Date of intake:: 6/18/2026

Spay/Neuter status:: No

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

Previously lived with:: 2 Adults, birds

Behavior toward strangers:: Laika is will hide and avoid contact, needs time to warm up

Behavior toward children:: Laika is playful

Behavior toward dogs:: Laika is playful with familiar and unfamiliar dogs on and off leash

Behavior toward cats:: No experience

Resource guarding:: None reported

Bite history:: None reported

Housetrained:: Partially

Energy level/descriptors:: Medium

Other Notes:: Laika's previous owner states that she has destructive tendencies in the home and will tear her collar and leash apart. Laika often jumps up, pulls hard on the leash, and is anxious when left home alone. During walks, Laika will lunge towards small animals. Laika is bothered when held/restrained, when disturbed while sleeping, or when her feet/paws are touched. Laika will bark when her collar is touched. The owner never attempted to startle or push/pull Laika off the furniture. Laika's previous owner describes her as an active, playful dog that loves bath time. She may know the cue stay.

Date of assessment:: 6/22/2026

Summary:: Laika has been observed to be highly fearful while in care. Noted to lunge, bark, growl and snap at the leash when handlers are attempting to leash her. Due to the fearful behavior, Laika is not a candidate for a handling assessment at this time.

Summary (6):: 6/21/26: Laika is lying down at the front of the kennel with dilated eyes. Handler approaches the front of the kennel and unlocks it. Laika stands up and remains at the front of the kennel. Handler opens the kennel and presents the leash and Laika retreats and dodges as it is brought closer to her head. Handler brings the leash up high and attempts to drape it over her head, Laika becomes tense and whale eyed before jumping up and baring teeth and snapping towards the leash. She will retreat and regularly approaches the front. The leash is able to be draped over her head at times and she retreats. Handler offers treats but Laika ignores them. Handler crouches with the leash as Laika approaches and she tenses, whale eyes and low growls towards the handler at that level. Handler stands back up and drapes the leash over her head slowly. She lunges and snaps as the leash falls over her head, but she is leashed successfully. The kennel door is opened and Laika exits the kennel. She pulls moderately out of the kennel towards the backyard. Laika is aloof with the handler, walking around slowly and sniffing her surroundings. She relieves herself a few times. Handler walks Laika around the backyard for awhile, she occasionally pulls very hard ahead of the handler. After sometime, Laika is walked back into the shelter. She is brought to the kennel room and begins to retreat. She thrashes and pulls back. Handler applies leash pressure and she enters the room. She is thrashes at the kennel front and is muscled into kennel with out further issue.

Summary (7):: 6/21/26: Laika was at back of kennel with a tense body as handler approached. Handler opened door and put leash into kennel and Laika was shaking with ears pinned back and tail tucked. When handler moved leash closer to her she did a lip snarl and growled. Handler tried to lasso Laika, she moved out of the way to dodge leash. Handler put leash on kennel floor to let her sniff but she lunged at kennel door barking and growling. Handler decided to leave her be for now and ask another handler to attempt. 6/20/26: (PM WALK) Laika is at the front of the kennel with a neutral body and a tense face. Handler offers some treats and he does not take them. When high value is offered, Laika does not take it. Handler attempts to leash her a few times and she ducks away avoiding the leash. Handler is able to leash Laika by placing the leash over her head slowly. Laika pulls hard out of the kennel and is taken to the backyard. She ducks behind the handler and goes between their legs as she pulls out to the driveway. Laika is heavily panting through out the walk and pulls hard when the driveway gate is opened. She is taken to the street for a moment and is walked back into the driveway. Occasionally pulling hard where she is gasping and coughing. Laika is then walked back into the shelter. She returns to kennel with slight leash pressure. 6/19/26: Upon approach, Laika is lying on her bed, trembling; she slowly approaches the front and allows herself to be leashed. While walking through the hallway, Laika gets startle and pulls away from loud sounds, including a dog barking in a nearby crate. The handler brings Laika to the yard; there, she relieves herself multiple times; she doesn't react to dogs or handlers. Laika is hypervigilant, looking at passing stimuli with wide eyes; she also attempts to pull hard towards the exit. The handler calls her name, but she pays no mind. Upon entry, Laika pulls hard into the building; when approaching her kennel, she baulks and slightly thrashes away. The handler applies leash pressure and muscles her into kennel.

Date of intake:: 6/18/2026

Summary:: Growling

ENERGY LEVEL:: Laika 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),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.

Potential challenges: : Destructive behavior,Basic manners/poor impulse control,Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration,Strength/leash pulling

Potential challenges comments:: Destructive Behavior: Laika's previous owner states that she will tear her collar and leash apart. We are unaware of what, if any, attempts were made to remedy this behavior but we suggest to future adopters that Laika will need to be provided with physical and mental stimulation and with a variety of appropriate and engaging chew toys so they can engage in necessary chewing behavior without damage to human objects. Please see handout on Destructive Behavior. Basic Manners: Laika's previous owner states that she will jump up often. It is recommended that default behaviors such as "Sit" and "Off" are reinforced to substitute any frustration and teach them to control their impulses instead of simply reacting; proper management is also advised. Force-free, reward-based training only is recommended. Please see handout on Basic Manners. Handling Sensitivity: Laika's previous owner states that she is bothered when held/restained, when disturbed while sleeping, or when her paws are touched. She will bark when her collar is touched. Positive reinforcement, reward based training should be used to pair touch with good things such as food rewards in order to teach Laika to be more comfortable with this. Please see handout on Handling and Touch Sensitivity. Fearful Defensive: Laika has been observed to escalate to lunge, bark, growl and snap at the leash when handlers are attempting to leash them. It is important to move slowly with Laika, 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: Laika's previous owner states that she will lunge towards small animals while on leash. Laika 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. Leash Pulling: Laika's previous owner states that she will pull hard while on leash. It is recommended that they be walked on a front clip harness or head halter, which will help diminish their strength through leverage, and that they be trained using positive reinforcement, reward based training to not pull on leash. Please see handout on Leash Manners.