Date of intake:: 9/23/2026

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

Date of assessment:: 10/14/2026

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: none Reactivity to humans: none Reactivity to dogs: did not pass Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): tense, pressed against/hiding behind handler Call over: approached with coaxing Sociability comments: Handling Soft handling: tense, tucked, lip lick Exuberant handling: tense, lip lick Handling comments: Arousal Jog: moved with handler, low body, lip lick, tail tucked Arousal comments: Knock: tail tuck, low body, did not approach Knock Comments: Toy: pancaked/flattened to floor when toy squeaked Toy comments: 9/30/26: Previous assessment available on request

Summary:: Duncan arrived at the care centers as a stray, so his behavior with other dogs is unknown. 10/29/26: Duncan greets a novel female dog through a barrier but displays significant fearful body language. After briefly approaching the gate, Duncan chooses to walk away and hides between staff members' legs while shaking. Due to his level of fear and choice to create distance, the interaction is ended without proceeding to a face-to-face introduction.

Summary (7):: 10/29/26: Duncan is standing at the front of his kennel with a tense body as handler approaches. He is able to be slowly leashed with ease, and he then has a tense body and low tail while on the way to the play yard for playgroup. In the yard, he would greet the other dog at the gate with a tense body and low tail and then disengages. He then begins to hide in between the handler’s legs and begin to shake and refuses to re-approach the gate. Please see dog to dog notes for more details. He is able to return back to his kennel with no issues. 10/14/26(BA note): Duncan is standing at the front of his kennel and will allow the handler to leash him with ease. He will then be brought to the assessment room, where he will lean into the handler and allow a drag leash to be placed on him. He will display some avoidance of the handler but will also seek attention by leaning into the handler while being petted. He will allow all handling. He will run without becoming aroused but will display skittish behavior during the running portion, lowering his body toward the ground. He does not react to the knock. When presented with a squeaky toy, he will flinch and lower his body toward the ground in response to the sound. For more information, see Behavioral Assessment. 09/30/26(BA note): Duncan is standing in the back of his kennel and will approach the front but will attempt to flee from the kennel as the handler attempts to leash him. He will eventually be leashed and brought to the assessment room. Duncan will display timid behaviors, including a tucked tail and pinned-back ears. He will take cheese treats from the handler and lean against the handler’s leg while tolerating handling. He will run without becoming aroused, does not react to the knock, and will ignore the toy. For more information, see Behavioral Assessment.

Date of intake:: 9/23/2026

Summary:: Fearful

Date of initial:: 9/25/2026

Summary:: Very nervous and tense

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

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Duncan's highly fearful behavior and potential for defensive escalation, we feel that an adult only home would be most beneficial at this time. Place with a New Hope partner: Duncan has not acclimated well to the shelter environment and continues to show high levels of fear when walking and during handling. Due to his fearful behavior, we recommend placement with a New Hope partner who can provide any necessary behavior modification (force-free, positive reinforcement-based) and re-evaluate behavior in a stable home environment before placement into a permanent home.

Potential challenges: : Fearful/potential for defensive aggression

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Duncan has showed highly fearful behavior during his time at the care center. He was shaking and had a tense, low body throughout his handling assessment, and tried to hide behind the handler. He also showed some reluctance to walk on leash. During his intake, he showed higher-level warning behaviors, growling when staff tried to remove him from his crate, although allowing them to leash him. It is important to always go slow and give Duncan the option to walk away from any social interaction. He should never be forced to approach anything that he is uncomfortable with or to submit to petting or handling. It should always be his choice to approach a new person or thing. Duncan would do best in an initially calm and quiet home environment and should be given time to acclimate to his new surroundings. Please see handout on Fearful/Potential for Defensive Aggression.