100% Sweetheart!

Taffy is 100% sweetheart—a true golden! She is a 6-year-old retired breeder girl, and apparently had multiple litters. All we really know is that when AGaG took her in she had fleas, didn’t know how to eat out of a bowl, and was startled by nearly everything.

We welcomed Taffy into our home from AGaG in May of 2022. We wanted a playmate for Cocoa, a 5-year-old breeder girl that we adopted nine months earlier from an established golden retriever breeder of champion lines. This time, we contacted AGaG. With Cocoa as a mentor dog, AGaG suggested we had an ideal situation for a skittish dog not accustomed to living in a home. We were reluctant at first, as we were hoping for a more active dog to further energize Cocoa, but after some dialogue, we agreed. The adoption team and foster family were patient and just fantastic to work with.

We hand-fed Taffy for a few days while we introduced her to canine mealtime “etiquette” and added a second leash to our twice-daily walks. She loves to stop every 15 feet to sniff the new smells, but especially the same spot where Cocoa is sniffing. We offered her a crate as her “safe space,” but that didn’t last more than a day. Taffy quickly showed a preference for other “safe spaces” in the house! She found the comfort of our daughter’s bed, and she regularly jumps up at bedtime for some cuddling and love. She loves to be petted and lie in the grass enjoying the warm sunshine!

From day one, Taffy has shown soooo much excitement when it is time to eat. She does this crazy happy dance with all four paws leaving the ground as we prepare her meals—so darn cute! She will also nudge us with her wet nose and let out a soft groan as we prepare her bowl, sometimes even mouthing your arm.

Taffy and Cocoa get along great, although Cocoa remains the alpha. Taffy is happy to follow her lead. She has really overcome so many of her fears and is enjoying a comfortable life. We are so blessed to have her in our family, and we are grateful to AGaG for the opportunity, guidance, and wisdom offered.

The Aquadro Family

Adoption Process
ADOPTION REQUIREMENTS, NO EXCEPTIONS:

  • Be at least 23 years of age

  • No children under 6 years of age living in your home

  • We primarily adopt goldens to families living within Illinois, Northwest Indiana, and the southern most counties of Wisconsin

  • If you do not own your residence or live in a condo, you will need a letter from your landlord or property management company

  • Provide excellent vet care for your dog(s)

  • Do not use an invisible fence

  • Are not over your town/county's pet limit

  • Have the knowledge and agreement of all adults living in the household

  • Be prepared to make a lifetime commitment

  • QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR POLICIES? All your answers in our Frequently Asked Questions section.

If interested please fill out our online adoption application form; please make sure you fill in every required field/question or your submission will not go through. Please note that we take time to learn as much as we can about each dog in our care and our bios are our current observations; we are unable to make any guarantees on the future health or temperament of your adopted dog. Most dogs in our care come with unknown pre-rescue history and as such breed and age estimates are an educated guess.

Available Goldens for Adoption