Date of intake:: 7/26/2025

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

Previously lived with:: 2 adults, 5 children, 1 MMB, 2 other animals

Behavior toward strangers:: Tolerant and shy.

Behavior toward children:: Not much experience but mostly shy.

Behavior toward dogs:: She is playful with familiar dogs and tolerant of unfamiliar dogs both on and off leash.

Behavior toward cats:: No experience.

Resource guarding:: No known reports of Resource guarding.

Bite history:: No known reports of a bite history.

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: China is noted to have a medium energy level in the prior home.

Other Notes:: On walks she sometimes becomes protective but will simply stare at whoever approaches her people while standing in front or behind them. Is unbothered by being held or restrained, disturbed while sleeping, startled, moved from furniture, having her paws touched or her collar grabbed. She is a social and affectionate dog who enjoys spending her time in the living room or basement of her home when she's not in the yard. She loves car rides, bath time and water and allows her family to bathe and brush her. She knows the cues sit, stay, slow, no, go, eat, wait and get it. She is accustomed to going on 2 walks a day for approximately 15mins at a time during which she does not pull on her leash. She enjoys hugs, belly rubs and saying goodnight to her family and is not picky with her snacks, she loves chicken squeezies, bacon, jerky and crunching on ice cubes. Her favorite toys are balls and she has no preference with dog food.

Date of assessment:: 7/28/2025

Summary:: Due to China high level of fearfulness and avoidant of handling once out her kennel a handling assessment will not be conducted at this time.

Summary:: According to China's previous owner(s), She is playful with familiar dogs and tolerant of unfamiliar dogs both on and off leash. 07/31/25 China is introduced at the gate to a novel male dog. China is guided over to the gate where she will sniff the male dog through the gate. China displays paw raises at the gate appearing nervous. China walks away from the gate with a tucked tail as the male dog remains at the gate line soliciting play, offering bounces and play bows. This concludes the interaction.

Summary (6):: 08/05/25: China is standing at the front of kennel with a low frame as handler approaches. She begins to wag her tail lightly as handler unlocks her kennel door. China is leashed with ease and walks with a slightly tense frame to the Canine Behavior Office where she will approach familiar and novel handlers to sniff. She leans into petting and her frame begins to loosen. After her session, China is returned to kennel safely. 8/3/25: China is at the back of her kennel with a low body but fast wagging tail when approached. China begins to come forward and allow the handler to leash her, and walks to the office with no issue. China in the office begins to lay on a mat, lean into the handler for petting and slowly walk to the other staff members to also lean into contact and begin to short hop around them soliciting more attention. China remains low bodied walking around the office, and is generally fearful but warming up to familiar staff. China is easily leashed and placed back into kennel with no issue. 07/31/25 (AM): When the handler approaches, China is seated on her cot at the back of the kennel. She lowers her head in avoidance, but the handler is able to leash her easily from the kennel door. Once leashed, China slowly and willingly moves forward. The handler escorts China out of the care center and on to the street for a walk. China will scan her surrounds and moderately pull. Over the course of the walk China will loosen up and mildly decompress. On the return to the care center, China attempts to hard pull, but the handler slows the pace to support her in decompressing. Once back in her kennel, China is safely unleashed and secured. 07/30/25 (PM): China was standing at front of kennel as handler entered room, possibly eating her dinner. China gave a soft tail wag when handler crouched down and spoke to her. She took small pieces of cheese gently hand fed. Handler opened kennel and remained crouched in the doorway. Handler coaxed China to them with cheese a few times before introducing the leash. Handler placed leash in kennel for China to sniff. China would come close enough for handler to scratch under the chin. She allowed handler to place leash loop over head and followed them to the assessment room. China was kept on the slip leash for duration of interaction. She walked around the room exploring her surroundings. She had a tucked frame and her legs trembled when a second handler entered the room. She moved closer to handler 1 seated on the couch as handler 2 took her photo. Handler slowly clipped leash to a figure 8 and she returned to kennel without issue.

