Pet friendly places
Get to Know Your Pet
Establishing a Routine
Training Your Pet
Feeding & Nutrition
Exercise & Enrichment
Grooming and Hygiene
Health and Vet Care
Pet friendly places
Get to Know Your Pet
Establishing a Routine
Training Your Pet
Feeding & Nutrition
Exercise & Enrichment
Grooming and Hygiene
Health and Vet Care

Welcome to Your

Pet Parent Playbook

We’ve got the perfect Pet Parent Playbook for you to navigate your new home in  .

Welcome to the   Neighborhood!

We’ve located all of the pet-friendly places in your neighborhood that you can bring your Golden Retriever to! From the essentials like vets and daycare to the fun spots like pet-friendly restaurants and parks, we’ve got you covered!

All
Pet Store
Restaurants
Bars
Vet Care
Parks
Pet Service

Get to Know Your Golden Retriever Better!

A sunshine-filled sweetheart who's basically love in dog form.

Friendly, intelligent, and devoted family companion. The Golden Retriever is among America's most popular dog breeds. They are serious workers at hunting and field work, as guides for the blind, and in search-and-rescue, enjoy obedience and other competitive events, and have an endearing love of life when not at work.

IN A NUTSHELL
55
 - 
75
 lbs
21
 - 
24
” height
active
 energy level
Prefers lounging
30 min exercise daily
45 min exercise daily
60 min exercise daily
90 min exercise daily
120 min exercise daily
Vocal 
when necessary
Rarely makes noise
Occasional barking
Only to alert
Loves to communicate
Loves to communicate
highly intelligent
Quick to understand
Learns with patience
Learns quickly
10
-
12
 years
Sheds 
often
Minimal hair cleanup
Regular brushing needed
Seasonal shedding periods
Heavy spring/fall shed
Medium-length double coat
Dog leash
Jar with treats
Tennis balls
Part 1

Establishing a Routine in Your New Home

Routine is important for your pet. Be sure that they understand their new potty routine, how to handle when you leave home, understand new environments like common spaces and stairwells, and have full furry confidence in their new surroundings! There are plenty of new features of your home that your pet might need some getting used to, so we’ve shared a few below alongside ways to remedy your pet’s potential anxiety with these new features!
New Environment Hurdle
How to Help Your Dog Adjust
Stairwells and elevators
Making your pet comfortable with treats and affirmations when using these spaces
New potty routine
Establishing the new routine early on + understanding your pet’s signals that it’s potty time
Leaving your dog alone
Making a new space feel like home with old crates, beds, and blankets + leaving at shorter intervals at first, making your time gone longer as your pet gets more comfortable
New sounds and smells (e.g. neighbors, traffic, appliances)
Introduce them gradually with calm reassurance; use white noise machines or calming music to help ease transitions.
Meeting new neighbors or pet
Use slow introductions in neutral spaces; reward calm behavior and avoid forcing interaction. Let your dog observe.
Navigating new flooring (like slippery wood or tile)
Add rugs or runners for traction and confidence; practice walking across surfaces with treats and encouragement.
Relearning boundaries (e.g. furniture rules or no-go rooms)
Be consistent from day one with commands and physical barriers (like baby gates); redirect with positive reinforcement.
If you’re interested in taking a deep dive into how to make your new home exciting and comfortable for your dog, please visit the link below to learn more!
View More Resources About This Topic
Part 2

Training Your Pet

Training your dog doesn’t have to be stressful or time-consuming. With a few positive, consistent techniques, you can teach important commands, build trust, and stop unwanted behaviors before they start. To help you with this, we’ve noted some particularly important training resources for helping your dog get acquainted with their new living environment!

Golden Retrievers are vocal
Since your dog’s breed tends to be very vocal, it’s important that you help curb their chatty behavior to be considerate to your neighbors as they might be uncomfortable in the new environment. Below are some resources to help make your pet confident and quiet in your new home.
Dogs
Behavior & Training
7 tips for how to stop a dog from barking
7
 min read
Oct 22, 2025
Golden Retrievers are highly intelligent
Your dog is a furry Einstein! Since your pet’s breed is linked to high levels of intelligence, we recommend some elevated training tips and tricks to try out! Check out these brainiac training projects below!
Dogs
Behavior & Training
Sign language for dogs: Training dogs with hand signals
11
 min read
Feb 5, 2025
Golden Retrievers are highly territorial
Your dog’s breed is considered highly territorial, which means it can be defensive around food, toys, or even just defensive of you, their parent! When in a shared living space, it’s important to recognize and mold the highly territorial behaviors of your dog.
Dogs
Behavior & Training
Why dogs guard their stuff and how to help them stop
7
 min read
Jun 24, 2025
Dogs
Behavior & Training
How to prevent your dog from marking in the house
7
 min read
Feb 8, 2025
Golden Retrievers are a Herding Dog
Your dog belongs to the herding breed group, which means it might have herding tendencies. If you’re in a shared living space though (rather than a sheep farm), these can be more frustrating than helpful. We’ve got a deep dive below on how to manage your dog’s herding habits.
Dogs
Behavior & Training
Managing your dog’s herding habits
7
 min read
Jan 30, 2025
Need help getting started or correcting tough behaviors? Visit the link below to take a deep dive!
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Part 3

Feeding & Nutrition

Feeding & Nutrition is an essential building block of ensuring your dog lives a healthy and happy life. We're here to help you decide what diet is best for your dog at any stage of their life, offer vet-verified commentary on different types of food and treats, and create the perfect pet diet playbook for your pet.

