoing and food motivated, like to play football.

Date of assessment:: 10/10/2025

Summary:: Due to Pebble fearful defensive behavior in care a handling assessment will not be conducted at this time.

Summary:: Due to entering the facility as a stray, there is no prior dog-to-dog history recorded. 10/06/25 Pebble is introduced to a novel female dog while on leash at the care center. Pebble will approach the gate with a soft body, offering a slight bounce along the gate line. The female dog will present well at the gate and she is moved to the back of her pen, allowing Pebble inside. The two will approach each other, sniffing each other's muzzle. The female dog makes an abrupt motion which makes Pebble uncomfortable, growling at the female dog and becoming tense. The female dog is moved into the next pen and Pebble is left heavily panting. Pebble will approach the gate, appearing conflicted as he remains present, pawing at the gate, soliciting the female dog's attention. Pebble is returned to kennel, concluding the interaction.

Summary (5):: 10/15/25: Pebble is at the front of his kennel with a loose body, pinned ears and pawing at the kennel for the handler to remove him. Pebble is pulls hard out of kennel and is brought to the the play yards. Pebble is highly social with both handlers, leaning into petting, engaging with toys and jumping on them, mouthing there hands with mild pressure. Pebble when a contractor begins to walk past in the other pen begins to tense with his ear high and tail high, and is refocused to another section of the yard which is a bit difficult but once out of vision is able to refocus back to the handler re engaging in play. Pebble is brought back to kennel, pulling hard and is easily placed back into kennel with no issue. 10/12/25: Pebble when a unfamiliar staff member approaches, hard barks, bares teeth, snarls and muzzle punches the door. 10/11/25: Pebble is at the front of his kennel with a loose body, whining when the handler approaches, is easily leashed and taken to the yards. Pebble pulls hard to the yard and in the yard, will lean into petting, jump onto staff in a social manner and begin to play with a toy by himself for a bit. Pebble with an unfamilar staff member is initially wearing, keeping his distance, whale eyeing and staying the the original handler. Pebble is kept on leash to slowly get to know the other handler. Overtime, Pebble is offered some treats and begins to eat them, before playing with his toy and re engaging on his own. Pebble when dogs walk past, will begin to huff a bit before watching them with a neutral body and slow mid level tail wag. Pebble is easily refocused, leaning into more petting. Pebble when being brought back will pull extremely hard, and is brought back to kennel. 10/08/25: Pebble is at the front of his kennel with a loose body, and is easily leashed to be brought out into the behavior office and kept on leash due to a new staff member being there. Pebbles enters the room and immediately begins to pick up a toy to play with, leaning into contact with the familiar handler. Another staff member enters that he knows, and he begins to walk towards them, mouth there hand and lean into contact. Pebble notices the new staff member that was sitting, get up and tenses. His leashed is grabbed and he begins to walk away, but watching as they enter a closet space. Pebble goes back to interacting with staff, and the closet door open and he begins to tense, and start to lunge, hard bark and continue to hard bark until the handler leaves the room as he is maneuvered behind a barrier. Pebble is visibly stressed, and begins to stay near the familiar handler panting heavily. Pebble is brought back to kennel with no issue.

Summary (6):: 10/07/25: Pebble is sitting at the front of kennel with a soft frame as handler approaches. He is leashed with ease and pulls hard to the Canine Behavior Office where he is kept on lead and is free to explore the space on his own terms. He shows no interest in treats but will readily engage with a squeaky toy that handler tosses, carrying it around in his mouth and tossing it around. Pebble takes pieces of cheese that second handler offers gently from hand. He nudges handler's hand to solicit petting, accepting petting along his head and down to his hind end with a loose frame and jumps up onto handler in a social manner. When handler disengages, he nudges their hand to solicit contact again. Handler sits on the couch and Pebble leans his body into their legs, accepting petting all over. After his session, Pebble pulls very hard back to the kennel room and quickly runs to the back of kennel once inside. Handler offers treats before exiting. 10/6 (playgroup): Pebble is sitting at the front of his kennel when two handlers approach. His ears flatten, he begins whining, and slowly jumps on the kennel door as it's opened. He is easily leashed and darts towards another neighboring dog's kennel, but the handler can quickly walk him past and out of the room to the play yard. Pebble pulls hard until he reaches the pens. As he greets the other dog, the handlers can collar him by moving slowly. Once his interaction is complete, he returns to his kennel without issue. 10/06/25(PM): Pebble is sitting at the front of kennel with a soft frame as handler approaches. He is leashed with ease and will pull towards kennel across from him but is easily directed out of the room. Pebble pulls very hard out to the play yard where he sniffs along the yard. He approaches second handler with a loose frame and as second handler slowly reaches to tighten his collar, Pebble will mouth at their hand. Second handler disengages and Pebble paces along the yard. He will chase after tossed tennis balls but does not fully engage. On second attempt to tighten his collar, he will pointedly mouth at second handler's hand again, so they disengage, and he is kept on slip lead for the remainder of his time in the yard rather than attempting to switch him to a drag. Second handler tosses tennis balls to Pebble, and he will engage for a few minutes before becoming distracted by dogs walking on the sidewalk. His body tenses slightly and he continues to watch as they walk away. He is not easily refocused during this. After his session, Pebble pulls very hard back to kennel, returning safely.

