Date of intake:: 5/10/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Previously lived with:: Adults

Behavior toward strangers:: Gabby hides and actively avoids strangers

Behavior toward children:: No experience

Behavior toward dogs:: No experience

Behavior toward cats:: No experience

Resource guarding:: Has a tense body or hovers over food

Bite history:: No Bite History

Housetrained:: Unknown

Energy level/descriptors:: Low Energy

Other Notes:: *Previous assessment available upon request*

Date of assessment:: 5/22/2026

Summary:: When first arriving in the behavior office for her assessment Gabby was slow and hesitant to approach and did not accept treats from handlers. Upon arrival handlers allowed Gabby time to explore the room and decompress and over time she began investigating handlers, softening in posture, and accepting treats. Although during the time she spend in the office she showed significant improvement she would still quickly move away with prolonged contact and would head whip quickly when attempting to collar her. Due to her handling sensitivity she is not a candidate for a handling assessment at this time.

Summary:: Due to entering the facility as a stray, there is limited prior dog-to-dog history recorded. According to finder, Gabby has no experience with other dogs. 06/04/26 Gabby is introduced to a novel male. She approaches the gate, sniffing with the male with a tense body and high tail. Gabby is pulled away by handler and will reapproach, maintaining a tense frame and does not disengage herself. 5/15/26: Gabby does not approach the gate to greet. She is tense and extends her nose forward to sniff.

Summary (5):: 6/4/26: Gabby is at the front of her kennel with a wiggly body, barking at the handler; she is easily leashed and brought out the room. In the elevator, the handler speaks to Gabby in a high pitched voice; Gabby exuberantly jumps on them and allows pets. The handler brings Gabby to the yard for playgroup (see dog-dog notes). Afterwards, the handler clips their leash and walks Gabby inside. She presents the same, prior behavior in the elevator and allowed pets. Before entering the room, Gabby lowers their body, and tensely sniffs the crates nearby; she also baulks before entering the room. The handler clips their leash and jogs Gabby into the room; she enters her kennel afterwards.

Summary (6):: 06/02/26: Gabby is sitting in kennel when approached by handler. As handler unlocks kennel, Gabby rises slowly with a loose body. As handler opens door, she sits and allows handler to leash without issue. She exits kennel room quickly with a low body, looking at the other dogs in kennel with a furrowed brow. Once in the elevator, she relaxes, taking treats from handler and allowing brief petting. She is taken outside where she investigates her surroundings - sniffing multiple surfaces. She sees a staff member enter the driveway with another dog - she looks at the other dog with forward posture. As the dog passes, she pulls in the direction of the dog, and needs to be coaxed back towards handler. She is taken to the street for an walk and passes many MOP (dogs, children, bikes, carts) and does not react to any of the stimuli. She is brought back inside. Handler drops treats on the floor and easily clips her leash. Once upstairs, she begins to baulk near her kennel room. Handler uses leash pressure to guide her into the room, and she walks on her own into kennel with no incident. She begins to interact with enrichment left in her kennel as handler locks the door and ends the interaction. 5/29/26: Gabby is reported to be 'skittish but also wiggly' when near people. 5/28/26: Gabby is is loose bodied toward front of kennel as handler approaches. Gabby is allows easy leashing, pulls straight out of kennel room. When exiting driveway, Gabby sees a familiar staff member, she pulls toward with wiggly body, jumps on in a social manner, solicits contact. She is wiggly while being pet on her face and torso. Gabby walks on side walk with mild-pull. When verbally cued she approaches handler with a soft body, she drops into a 'side-sit' with soft body and soft eyes, allows all contact. She takes treats gently from hand. She is walked back to MACC, when in hallway she baulks, when returning but has her head turned toward familiar staff. When the familiar staff walks in front of her she runs into the kennel room exuberantly and enters kennel with without issue.

Summary (7):: 5/27/26: Gabby is observed to approach familiar staff in the hallway with a loose-wiggly body. 5/24/26: It is reported on the behavior board that Gabby needed a sling to return to kennel. 5/22/26: (reassessment) Gabby is laying down quietly, soft body as handler approaches. She stands when door is unlocked, she retreats once from the leash, 'tippy taps' on front paws the steps forward and is easily leashed. Gabby exits kennel readily, but has a notably tucked tail, low head-set. Once on sidewalk, Gabby becomes more neutral, but tail is low (not tucked). She walks ahead of handler with ears pinned back. When verbally cued she checks in with handler, low wagging tail. She does approach but begins lip licking, handler does not attempt contact. She sniffs but does not take any treats. Gabby is walked into office, she appears conflicted but does approach and takes high value treats. (see assessment). After Gabby is returned to kennel, she walks very slowly in kennel room, undetermined if this is because of the fan noise by her kennel or barking dogs, but she does readily enter kennel once in front. 5/14/26: A pre-clip sign is requested for Gabby, signage added, however the reason is not specified. 5/13/26: Gabby is lying down in kennel; she then stands up with a neutral body. When she approaches the front, Gabby turns away; she repeats this two more times. The handler lassos and secures the leash, and she slowly exits her kennel. On the street, Gabby walks next to the handler with mild leash tension; she doesn't react to dogs or passersby. While waiting for other handlers and dogs to pass, the handler and Gabby stand by the curb; Gabby then pulls away slowly, but the handler gently pulls the leash, and she slowly approaches. while entering the driveway, gabby constantly looks back at a person who's walking several inches behind her. The handler brings Gabby inside for her assessment, but it's ended early to reduce FAS (see notes). The handler clips the leash and returns Gabby to her kennel

Date of intake:: 5/10/2026

Summary:: Highly fearful

Date of initial:: 5/10/2026

Summary:: Reluctant to be leashed. Whale eyed, trembling and tail tucked. Snapped at muzzle

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

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),Recommend no dog parks,Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to the 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. Recommend No Dog Parks: Due to the displays of behavior indicating that Gabby is uncomfortable around other dogs –tense body and not disengaging on her own when they greet her, the Behavior Department recommends that she not be taken to dog parks. Reward-based, force-free training can be utilized to counter-condition and desensitize Gabby to help her associate other dogs with positive experiences, such as toys or treats.

Potential challenges: : Fearful/potential for defensive aggression

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful Defensive: Gabby has been observed to be highly fearful. Noted to have a tense low body and be avoidant of the handler. During her medical exam Gabby was observed to snap at the muzzle. It is important to move slowly with Gabby, to build positive associations (treats/toys/praise), and to allow them to initiate interactions with new people. They should never be forced to greet or to interact if they are not comfortable and soliciting attention. Please see handout on Fearful and Defensive Aggression.