There are 2 main things to keep in mind when selecting your dog’s diet:
What to feed them, and How much to feed them. We’ve got you covered on both below, certified by a vet!

Dogs
Food & Nutrition
Types of dog food and how to choose the right one
22
 min read
Nov 11, 2024
Dogs
Food & Nutrition
How much food should I feed my dog?
 min read
Mar 26, 2024
If you’re interested in taking a deeper dive into everything you need to know about your dog’s food and nutrition, visit the link below.
View More Resources About This Topic
Golden Retrievers are Prone to Obesity
Your dog belongs to a breed that is prone to obesity, so we’re here to help with some additional resources that can help you keep them healthy and happy as you mold their diet!
Pets
Health
The dangers of pet obesity: causes, treatment, and prevention
 min read
Nov 12, 2024
Dogs
Health
How to help your dog lose weight, according to a vet
11
 min read
Nov 11, 2024
Dogs
Health
Is your dog overweight? Know the signs
5
 min read
Jul 18, 2024
PART 4

Exercise & Enrichment

Every dog needs a mix of physical movement and mental stimulation — especially in smaller living spaces. Even 15 minutes of the right kind of play can reduce anxiety, prevent chewing, and make your dog happier.

Looking for simple ways to engage your dog indoors and out? Explore our deep-dive resource below!

Golden Retrievers are active
Your dog’s breed is typically labeled as a high-energy breed that may require more exercise than the typical pooch. Knowing that high-energy dogs can require highly intentional attention and care, we gathered some resources here to help you out!
Dogs
Care
Mental stimulation for dogs
10
 min read
Oct 1, 2025
Dogs
Health
How much exercise does your dog need to be healthy?
13
 min read
Sep 3, 2025
Golden Retrievers are highly intelligent
There you are with your brilliant pooch again! With a smart dog like yours, exercise and enrichment is crucial. Read more on the links below to learn about the importance of mental stimulation for your smart dog and how you can keep them enriched and happy!
Dogs
Care
Mental stimulation for dogs
10
 min read
Oct 1, 2025
Dogs
Health
A guide to brain health in dogs
11
 min read
Jul 24, 2025
Part 5

Grooming and Hygiene

Grooming isn’t just about looking good — it’s key to your dog’s health and comfort. We’ll show you how to keep nails trimmed, coats healthy, and teeth clean without a trip to the groomer every week.

Dogs
Care
How to groom difficult dog coat types
 min read
Jul 26, 2025
Dogs
Care
How to brush your dog’s teeth
10
 min read
Jun 23, 2025
Dogs
Care
How to clean your dog’s ears, a step-by-step guide
11
 min read
Jun 30, 2025
Dogs
Care
How to groom a dog at home
14
 min read
Apr 11, 2024
Dogs
Care
Does my dog need to go to the groomer?
 min read
Sep 11, 2025
Golden Retrievers are often shedding
Your dog is considered to be a high-volume shedder, which can cause quite a mess at home! If you’re desperately seeking advice on how to manage dog hair throughout the house, here are the resources for you!
Dogs
Health
Why is my dog shedding so much?
 min read
Oct 6, 2025
Dogs
Care
Double-coated dogs: What are they and how to care for them
8
 min read
Sep 16, 2025
Dogs
Health
Why is your dog losing hair?
14
 min read
Nov 9, 2024
Dogs
Care
Should I shave my double-coated dog?
6
 min read
Jul 2, 2024
If you’re interested in exploring our Grooming and Hygiene deep dive, verified by vets, visit the link here!
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PART 6

Health and Vet Care

Routine vet care, preventative meds, and knowing when something's off can make a world of difference in your dog’s life. We’ll help you stay on top of vaccines, parasite protection, and signs of illness while keeping your finances in order to afford the care your dog deserves.

Take a deep dive into our resources covering everything you need to know about health and vet care here.
View More Resources About This Topic
Dogs
Health
How often should I take my dog to the vet?
8
 min read
Sep 3, 2025
Dogs
Health
Possible health conditions in dogs, a breed-by-breed guide
12
 min read
Sep 3, 2025
Pets
Care
The best online veterinary services
13
 min read
Nov 6, 2024
Pets
Health
A guide to using online veterinarians
 min read
Feb 8, 2024
Golden Retrievers are large breed
Large dogs like yours are great, big companions, but they are prone to certain health issues that require special attention. Below we’ve aggregated some resources to help keep your big furry friend happy and healthy.
Dogs
Health
Joint problems in large-breed dogs to be aware of
8
 min read
Sep 16, 2025
Dogs
Health
Arthritis in dogs
12
 min read
Aug 30, 2025
Dogs
Food & Nutrition
Our top supplement choices for hip dysplasia in dogs
9
 min read
Jun 1, 2025
Dogs
Health
Hip dysplasia in dogs, explained
12
 min read
Oct 19, 2023
Golden Retrievers are extra large breed
Copy on how larger dogs like the owner’s can have health issues that creep up on them, and that these resources can share how to stay on top of these issues so their dog can stay happy and healthy
Dogs
Health
Joint problems in large-breed dogs to be aware of
8
 min read
Sep 16, 2025
Dogs
Health
Arthritis in dogs
12
 min read
Aug 30, 2025
Dogs
Food & Nutrition
Our top supplement choices for hip dysplasia in dogs
9
 min read
Jun 1, 2025
Dogs
Health
Hip dysplasia in dogs, explained
12
 min read
Oct 19, 2023