Date of intake:: 9/26/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Previously lived with:: Adults, children (2 years)

Behavior toward strangers:: Shy and prefers contact on own terms at first, friendly when more familiar

Behavior toward children:: Gentle and outgoing with familiar children

Behavior toward dogs:: No experience, does not react to dogs on walks

Behavior toward cats:: No experience

Resource guarding:: No resource guarding reported

Bite history:: No history

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Same is described by her previous owners as a medium energy dog.

Other Notes:: Sam's previous owners note that she can have touch sensitivity if not handled slowly. She allows her family to bathe and handle her.

Date of assessment:: 11/7/2026

Summary:: 11/7/26: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: mild Reactivity to humans: none Reactivity to dogs: did not pass Leash walking comments: dodged leash at first on leash up Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): sniffed, explored Call over: approached readily but then moved away Sociability comments: took some time to warm up; would initially startle/flinch away at handler movement or reaching towards her, but continually chose to re-engage Handling Soft handling: leaned in, wide eyes Exuberant handling: leaned in Handling comments: Arousal Jog: followed readily Arousal comments: Knock: loose wag as assistant entered, paused then approached Knock Comments: Toy: no response Toy comments: 9/30/26: Sam has shown highly fearful behavior during her time at the care center. She was observed to be shut down during her intake and, during her medical exam, resisted leashing and showed signs of severe stress, with a low body, tucked tail, lip licking, whale eye, baring teeth, and urinating. When brought to the behavior room for a handling assessment, she had a low body and tucked tail, showed whale eye and tension when collared, and was avoidant of handlers. Due to these concerns, a handling assessment was not conducted.

Summary:: Sam arrived as an owner surrender and is noted to have no experience, does not react to dogs on walks 10/17/26: Sam greets a novel male dog through a barrier. The novel male approaches displaying a tense body, raised hackles, and wide eyes. Sam initially displays a wagging tail while remaining at the gate but flinches when the novel male begins kicking backward after urinating.

Summary (7):: 11/07/26 (Assessment): Sam is at the front of her kennel as the handler approaches. She is leashed with treats and brought to the office. In the office, Sam runs around. She initially seems avoidant of touch, but play bows towards the handler. She explores the room and takes treats. During her first attempt at the assessment, she pulls away from the position she has to be in and avoids being touched. After a few more minutes of running around, Sam leans into the assessor's legs and accepts gentle petting. After her assessment, she is brought back to her kennel with no issue. See Behaviour Assessment for more details. 11/3/26: Sam is at the front of her kennel as the handler approaches. She is leashed with treats on the ground and is then brought out on a walk. Sam will explore and sniff around ahead of the handler only pulling on leash when she walks to sniff things that are further ahead or out of reach. She is loose and maintains a bouncy gait throughout the walk. Sam is then returned to kennel with no issue and is secured safely. 10/27/26: Sam is at the front of her kennel and will jump up and bark at the door as the handler approaches. She is is given some treats on the ground which she will eat as the handler leashes her. She is then brought out to the yard where her collar is clipped with a drag leash and she is free to roam around the yard and sniff. She will then eat treats with a soft mouth from the handler's hand. The handler will toss a treat and Sam will pounce and hop onto the treats with her front paws, so the handler continues to toss treats for her. After a while, she is returned to her kennel with no issue and is secured safely. 10/16/26 (playgroup): Sam is standing at the front of her kennel as handler approaches. She is weary of the leash so handler drops treats on the ground and leashes her while she's eating the treats. She exits the kennel and walks slowly outside to the play yard where she greets a novel dog at the gate. She shows some interest but the other dog does not engage as much (see dog to dog for more info). While waiting in the yard for the other dog to arrive, she tentatively sniffs handlers and takes food nicely. She walks slowly back to the building and pauses at the entrance to her kennel, but goes in to follow some tossed treats. Sam is returned without issue. 10/05/26 (playgroup): Sam is standing at the front of her kennel as handler approaches. She is weary of the leash so handler drops treats on the ground and leashes her while she's eating the treats. She slowly exits the kennel and is brought out to the play yard where she meets a novel dog at the gate (see dog to dog for more info). She walks slowly back to the kennel and is returned without issue.

Date of intake:: 10/26/2026

Summary:: fearful and shut down

Date of initial:: 10/30/2026

Summary:: Resisted leashing; extremely fearful -crouched, tail tucked, lip licking, whale eye, bared teeth

ENERGY LEVEL:: Sam is described a medium energy dog by her previous owners, and 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.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No young children: Due to Sam's highly fearful behavior, we feel that an adult home, or a home with older, dog-savvy children, would be most beneficial at this time. Place with New Hope partner: Sam has not acclimated well to the kennel environment and has allowed only minimal handling since intake. 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: : Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression

Potential challenges comments:: Handling/touch sensitivity and fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Sam has been highly fearful in the care center, showing a low, tense body, tucked tail, and avoidance of handling, including collaring and leashing, in interactions with staff. This fearful behavior has escalated to urination and baring her teeth during her medical examination. Her previous owners also report that she can be sensitive to handling. It is important to always go slow and give Sam the option to walk away from any social interaction. She should never be forced to approach anything that she is uncomfortable with or to submit to petting or handling. It should always be her choice to approach a new person or thing. Sam would do best in an initially calm and quiet home environment and should be given time to acclimate to her new surroundings. Please see handout on Handling/Touch Sensitivity and Fearful and Defensive Aggression.