Miley

Foster Dog: Miley
Foster Dog Location (city): Chesapeake
Gender: Female
Age/weight: Turns 5 in 2026 / Weighs about 60 lbs.
Spayed/Neutered: Spayed
Adoption Fee: $600

Basic intro/highlights:
Highly trainable
Playful and youthful
Friendly with strangers
Affectionate and very people-oriented
Quick learner

General Activity Level:
Can relax well at home with minimal activity
Playful bursts of energy throughout the day
Great companion for individuals or families – I would not suggest an individual/family with an active lifestyle, as she needs frequent feeding.

Interaction with dogs: She does well with other dogs. No issues.
Interaction with cats: From what I have heard from her other fosters, she does fine with cats. I have never seen her interact with a cat in person.
Interaction with children: Miley hasn’t had much interaction with children while in our care but lived previously with a 2-year-old. She also did very well with a 12-year-old she met at one of her foster sitters.

Physical fence required? Yes
Is physical fence an absolute requirement, or flexible? Requirement. Miley does very well listening to commands and will always come when you call for her. But she also tends to wander off.
How many hours are they able to be left alone? 6-8 hours
Able to climb stairs? Yes

Health concerns: Miley was born with megaesophagus, a condition that affects her food getting to her stomach. Because of that, she needs more frequent, smaller feedings (three times/day), and she eats upright in her special chair so that gravity can assist. In order to prevent complications like pneumonia, it will be essential that her new family adhere to her feeding schedule and not make any changes without close coordination with their veterinarian. Miley is thriving on her current routine, which also includes an inexpensive medicine (Metoclopramide) with her meals.

 What basic commands are known? Reliable or still learning? Sit, come, lay down – Miley is a quick learner and learns commands quickly.

 How does he or she walk on a leash, and what do you use (collar, harness, etc.)? Miley tends to pull while on a leash. She can use some training on not to pull. She uses a harness only to avoid a collar from irritating her esophagus.

 In need of obedience training? No

Personality and additional information: Miley is everything you love about a golden retriever – sweet, affectionate, and happiest right by your side. She’s a total velcro girl who thrives on companionship. She loves being outdoors, playing ball, and soaking up time with her people.

She is well potty trained and has great house manners overall. Like many clever goldens, she can be an occasional counter surfer, so snacks and anything within reach should be put away. Miley is the kind of golden whose tail starts wagging the second you look her way.

Miley eats in her special bailey chair and is required to stay upright for 20–25 minutes after meals to allow gravity to help her food reach her stomach. She also drinks her water while in her chair to limit regurgitation. While there isn’t a surgical cure, with the right home and consistent care, she can live a long, happy life.

The best part? Miley doesn’t let her condition slow her down one bit. She’s as joyful, playful, and loving as any golden. Megaesophagus may be part of her story, but it doesn’t define her. She’s a true golden through and through.