Date of intake:: 7/7/2026

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner Surrender - 1 year

Previously lived with:: 2 adults

Behavior toward strangers:: hard bark and growl

Behavior toward children:: hard bark and growl

Behavior toward dogs:: hard bark and growl

Behavior toward cats:: hard bark and growl

Resource guarding:: Mika is also known to be a resource guarder with food and will quickly snap when approached while eating.

Bite history:: Mika's owner stated that she is known to have severe stranger danger and will try to bite anyone who approaches her. She is put away in a crate whenever guests are visiting. The last bite incident was about a week ago. The owner was trying to introduce Mika to a friend who was a potential new owner, but while walking next to them with a leash on, Mika lunged and bit their ankle unprovoked. Bite and release, not breaking the skin. This incident is an example of how most other bite incidents occur when new people are around Mika. Mika's owner stated that she sometimes bites her mother and herself at night when entering a room where Mika is sleeping.

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Mika is reported to have a high energy level.

Other Notes:: Mika does not like getting picked up. Mika can be very affectionate and loyal when given the time to get comfortable with new things. She prefers to be the only pet in the home as well as not have many people in the home. She is crate trained and thinks of it as her safe space, she loves to willingly go in her crate. Mika knows the command "sit" and prefers wet food. She is an independent dog that needs patience and boundaries.

Date of assessment:: 7/8/2026

Summary:: Mika was surrendered by her previous owner due to them moving out of the country. Mika's owner stated that she is known to have severe stranger danger and will try and bite anyone that approaches her. She is put away in a crate whenever guests are visiting. The last bite incident was about a week ago, when the owner was trying to introduce Mika to a friend that they were looking to rehome Mika to. But during a walk next to Mika, she lunged and bit their ankle unprovoked. This was a bite and release which did not break skin. Mika's owner stated that this was an example of how her other multiple bite incidents occurred - new people around Mika. Mika's owner stated that she will sometimes bite her mother as well as herself at night when entering a room Mika is sleeping in. She is also known to be a resource guarder with food and will quickly snap when approached while eating. Upon intake Mika was lunging, hard barking, growling, and showing teeth at staff during every interaction. When walking down to medical, Mika thrashed and would charge at staff's legs attempting to bite while wearing a muzzle. She was able to reset to walk/be tolerant after getting vaccinated and being walked to her kennel. The owner was counseled for BORE, but they did not want to proceed. Since her intake, she growls in her kennel and began thrashing during leashing and out of kennel.  Once she is out of the kennel room, she walks normally and is taken to the behavior office. Mika growls at handlers and seeks a hiding spot. She chooses next to the garbage bin and is reluctant to come out when it's time to walk her back to kennel. She did not take treats or sliced cheese. Once back in kennel, a hook is used to remove the lead, which Mika tolerated.  Due to Mika's multiple bite history, quick escalation with little to no warning or clear provocation, and her escalations upon intake, the behavior team does not feel she is a safe candidate for a handling assessment. 

Summary (7):: 7/9: Mika is growling with her teeth bared as a handler unlocks the kennel door. She sniffs offered pieces of chicken but does not take it. She moves to the back once the kennel door is opened and leans her head away during leashing but does not react further. She readily exits the kennel and is brought ot the behavior office. Mika does not approach the handler, attempt to interact, and remains stiff-bodied. She is returned to the kennel once her kennel is cleaned. A hook is used to remove the lead. 7/8: Mika was reported to have been growling when approached in the kennel. When the handler attempts to leash her, she dodges. She does not take treats. Once leashed, she thrashes out of her kennel. She is brought to the behavior office where she tries to find a hiding spot. When other handlers offer her sliced cheese, she growls and briefly lip curls. She chooses to try and hide behind the garbage bin, growling when a handler uses gentle directional pressure to maneuver her out. Once her kennel is cleaned, she is walked back to the kennel, and the lead is removed with a hook.

Date of intake:: 7/7/2026

Summary:: hard barking, lunging, attempting to bite through muzzle

Date of initial:: 7/9/2026

Summary:: thrashing and snapped at handler when woke up from sedation, lunging at handler when brought back

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

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

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Mika's multiple bite history, potential for defensive escalations, reported history of not getting along with children, we recommend an adult-only home at this time. Place with a New Hope partner: Mika's bite history is significant. Though the bites have not typically caused serious injury, they happen consistently and indicate a high level of stress for her when she is in situations she may find stressful or overwhelming that escalate to biting. This is a behavior that has been rehearsed over an extended period of time and will require careful environmental management and likely significant lifestyle adaptations to prevent injury to her future humans and to increase Mika's quality of life. We highly recommend consultation with a veterinary behaviorist and/or highly qualified behavior modification trainer.

Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression,Multiple-bite history/risk of future aggression,Bite history (human)

Potential challenges comments:: Resource guarding: Mika is reported to guard food and will snap when approached while eating. Please see the handout on resource guarding. Handling/touch sensitivity: Mika is reported to dislike being picked up. Her owner did not elaborate on what this was or how it manifested. But we recommend not picking her up at this time if possible. Please see the handout on Handling/touch sensitivity. Fearful/potential for defensive aggression | Multiple-bite history/risk of future aggression | Bite history (human): Mika is reported to have bitten multiple times in her previous home, reportedly without warning, and has not typically broken skin. Mika is reported to have severe stranger danger and will try to bite when anyone approaches her. Mika's owner stated that she will sometimes bite her mother as well as herself at night when entering a room Mika is sleeping in. This behavior is likely to continue as it has become part of Mika's repertoire, and will need careful management to work toward reducing triggers for Mika and reducing the resulting bites. Please see handout on Fearful/potential for defensive aggression and Multiple-bite history/risk of future aggression.