Valentina is a 1 year old, spayed, Sammy mix, female being fostered near Madison, WI. She is one of our many Sams from the IA hoarding case. Valentina takes time to warm up to new people (2+ weeks) and settle into new environments so she is available on a foster to adopt basis in our area of WI, IL, MN, IA only. Valentina requires a confident dog in her home because she takes her cues and grows confidence with other dogs around. She always lived with a pack outdoors and separation from them is difficult for her. She needs a quiet or less active home - a busy or loud home she will not adjust well in. No kids under 13 years old. Physical fence needed - no invisible fences or tracking collars. If you have questions about our adoption process and procedures, please go to our pinned informational “adoption process” post whichincludes frequently asked questions. Please note due to the extensive interest in our Sam’s right now, we are not able to answer every single question - what we ask is that you apply and if your application is chosen as a potential adoption match, that you reserve your questions for your interview. We will be happy to answer any questions at the time of your interview and have further discussions about a Sam you’re interested in! Here is what Valentina’s foster home had to say: How would you describe their personality? Valentina is a clever, curious, and playful dog with a bit of a “collector” streak — she likes gathering toys and items into a spot she considers her own. Even with this habit, we haven’t seen any signs of resource guarding (the hoarding of toys is a very common chapter in the blossoming of under-socialized dogs). It’s also important to note that her personality has been slowly blossoming during her time with us. She’s had a traumatic past (lived outside her whole life in the elements), and while she’s learning what it means to live the life of a loved pet, she can still be timid and skittish at times. What is YOUR favorite thing about her? I love seeing her pure joy when she’s playing — whether she’s chasing a ball or bounding through a field of dandelions. And her happy tail wags are impossible not to smile at. Once she's comfortable, she's curious, playful, and a joy to watch explore her environment. What is their favorite thing to do? Once she’s comfortable in her environment, Valentina absolutely loves to play. She’s enjoyed playing with our dog from the very beginning and has grown more confident over time — her puppy side really comes out, and she can play pretty rough when she’s excited. She’s also learning to fetch. She loves chasing a ball when you throw it, even if she hasn’t quite mastered bringing it back yet. She’ll happily toss it into the air herself and chase it around on her own. What is their favorite toy? Her favorite toy is definitely a ball. We’ve been tossing Kong tennis balls around the house and in the backyard, and she has an absolute blast chasing them. Are they confident and well adjusted, or would they do better with a confident dog in their new home? She will absolutely need a confident dog in her new home, ideally one who can also be her playmate. She has learned many of her skills — and built much of her trust — by watching our dog model interactions with us. Our dog also gives her the reassurance she needs to approach us, try new things, and continue building confidence. Without a playmate, Valentina is likely to get bored and may start getting into things you’d prefer she didn’t. Is she snuggly, prefer to keep to themselves, or combination? Valentina hasn’t been snuggly with us yet, but she does like to be nearby — usually at our side or resting at our feet. With time and continued trust‑building, she may grow into more of a snuggle bug. What is she currently eating? Blue Diamond Naturals - Beef and Brown Rice Assortment of treats like Zukes, Woof pupcicles, No Hide Chews (strips) We also use air-dried Ziwi and her food as treats. Is she potty trained/or how is their progress on potty training? With us, she’s been fully potty trained, though we expect some regression when she transitions to a new environment. Before coming to our home, she had already begun learning potty training, but she did regress for a period as she adjusted to a new place and new people. With bonding, trust, and time, she improved steadily and is now reliable with us. We work from home and keep her on a consistent routine with our dog — first thing in the morning, late morning or early lunchtime, mid‑afternoon, and again in the evening, plus a quick trip outside before bed. In the past few days, she’s started to be more vocal when she needs to go out, though sometimes she’s really asking to play. We still treat those moments as potty breaks. She’s beginning to signal, but she’s not fully consistent yet; with time, she will be. When she first came to us, we used 36" x 36" potty pads, and we still leave one out on stormy days when she’s more anxious and hesitant to go outside. Are there any toys, items, or chews that are not safe for them that might be ok for another dog? No. She is a chewer, though! She will find something to chew if you're not watching her! Has she been around cats? Dogs? Children? How did they do/interact with them? Valentina lives with our female Samoyed and four male cats, and she’s done well with all of them. She’s typically gentle with the cats, but would do best with cats who are used to dogs getting close and offering enthusiastic puppy kisses. We also have two children (13+). She remains somewhat anxious around them, though she is slowly warming up to our oldest. Any adoption deal breakers? ex. no cats, dogs, kids? Has to have a confident dog companion? Fence? etc - She must have a confident dog companion who can handle a rough, puppy‑like play style. She has relied heavily on our dog for modeling, confidence, and companionship, and she truly thrives with another dog in the home. - A fenced‑in yard is essential for her exercise and play. She’s not yet a dog who can walk beside you on a sidewalk, so a secure yard gives her the space she needs while she continues learning. - A quieter household is ideal — either no children or older children (13+). A larger family with multiple kids may be overwhelming for her. - She would also do best with an adult home most days to support her potty routine, bonding, and separation‑anxiety needs. She can tolerate being crated for short periods, but longer stretches would be stressful for her right now. - At this stage, she needs a family that doesn’t travel often. Boarding or frequent changes in caregivers could be stressful and may set back her progress. Over time, she may become more adaptable, but she isn’t there yet. With time and patience — and by letting Valentina set the pace — you’ll gain a loyal, loving pup. She learns incredibly quickly through observation and modeling. She howls to go outside just like our dog, knowsthat spoons often mean a special treat (like peanut butter or wet food), and recognizes that the pink long lead means outside time, while two long leads mean a walk in the park. We use a leash and long lead with her regularly, especially for backyard play and park walks, but she isn’t yet a dog who will walk calmly at your side on a sidewalk. With guidance, consistency, and a confident dog to model after, she will get there in time. Like many Samoyeds, she also needs a “job.” Once she’s confident in her new home, she’ll likely look for things to do if she isn’t given something engaging — she’s clever and will find her own entertainment if she’s bored. She’s still very content to relax at your feet and enjoy scratches, but adopters should be aware that mental and physical enrichment will help her thrive. Valentina is still recovering from her early neglect (living outside with no routine humane contact), and she remains skittish. Some days she’s confident and will approach you for pets; other days she keeps her distance and may shy away from a hand reaching toward her. Everything we’re describing now is the result of steady progress after spending her first couple of weeks with us mostly scared, choosing to stay in her crate for much of the day. We want to be realistic about what her first few days in a new home may look like. She is an amazing dog who is just beginning to experience what it feels like to be loved, safe, and cared for — and she is blossoming beautifully as she learns what it means to be someone’s cherished companion.