Summary (7):: AM): When the handler approaches, China is seated on her cot at the back of the kennel. She lowers her head in avoidance, but the handler is able to leash her easily from the kennel door. Once leashed, China slowly and willingly moves forward. The handler escorts China out of the care center. Upon exiting, she moves with a fearful, hurried pace, scanning her surroundings with a tucked tail and consistently pulling in various directions. China is brought to the play yards, where she continues to scan her environment. Initially cautious, she begins to explore visually before transitioning to scenting the area. Her body posture relaxes during this time. Over time, her tail untucks, developing a slight curve at the tip. On the return to the care center, China attempts to hard pull, but the handler slows the pace to support her in decompressing. Once back in her kennel, China is safely unleashed and secured. 07/29/25: When the handler approaches, China is positioned at the back of the kennel with her head and ears lowered. The handler tosses ham slices inside, but China shows no interest. Cheese is then offered, which draws some attention, though not immediately. After eating a few pieces, the handler begins tossing them progressively closer to the kennel door in an attempt to entice her forward. China remains on her cot, ignoring the cheese. When more pieces are tossed onto her bed, she eventually stops eating them altogether. The handler attempts to lasso her; on the second try, China responds with a hard bark. When the leash lands on her, she lowers her head in avoidance. Using minimal leash pressure and a calm voice, the handler gently encourages her to move forward. At the kennel entrance, China begins to follow the handler out of the room. Once outside, she moves with a fearful, hurried pace, scanning her surroundings with a tucked tail. Despite her nervousness, she shows some curiosity toward the handler, sniffing and staying near them. Offered cheese slices again, China does not engage with them. After her kennel is cleaned she is then safely returned to her kennel and secured. 07/27/25: China is lying on her kuranda bed with a slightly tense frame as handler approaches. Handler kneels down with the kennel door cracked open and speaks to China with a soft tone. She begins trembling and squishes herself into the corner of kennel facing the wall. Handler tosses her high value treats, but China shows no interest. Handler exits the room and returns with ham and cheese. She shows no interest in the ham but will slowly eat pieces of cheese tossed to her. China will come forward with a tense trembling frame to eat pieces of cheese tossed at the front of her kennel but will not come close enough to be leashed. Due to her fearfulness, handlers end their interaction and cover her kennel to give China time to decompress.

Date of intake:: 7/26/2025

Summary:: fearful but accepted treats and gently approached staff while the owner was in the waiting room. Whe

Date of initial:: 7/26/2025

Summary:: timid, shy , but approachable and able to complete tasks

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to China's high level of fearfulness we recommend she is placed in an adult only home at this time. Place with a New Hope partner: China came into the care as an owner surrender due to moving in a no pet policy. China is noted in the prior home to be social and affectionate dog who enjoys spending her time in the living room or basement of her home when she's not in the yard. She loves car rides, bath time and water and allows her family to bathe and brush her. She knows the cues sit, stay, slow, no, go, eat, wait and get it. She enjoys hugs, belly rubs and saying goodnight to her family and is not picky with her snacks, she loves chicken squeezies, bacon, jerky and crunching on ice cubes. Her favorite toys are balls.China has displayed a high level of fearfulness in the care center. She has been observed trembling, retreating to the back of her kennel, and avoiding human interaction despite gentle engagement attempts. While she has shown limited interest in high-value treats like cheese, she remains highly hesitant and requires significant coaxing to move or approach. China would benefit from placement with a New Hope partner experienced in working with fearful dogs, where she can decompress at her own pace and build trust through positive reinforcement and consistency.

Potential challenges: : Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: During China recent interaction, China responded to leash attempts with a hard bark and avoided contact, though she ultimately allowed herself to be leashed and walked with a fearful, hurried pace. Outside of her kennel, she displayed some curiosity toward the handler, indicating potential for progress in a calmer, more predictable environment. Please see the handout on Fearful/potential for defensive aggression. On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration: On walks she sometimes becomes protective but will simply stare at whoever approaches her people while standing in front or behind them.