Summary (7):: AM): Pebble is sitting at the front of kennel with a neutral frame and softens as handler approaches, standing up and whining at the door. Pebble is leashed with ease and pulls very hard to the Canine Behavior Office where he is kept on lead but free to explore the space. Pebble pants and paces the room for a couple of minutes and shows no interest in treats. When handler squeaks a toy, Pebble loosens and begins to toss the toy around. He accepts brief light petting along his hind end and will nudge handler's hand to solicit touch again. Pebble takes pieces of cheese gently from second handler and will reapproach them often, maintaining a loose frame. After his session, Pebble pulls very hard back to kennel and will quickly run to the back of kennel. Leash is removed and handler tosses treats into kennel before exiting the room. 10/5/25: Pebble is at the front of his kennel with a neutral body, but begins to lower his body and his eyes begin to get wider. Pebble is baby talked at the front of his kennel and he begins to slowly tail wag, interested in the toy in the handler treat pouch as he keeps looking at it. When presented Pebble will tap his feet, stretch and mouth the toy as the handler leashes him. Pebble will duck a bit, but otherwise lets the handler leash him. Pebble walks out, pulling very hard into the pen and begins to sniff around. Pebble is mostly aloof to the handlers, but when cajoled begins to wag his tail, and is offered some toys and a tennis ball. Pebble is interested in both, but more engaging with the tennis ball tossed to him. Pebble will notice strangers and dogs passing and stares as they walk pass, but does not react. Pebble is brought back to his kennel with no issue, still pulling very hard. 10/4/25: Pebble when the room is in is approached is already barking in the direction of the door across from him, and once hearing the door open that the handler is, he begins to bark at the handler with full tooth display, raised hackles but lip licking in-between each period of barking. Pebble when coaxed begins to wag his tail slowly, pauses barking for a moment but when the handler makes any moment, barking with an exaggerated tooth display and growling. Pebble is tossed treats continuously, and the frequency of his barking will slow down as he is tossed more treats and when he is not eating, but still continues to bark. Pebble is left alone to decompress. 10/3/25: Pebble is visited during the evening and when approached in kennel by staff is laying down, and staring at the handlers. Pebble remains still, and when tossed treats will eat them and tense up a bit when the handler makes any sudden movement. Pebble's eyes are hard each time he looks up, with visible wrinkles on his forehead. Pebble does not escalate, and takes treats hard through the bars. The handlers leave shortly after to end of a positive note.

Date of intake:: 10/3/2025

Summary:: staff placed a leash over his head, he began barking and baring his teeth.

Date of initial:: 10/4/2025

Summary:: hard barked once when approached kennel; seek attention with medical staff began to head whip,snap

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): We recccomend Pebble is palced in an adult only home at this time. Place with a New Hope partner: Pebble came into the care center due to his caretaker not being able to care for him anymore. Pebble has been under the care of his caregiver for 3 months. It is noted that Pebble reported to be friendly, outgoing and food motivated, like to play football. Upon intake, he was initially friendly and social, but escalated quickly when a leash was placed over his head—barking, baring teeth, lunging, and snapping. During his medical exam, he showed affiliative behavior, approaching handlers and accepting petting, but reacted defensively when touched on the hind end, attempting to snap even while muzzled.In the care center, Pebbles has shown progress with patient, low-pressure handling. He is now able to engage socially with familiar handlers, soliciting contact, leaning in for petting, and engaging with toys. However, he continues to display sensitivity around handling, particularly near his collar and hind end.Pebbles will benefit from placement with a New Hope partner experienced in working with fearful, touch-sensitive dogs.

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

Potential challenges comments:: Low Threshold for Arousal / Fearful / Potential for Defensive Aggression: Upon intake, Pebbles was initially friendly and outgoing. However, when a leash was placed over his head, he escalated quickly—barking, baring teeth, and later lunging, growling, and snapping at staff. He also bit at the leash hook once in the kennel and continued to bark, growl, whine, and snap. These behaviors suggest a low threshold for arousal and a high sensitivity to handling, particularly during transitions. A slow, structured approach with desensitization to leashing and kennel routines is recommended. Please see the handout on arousal and Fearful / Potential for Defensive Aggression. Handling/ Touch Sensitivity: During his medical exam, Pebbles initially barked when approached in the kennel but then showed affiliative behavior approaching handlers, licking hands, and displaying a loose, wiggly body. He allowed muzzle placement and head rubs. However, when touched on the hind end, he panicked, head-whipped, and actively snapped, attempting to remove the muzzle. This indicates touch sensitivity and a potential for defensive aggression when startled or uncomfortable. Handling should be done with caution, focusing on consent-based interactions and gradual desensitization to sensitive areas. Please see the handout on Handling/touch sensitivity.