Sophia

My story

Sophia was found as a stray in 2024, emaciated and crying in the rain in someone's backyard. Since then she has been in foster care and has blossomed into a healthy and happy pup who is looking for her forever home. Here are some fun facts about Sophia: She is a medium energy dog who likes to play with her toys from time to time and will sometimes beckon you to play along. That said she will just as easily curl up next to you in bed or on the couch (she's quite the cuddler!). Some words to describe her would be: sweet, affectionate, intelligent, and loving. She likes to give doggy hugs and kisses and will greet you with the most exuberant "welcome home", complete with zoomies and a tail wagging at high speed. Sophia enjoys going for walks or jogs and visiting new parks and places to explore. She is a quick learner who knows commands like "sit", "lay down", "spin around", "paw", "back up", and "wait." She is very food motivated which has proven highly effective in training. Additionally, she is not possessive over her food and has no issue with her foster parents handling it while she's eating. Sophia would probably do best in a 1 dog, all adult household, ideally with a yard and plenty of space. She can be shy at first, especially with men; therefore, she would benefit from someone who is patient and preferably has experience with fearful dogs. Once she warms up to you however, she will melt your heart! There are a few things Sophia is currently working on, one of which is potty training. Initially she would relieve herself in the middle of the night or first thing in the morning. But now she will actually wait a few hours until she gets taken out. Additionally, she is learning to use pee pads and is making good progress. Sophia is working on her reactivity to dogs. Since she is so food motivated, she will often be distracted enough by treats that she pays no mind. She is still a work in progress and has her moments, but is gradually learning to relax. Sophia is also dog selective and seems to do better with calmer dogs. While in foster care she has made 1 doggy friend who was introduced to her slowly and who happened to be calm and unaffected by her initial reaction. It would be a process in having her overcome her social discomfort and reactivity, which is why it may be best that she be in a 1 dog household. Sophia is making great strides in chewing her toys instead of other miscellaneous objects. She can typically be redirected and will happily give up whatever she has in exchange for a toy or bone. Every so often she may need a firm "no, not this one", and will let the object go after a few moments. Sophia has some separation anxiety which she is working through by learning to use her crate. She has gotten to the point where she will get into the crate on her own and lie down. She gets fed treats and her regular meals while she's in there to build a positive association with it. Sophia is a fan of bones and Kongs, especially if they are filled with peanut butter, which works like a charm to keep her occupied.

If you have any questions or would like to adopt Sophia, please reach out to the adoption group directly. PetSmart Charities does not facilitate the adoption process. Thank you.