Date of intake:: 6/20/2025

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray (No Known History)

Date of assessment:: 6/23/2025

Summary:: When brought into the assessment room Ngoma remained tense and fearful. Observed to have a tense body, showing whale eye and retreating from the handler. When the handler presents the leash Ngoma attempts to hide under a desk. Due to the high levels of fear, stress, and anxiety displayed. Ngoma is not a candidate to receive a handling assessment at this time.

Summary:: 6/26/25: Ngoma greets another dog at the gate with a soft body and soft wagging tail. Off leash, she engages in soft play, spin moves and play bows. She is tolerant of other dogs that play more exuberantly, remaining near them and soliciting.

Summary (6):: 6/30/25: Ngoma is at the front of kennel with a neutral body as handler approaches. She is easily leashed and removed from kennel. Ngoma scurries out the room and is taken to the street first for a walk. She walks with a slightly crouched body and lip licks throughout walk with a concerned expression. She relieves herself and will fixate with a neutral body when spotting other dogs. She is taken to the yard where handler sits by her for over 30 minutes. Ngoma remains neutral bodied, accepting gentle pets. She is returned to kennel without issue. 6/30/25: Ngoma displayed the same behavior as previous EN. 6/28/25: Ngoma is laying down in her kennel as handler approaches. She is comfortable approaching the front and is slowly leashed with ease. She is then taken outside for a walk. On the walk, she would walk slowly next to the handler with a tense body and tucked tail. She would move closer to the handler and hide behind the handler as people were passing and when they were close behind her. She would slowly pull towards dogs that’s were close by and had no interest in treats outside. She begins to back away and quickly thrash at the driveway gate when returning back to kennel. She was comfortable walking slowly on her own when she was ready. She is able to enter her kennel with no issue. She was comfortable taking treats when she was back inside of her kennel. 06/27/25: Ngoma is at the front of her kennel as handler approaches. She is offered treats and accepts them gently before handler introduces the leash into kennel. Handler slowly leashes Ngoma before they exit kennel and walk out to the street. During Ngoma's walk she is hesitant and stares at people walking past or behind her. She walks with a slightly tense and crouched posture and is hyper vigilant. She does not pull on leash and sniffs around occasionally and stops to use the bathroom. Ngoma does not accept treats while outside and avoids strollers on the street, she will pull in the opposite direction from them but can be redirected forward with a slow approach and light leash pressure. She walks with handler for a while and passes dogs without issue. Ngoma will stare at dogs after they pass with a neutral body until they are out of sight. She walks for a bit more with handler before being brought back inside. Ngoma allows handler to clip her leash and return her to kennel, she enters without issue and after feeding her some treats which she accepts in kennel, interaction is ended.

Summary (7):: 6/23/25: PM WALK: Ngoma is at the front of the kennel with a lowered body, wide dilated eyes and pinned ears. Handler offers her treats which she takes gently. When handler unlocks the kennel she backs away. The leash is presented and she backs away further. Treats are used to lure her to the front again. She eats the treats and when the leash is presented again, she backs away again. Handler lassos her slowly and backs away and opens the kennel door. A second handler passes by to encourage her out with treats and squeaky sounds and she backs away. She eventually walks out of the kennel and out of the room beside the handler. She then quickly ducks into the neighboring room and begins backing away attempting to thrash. Handler quickly muscles her out of the room and she continues walking towards the backyard. She stops at the threshold to the backyard and then slowly walks further in, following next to the handler. When any strong pressure from the leash happens, Ngoma backs away and will attempt to thrash. She walks very slowly besides the handler and will move when the handler moves. When she sees a dog in the neighboring pen, Ngoma stares at them with a stiff body. Handler verbally coaxes her away and she follows. She is walked back into the building and ducks in the same room again and begins backing away and thrashing. Handler begins jogs her back to the kennel and she is returned without further issue. She eats the treats off the floor of the kennel and the leash is removed. 6/23/25: Ngoma is laying at the front of the kennel when the handler approaches. She is easily leashed and taken to the street for a walk. Ngoma walks with a low body and pinned ears. When a member of the public walked up behind her, she paused and did not continue walking until the person walked in front of her. Ngoma relieved herself. When returning to kennel Ngoma paused in front of the kennel room. The handler coaxes and uses squeaky sounds, they are able to clip their leash and coax Ngoma back to kennel. 6/22/25: Staff reported that Ngoma began thrashing at a high intensity as staff pulled her out for a walk. She continued to thrash as she was brought to the threshold of the room before she is immediately returned back to kennel. She continues thrashing as she is placed into kennel. 6/22/25: Ngoma is standing at the front of her kennel as handler approaches. She has a tense body and was comfortable taking treats. She backs away as the handler presents their leash and is able to be lassoed when she would eat treats the handler tossed on the ground. She is then slowly taken outside for a walk. On the walk, she had a tense body and tucked tail. She would try to shy away and hide behind the handler as people passed, and would freeze and stop walking when she saw a dog. She is then taken the behavior room for her assessment. Due to fearfulness, her assessment was unable to be completed. She pulls on the way back to her kennel.

Date of intake:: 6/20/2025

Summary:: Fearful, accepts treats, shies away from leash, eventually leashed baulks entering kennel

Date of initial:: 6/20/2025

Summary:: Tense/timid, shy's away from handler, whale eyes/lip licks, very treat/food motivated

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Ngoma so we cannot be certain of her behavior in a home environment. However, she will need daily mental and physical activity to keep her engaged and exercised. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in additional to physical exercise, to positively direct her energy and enthusiasm.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to fearful behavior we recommend an adult only home. We recommend placement with a New Hope rescue partner who is able to provide an experienced, adult-only foster home. Force-free, reward based training and/or consultation with a professional trainer/behaviorist is highly recommended.

Potential challenges: : Fearful

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful: Nagoma has been observed to be tense and fearful during their say in the care center. Noted to show the handler whale eye and attempt to hide under a desk when approached. While on leash it is noted that she will thrash intensely. It is important to always go slow and give Nagoma the option to walk away from any social interaction. They should never be forced to approach anything that they are uncomfortable with or submit to petting or handling. It should always be their choice to approach a new person or thing. Nagoma would do best in an initially calm and quiet home environment and should be given time to acclimate to their new surroundings. Please see handout on Decompression Period.