Date of intake:: 9/17/2024

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner Surrender

Previously lived with:: 1 Adult

Behavior toward strangers:: shy, avoids strangers and hides.

Behavior toward children:: shy, avoids children and hides

Behavior toward dogs:: friendly and tolerant of dogs.

Behavior toward cats:: Unknown

Resource guarding:: No known Resource guarding.

Bite history:: No known Bite history.

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Sounder is reported to have medium.

Other Notes:: Sounder is fearful but will allow owner to hold her. HE can disturb her, startle her, push off furniture, feet touched or collar grabbed.

Date of assessment:: 9/21/2024

Summary:: Sounder consistently displays severe fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS) in the care center, which significantly impacts her well-being and ability to interact with handlers. Her fearful behaviors include trembling, cowering, avoidance, and shutting down when approached. She attempts to hide by burying her head under her bed or pressing herself into the walls of her kennel to avoid interaction. Due to this Sounder is not a good candidate for an assessment at this time.

Summary (4):: 10/1/24 (PM): Sounder was lying on a blanket on floor of kennel when handler approached. Sounder began tucking her legs in closer to herself and lowered her head when leash was presented. She was leashed with ease and walked to the yard. Sounder relieved herself while outside and handler noticed her kennel was unsoiled. Sounder was clipped to a drag leash and chose to stay by the fence line and look out to the street. Handler was sitting down talking to her in a soft voice and eventually she made her way within a few feet of them before walking back to the fence. Sounder had relaxed ears and an untucked tail. She was returned to kennel with ease and handler brought her a sherpa blanket as she seemed to prefer to lay on the floor than on her kuranda bed. Handler noticed two uneaten servings of medication. 9/30/24: Sounder is approached in kennel and remains highly fearful, trembling when approaches and slowly clipped from her kennel and she walks slowly out of her kennel. Sounder is brought to the yard where she stays in one position near the door for most of the interaction. Sounder is then returned back to kennel where she darts in, and allows the leash to be unclipped. 9/29/24: Sounder's behavior in care remains the same. She was willing to walk to the yard and back despite the rain. Handler left a towel and extra bedding in kennel for her to dry off on.

Summary (5):: 09/28/24: Sounder is lying at the front of kennel as handler approaches. When handler unlocks the kennel door, Sounder retreats to the corner and curls in on herself. Handler enters kennel and slowly leashes her. As handler exits kennel, Sounder follows, balking once at the doorway. Handler uses mild directional leash pressure to guide Sounder into the Canine Behavior Office. Sounder is clipped to a drag lead and free to explore the space. Sounder will investigate the room with a slightly tense body and relieves herself before lying in front of the door with a trembling body. After her time in the room, Sounder is returned to kennel safely. 9/25/24 (PM): Sounder was lying in corner of kennel and turned away as handler stepped in to leash her. Once leashed Sounder followed handler out of kennel but balked in the doorway. Using directional leash pressure Sounder was guided into the BA room and clipped to a drag leash. Sounder tip toed around the perimeter of the room and relieved herself. She did not approach handler when seated or crouched. When other staff entered the room or staff spoke loudly Sounder would walk to the door with her tail tucked and eyes wide to sit down. Sounder panted and sat against the door with her hip rolled for most of the interaction. She eagerly returned to kennel and lay back down in the corner. Sounder gave a whale eye when handler was reaching to unclip leash from collar. Handler used squeaker to distract her while they unclipped leash without issue. Handler noticed Sounder had not eaten her morning medication and her kennel was not soiled. (AM): Sounder had spent the night in the live room. She was lying comfortably on dog bed when handler entered room. Sounder's hind legs were trembling and she did not get up. Handler sat on a chair side on and spoke to Sounder in a soft voice while averting their gaze. After some time sitting quietly together Sounder's trembling had stopped, however she still did not get up. When handler approached bed with slip leash she retreated to the corner of the room/edge of bed. Handler positioned her food and water closer to the bed. Handler opted to remove soiled bedding and tidy her room before turning up her classical music and leaving her be. Handler left a note for VS regarding urination in bed. 9/24/24: Sounder was lying on the bed in her kennel as the handler approached. Upon seeing the handler, she quickly belly-crawled to the back of her kennel, pressing herself into the corner. She allowed the handler to leash her, but was unwilling to move despite the handler's attempts to coax her. She sniffed at thrown treats but did not eat them. Handler attempted to use mild leash pressure, but Sounder did not respond. Sounder began to show appeasement behaviors, lip licking, looking away from the handler, and displaying part of her abdomen, so handler ceased attempts to remove her from kennel. Handler used the hook to remove the leash and exited t

