Date of intake:: 3/1/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: Yes

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

Previously lived with:: 3 adults, 3 children (2, 10, 16)

Behavior toward strangers:: Sandy is shy and prefers contact on her terms

Behavior toward children:: Sandy is shy and prefers contact on her terms

Behavior toward dogs:: Sandy is shy and prefers contact on her terms, friendly with familiar dogs

Behavior toward cats:: Sandy will actively avoid, hard barks, and growls

Resource guarding:: None reported

Bite history:: None reported

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Medium

Other Notes:: Sandy is fearful of loud noises and may bark or growl at small animals. Held/restrained: fearful Disturbed while sleeping: unknown Startled: barks/growls Pushed off furniture: unbothered Feet touched: barks/growls Collar grabbed: unbothered First stay: 8/9/23- Stray, No known history 8/9/23 During her previous stay Sandy was observed to be fearful and growl when approached. *Previous assessments can be given upon request*

Date of assessment:: 3/8/2026

Summary:: **3/8/26** Sandy has been observed to be fearful while in care. Noted to have a tense body and tucked tail. When handler attempts to interact or initiates contact, she is observed to become tense. Due to the high level of fear, stress, and anxiety observed, Sandy is not a candidate for a handling assessment at this time. **8/12/23** Sandy remains highly fearful and uncomfortable in the care center, growling, tense and whale eyed. Sandy only allows for very minimal interaction. For these reasons, she is not an appropriate candidate for an assessment.

Summary:: 3/9/26- Sandy doesn't enter vestibule and pulls away as handler tries to enter it. She just looks at the dog with a tense body and head low for a moment. She doesn't engage any further. 8/12/23 When greeting another dog through the fence, Sandy is fearful (tense bodied) and does not approach.

Summary (6):: 3/9/26: Handler approaches the kennel and Sandy approaches forward hard barking and growling loudly. Handler removes the kennel cover and talks to her. She relieves herself on a pile of shredded linen as she stares towards the handler tense with a low growl. Handler unlocks the kennel and presents the leash and Sandy approaches slowly with a lowered head. She allows the handler to place the leash over her head with her body tense. Sandy is removed from kennel and she pulls moderately out towards the street. Sandy relieves herself right away as she walks outside. She walks besides the handler with a loose leash and stops and sniffs around occasionally. Sandy will look to passing people with a whale eye but remains by the handler's side. She walks back to the shelter, pull moderately and panting. A handler approaches and tries to say hi to her but she ignores them. Sandy briefly looks back and whale eyes the handler as she is pre-clipped. She is returned to kennel without issue. Handler leaves her with some high value treats. 3/7/26: Sandy is observed to be hard barking in kennel as staff walk by. 3/6/26: Sandy is at front of kennel with a neutral body as handler approaches. She is easily leashed and pulled from kennel. Sandy walks next to handler with tail tucked. Handler would offer treats but she did take. Sandy was tolerant of being petted, but tenses when handler's hand touches her. Sandy is returned to kennel with no issue. 3/5/26: Sandy is laying toward back of kennel, soft body. She does approaches when kennel door is unlocked, does not take treats but is easily leashed. She exits kennel, slowly, steadily. Sandy walks beside handler with loose leash, soft body, maintains this when on sidewalk. When handler cues Sandy, she does not approach, becomes slightly wide eyed and lip licks. Sandy does not take treats from hand or dropped in front of her. Sandy relieves herself on sidewalk, continues to walk well with loose leash beside handler. When attempting to clip Sandy's leash, Sandy moves away, turns head toward handler, lick lips. Sandy is walked to kennel, a hook is used to remove leash without issue.

Summary (7):: 3/3/26: Sandy is sitting on her kuranda bed. She is easily leashed and brought out the room. On the street, Sandy walks next to handler with no leash tension. She doesn't react to dogs or passersby. She also at times shies away from the handler as they speak or look at her. The handler then brings Sandy to the office. There, another handler presents their hand to sniff, but Sandy doesn't show interest. Upon entry, the handler clips their leash and returns Sandy to her kennel with ease. 3/2/26: Sandy is at the back of the kennel laying down with a neutral body. Handler unlocks the kennel and presents the leash. She freezes, tense body and hard stares at the handler. Handler drapes the leash over her head and she approaches the front. Sandy exits the kennel and walks slowly out towards the driveway. Her body is low to the ground and her hackles are raised. Sandy relieves herself and quickly turns back and pulls moderately back inside the building. Sandy then walks back to her kennel and returns without issue. She is left with some treats. 3/1/26: (LATE ENTRY, INTAKE BEHAVIOR): Staff requested assistance with Sandy during vaccines. When she was in the main medical room, and staff would attempt to place a soft muzzle before administering vaccines, she would low growl with a tense body. Sandy is blocking the door and refusing to move, she plants and staff are unable to exit due to her growling when approached. Handler goes around to the door and pushes it open slight. Sandy then approaches and steps aside before walking out of the room. She then walks with the handlers into the kennel and is returned without issue. During previous stay at ACC: 8/14/23: When handler approaches Sandy's kennel early in the morning, she is hard barking with a stiff body and high wagging tail. She freezes when handler offers her treats through the bars. Handler tosses them instead and steps to the side, Sandy eats the treats. Later, handlers approach her kennel again and she is hard barking and jumping towards the front of the kennel. Out of precaution, she is leashed with two leashes and removed from kennel where she thrashes briefly before recovering and walking out to the yard. She is aloof with handlers throughout the entire interaction. She allows handlers to clip her leash and place her back into kennel without issue 8/9/23: Sandy is standing at the front with tense body. She low growls at handler and is not interested in treats. When handler presents the leash, she dodges it but remains at the front. The leash is placed on her but she lifts her paw getting tangled in it. Another handler uses the hook to gently pull the leash off and she is then easily re-leashed. Once out she is tense bodied and aloof, avoiding interaction with handlers. She returns to kennel without issue.

Date of intake:: 3/1/2026

Summary:: Frozen while on leash, growling at handler

Date of initial:: 3/2/2026

Summary:: Tense; not interested with treats; high FAS; low growl with minimal approach

ENERGY LEVEL:: Sandy is described as medium energy. They will need daily mental and physical activity to keep them engaged and exercised. And we recommend using force-free, reward-based training techniques for them.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Sandy's overall level of fear and the potential for defensive aggression, we recommend an adult only home. No Cats: Due to hard barking and growling towards cats we recommend a home with no cats. Place with a New Hope partner: Sandy is highly fearful in the care center, growling and moving away from interaction. She has only allowed for minimal handling. For these reasons, we recommend she be placed with an experienced rescue partner.

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

Potential challenges comments:: Handling Sensitivity: Sandy's previous owner states that she is fearful when held/restrained and will bark or growl when their paws are touched. Positive reinforcement, reward based training should be used to pair touch with good things such as food rewards in order to teach Sandy to be more comfortable with this. Please see handout on Handling and Touch Sensitivity. Fearful Defensive: Sandy's previous owner states that she will bark or growl when startled. During her previous stay Sandy was observed to escalate to growling when approached. She remains highly fearful and prefers to avoid interactions. During her current stay Sandy has continued to be fearful. Noted to hard bark and growl when approached. It is important to move slowly with Sandy, 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. On Leash Reactivity: Sandy's previous owner states that she will bark or growl at small animals. Sandy will need positive reinforcement, reward based training to teach them to look at you rather than other stimuli. We recommend a front clip harness to help manage this behavior. Please see handout on On Leash Reactivity and Barrier Frustration.