Date of intake:: 5/16/2025

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray, no prior history

Date of assessment:: 5/18/2025

Summary:: 5/22/25: Will remain NHO Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Loose Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: None Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Fearful approaches with slow approaches- lip licks, allow petting Call over: Comes when coaxes low body Sociability comments: Handling Soft handling: Allowed- lip licks, sits, low body Exuberant handling: Allowed- lip licks, sits, low body Handling comments: Arousal Jog: Follow- lip licks low body Arousal comments: Knock: No response Knock Comments: Toy: Ignore assessor toy, quickly lunges & bites on dummy hand multiple times Toy comments: 5/18/2025: Peppy during her assessment would avoid handlers, and but will approach for treats. Peppy would flinch when touched and actively avoid handlers if they did not have food. Due to this, a handling assessment will not be conducted at this time.

Summary:: Due to Peppy entering the facility as a stray, there is no prior dog-to-dog history recorded. 05/23/25: When off leash at the Care Center Peppy is introduced to a greeter female dog. Peppy will approach with a neutral frame. Both dogs will scent one another through the gate. Peppy will do so with ears back and a flagging tail. As the greeter female remains present, Peppy will displacement scent before seeking out the handler. Conflicted, Peppy will return to the gate, scent while displaying paw raises before walking away to displacement scent. Both dogs are separated, concluding the interaction. 05/22/25: When off leash at the Care Center Peppy is introduced to a novel male dog. Peppy will approach with a soft frame. Both dogs will scent one another through the gate. The novel male will shake off before climbing the gate. Peppy will display a flagging tail with ears back. The novel male will begin displaying toe taps and then start demand barking, as he grows in frustration. Conflicted peppy will make distance from the gate. Both dogs are separated, concluding the interaction.

Summary (7):: 5/28: Peppy is hard barking and lunging at other dogs while in his crate. He will pull the covers off the neighboring crate and shred them. 05/27/25: Peppy is standing in the middle of crate with a loose frame as handler approaches. She is leashed with ease and walks up to the play yard where she is clipped to a drag lead and free to explore the space. Peppy is social with handler throughout her time in the yard and will slowly approach and lean into petting with a soft frame. Peppy does not engage with tossed toys but will scent out tossed treats. After her session, she is returned to crate safely. 05/23/25 (playgroup): Peppy is standing in the middle of crate with a loose frame as handler approaches. She is a bit hesitant of leashing and will back away from the lead but is easily lured with a treat. Peppy walks with a slightly tense frame up to the yard for playgroup (see Dog-Dog Summary for further details). Once in the yard, Peppy's frame loosens and she is social with handlers, readily approaching and jumping up onto them to solicit attention. After her session, she is returned to crate safely. 05/18/25 (Assessment Note): Peppy is standing at the front of her kennel and begins to low growl when the handler approaches to leash her. She retreats to the back of her kennel but will take treats from the handler. Once leashed, Peppy is escorted to the assessment room, where scattered treats are used as a distraction in order to place a collar on her. Throughout the session, Peppy remains fearful, with a tucked tail, trembling, and skeptical of movement and touch. See behavior assessment for more information. 5/17/25: Peppy is observed to lunge and bare teeth as a passing staff member who tries to push her kennel tray back into her kennel.

Date of intake:: 5/16/2025

Summary:: Resistant to leashing and getting in vehicle.

Date of initial:: 5/16/2025

Summary:: Very scared, ears pinned back, tail tucked during exam

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Peppy 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 additional to physical exercise, to positively direct their 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 Peppy's fearfulness, we recommend she goes to an adult-only home. Place with a New Hope partner: Due to Peppy's fearfulness, we recommend she is placed with one of our New Hope Partners.

Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression

Potential challenges comments:: Resource guarding: During Peppy's handling assessment, he bag to lunged and bite on the dummy hand multiple times. Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Peppy gives clear warnings when she is uncomfortable and does seem to choose to avoid or retreat when given the opportunity, but if prevented from moving away there is a potential to escalate to higher-level warning behaviors and possible fear-based aggression. It is important to move slowly with Peppy, to build positive associations (treats/toys/praise), and to allow Peppy to initiate interactions with new people. She should never be forced to greet or to interact if she is not comfortable and soliciting attention. Peppy would do best in an initially calm and quiet home environment and should be given time to acclimate to her new surroundings. See handouts on Decompression Period and Fearful and Defensive Aggression.