Summary (6):: 9/23/24 (PM): Sounder was lying on blanket on floor of kennel when handler approached. She briefly evaded leash by lowering her head, but was able to be leashed much more quickly this time. She exited kennel immediately and walked into the hall. Sounder did not want to enter the BA room, so handler walked her to the yard. As Sounder walked around the yard handler followed at the end of the leash to give her as much space as possible. When Sounder sat down handler crouched side on and spoke to her but kept eye contact minimal. Sounder would stop when other dogs were being walked behind her, but was able to be moved along. She would startle when she slid on the wet floor in the hallway, but recovered quickly and entered kennel willingly. 9/23/24 (AM): Sounder's behavior was much the same while being removed from kennel. With verbal encouragement, Sounder walked all the way outside and took a break on the ramp before proceeding up to the yard. Sounder stood or sat in the corner of the yard looking around and mildly panting. She did not solicit contact with handlers but would check in by making eye contact then look away. While in the yard Sounder's ears were soft and her tail was untucked. Before leaving the yard, Sounder climbed up on the fence with her front paws. Sounder grumbled at handler when they got very close to her, so handler gave her space. Outside kennel room Sounder tolerated leash being clipped to a figure 8 and entered kennel willingly. She was observed shaking off in kennel shortly thereafter. 9/22/24: Sounder was lying on floor of kennel when handler approached. Handler noticed she had uneaten medication in kennel. She stayed low to the ground and pancaked in a corner with her nose pushed against the wall. Sounder continued to pancake once she was leashed. Handler used verbal coaxing and directional leash pressure to remove her from soiled kennel. Once in the BA room she was put on a slip leash with stopper and was free to move around the room. Sounder was exit seeking and stayed close to the doors but walked around more than she had during previous interaction. Handler played calming music and let her be. Due to continued display of FAS (panting, trembling, avoiding eye contact) handler returned her to kennel using directional leash pressure. Once she saw kennel she entered willingly and tolerated handler stepping into kennel to remove slip leash. 9/21/24: (PM) Sounder is approached in the PM where she sees the handler and walks towards the back of the kennel burying her head under her bed, shaking intensely and whale eyeing the handler. Sounder is left in her kennel to not increase her fearfulness trying to remove her.

Summary (7):: 9/21/24: (AM) Sounder is lying at the back of her kennel laying down when the handler approaches. Sounder begins to see the handler and run towards the back of her kennel tucking her head into the wall. Sounder is leashed and allows to be picked up and brought to the behavior office where she stays near the door, cowering, trembling intensely and not walking at all. The handler attempts to throw her some high value items and she does not eat them and continues to bury her face into the door. Sounder is swapped out on a leash where she can make the choice to walk freely but remains in the same position. Sounder is taken aback to her kennel due to her extreme FAS. 09/20/24 (PM): Sounder is lying on the side of her kennel as handler approaches. She tenses and side eyes handler. Handler kneels at the kennel door and tosses pieces of chicken and ham. Her body loosens slightly but she continues trembling. Sounder does not eat the treats while handler is present. Handler decides to leave Sounder in kennel due to her discomfort with leashing and handling. 09/20/24 (midday): Sounder is lying in the middle of kennel with a slightly tense body as handler approaches. Handler attempts to leash Sounder in order to do a gate greet. When Sounder notices the lead, she will crawl to the corner of her kennel and squeeze her head in between her bed and the wall to avoid leashing. Handler decides to leave Sounder in kennel due to her discomfort with leashing. 09/20/24: Sounder is lying in the middle of kennel with a slightly tense body as handler approaches. Handler cracks open kennel door and Sounder turns her body away from handler and tucks her head. Handler slowly lassos her and Sounder looks up with wide eyes and a trembling body. Handler speaks to her with a soft voice and applies light leash pressure to encourage Sounder to stand. Sounder exits kennel with a tense trembling body, putting on the brakes once she gets to the hallway door. Handler speaks softly to her again and uses mild leash pressure to guide her through the doorway to the Canine Behavior Office. Once inside, Sounder walks to the door on the opposite end of the room and plants herself in front of it. Handler kneels down with a leash distance in between them and speaks to Sounder again, attempting to coax her towards them. Sounder stays planted and trembles slightly. After several minutes, handler changes their position and will kneel arm's distance away from Sounder, and slowly offer their hand to her. Sounder sniffs hand, and then lays down on the floor, keeping eyes on handler throughout. Handler slowly reaches over and lightly pets the side of Sounder's face but discontinues contact due to her still noticeable discomfort. Mild leash pressure is used to coax Sounder back to kennel. Due to her discomfort with physical contact, handler does not attempt to pick Sounder up at this time. She is returned to kennel safely.

Date of intake:: 9/17/2024

Summary:: very fearful, minimum handling was done

Date of initial:: 9/19/2024

Summary:: extremely fearul, crouches, shaking, eye contact is made, but does not interact otherwise

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13)- Sounder displays high levels of fear due to this we recommend she is placed in an adult-only home at this time. Place with a New Hope partner- Sounder consistently displays severe fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS) in the care center, which significantly impacts her well-being and ability to interact with handlers. Her fearful behaviors include trembling, cowering, avoidance, and shutting down when approached. She attempts to hide by burying her head under her bed or pressing herself into the walls of her kennel to avoid interaction. Sounder is available through one of our new hope partners.

Potential challenges: : Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful,Anxiety

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful/Anxiety-Sounder consistently displays severe fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS) in the care center, which significantly impacts her well-being and ability to interact with handlers. Her fearful behaviors include trembling, cowering, avoidance, and shutting down when approached.The focus will be on creating a safe and supportive environment that gradually desensitizes her to human interaction. Techniques will include positive reinforcement to reward calm behavior, gradual exposure to handling, and the use of calming aids or techniques to reduce her anxiety. Monitoring her progress closely will allow for adjustments to the training plan, ensuring that Sounder feels secure and supported throughout the process. Please see the handout on decompression period and generalized anxiety. Handling/touch sensitivity- Sounder is reported to become fearful when held.To address Sounder's fear response when being held, a training approach focused on desensitization and positive reinforcement is essential. Understanding that Sounder exhibits heightened sensitivity to touch, it's important to recognize signs of discomfort, such as tensing or vocalizing. Gradual exposure to handling should begin with short, gentle touches in a calm environment, using familiar objects to create positive associations. Positive reinforcement, through treats or praise, can encourage Sounder to remain calm during handling, while monitoring his reactions allows for adjustments in technique. Additionally, ensuring a quiet, safe space during training sessions helps minimize stress, avoiding sudden movements or loud noises that could trigger fear. Please see the handout on Handling/touch sensitivity.