Playbook

Get to Know Your Golden Retriever Better!

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

40-60 lbs

Beginner friendly

10-15 yr lifespan

Apartment friendly

High shedding

0.5-1 inch fur

High energy

60 min exercise / day

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!

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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!

Your pooch is vocal and intelligent!

Since your dog’s breed tends to be both vocal and intelligent, it’s important to manage their chatty behavior and keep them mentally stimulated. This helps prevent boredom-driven barking and ensures you’re being considerate to neighbors who may be sensitive to noise.

Need help getting started or correcting tough behaviors? Visit the link to take a deep dive!

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Dogs

Behavior & Training

6 tips for an effective potty routine in your rental

min read

Aug 4, 2025

Dogs

Behavior & Training

Everything you need to know for introducing dogs in the office

min read

Aug 4, 2025

Need help getting started or correcting tough behaviors? Visit the link to take a deep dive!

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How to take care of a dog with high exercise needs

min read

Aug 4, 2025

7 tips for managing your territorial dog

min read

Aug 4, 2025

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!

How to choose dog food

Dogs

Food & Nutrition

Can dogs have blueberries? Check out this “super fruit”

min read

Aug 5, 2025

How much food to feed your dog

Dogs

Food & Nutrition

7 vitamins your dog needs for a healthy life

min read

Aug 5, 2025

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.

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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.

Your pooch is super smart!

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!

Looking for simple ways to engage your dog indoors and out?

View More Resources About This Topic

Dogs

Behavior & Training

6 tips for an effective potty routine in your rental

min read

Aug 4, 2025

Dogs

Behavior & Training

Everything you need to know for introducing dogs in the office

min read

Aug 4, 2025

Need help getting started or correcting tough behaviors? Visit the link to take a deep dive!

View More Resources About This Topic

How to take care of a dog with high exercise needs

min read

Aug 4, 2025

7 tips for managing your territorial dog

min read

Aug 4, 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

Choking is an emergency. Here’s how you do the doggie Heimlich maneuver

min read

Aug 5, 2025

Pets

Care

Is pet insurance worth it?

min read

Aug 5, 2025

Dogs

Care

7 tips for managing high-shedding dogs

min read

Aug 4, 2025

Dogs

Care

The price of keeping pets healthy

min read

Aug 4, 2025

Pets

Care

Does pet insurance cover dental care?

min read

Aug 4, 2025

Pets

Care

Pet hazards to watch out for during holidays

min read

Aug 4, 2025

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.