Golden Retriever Life

Making memories that will last a lifetime 😊

Ever since Ellie was a puppy, she’s loved the camera 📸 so a few years ago we started taking selfies and working on “smile” 😀 Here are our top 7 global selfies 🌍

We had to ban this song 😂 #goldenretrieverlife #dog #smile #bffs

Happy 250th Birthday to the U.S. Army 🇺🇸 As a former Army Chinook pilot, this milestone means a lot. During a deployment overseas, our unit had a dog named Zac whose job was to simply bring joy. Watching the way he lifted spirits during tough moments left a lasting impact and ultimately inspired our Mission to Spread Smiles. When I returned home, we got Ellie and trained her as a therapy dog. Not long after, Emma joined in too. Since then, they’ve brought comfort, connection, and joy to service members and military families around the world. To celebrate the 250th birthday, here are some of our favorite Army smiles. We’re proud to be part of this community and forever grateful to those who serve. @USArmy #Army250 #goldenretrieverlife #dog #army #smiles

When our baby was born, Katie told me she wanted to do 29029 Trail, an ultra event where you run/walk three marathons over three days in the mountains. This event may sound crazy, especially as a new mom, but our motto has always been to do hard things, and Katie can accomplish anything. This past weekend was her 3-day simulation: – Day 1: 10-mile run – Day 2: 8-hour mountain ruck (weighted backpack) – Day 3: 7-hour mountain run I couldn’t be more proud of her, and I wanted our son to see his mom crushing it, so we decided to surprise her midway on Day 3. #ultramarathon #goldenretrieverlife #dog #petfriendly #europe #italy #smile #surprise

don’t make these dog training mistakes 😬

#ad #USAAPartner We wanted to make Ellie’s birthday extra special, so we planned a surprise beach trip Thanks to @USAA Perks, we were able to save money on the rental car, hotel, and fuel. This program is one of the benefits of being a USAA member and something we’ve been using for over 10 years! USAA Perks continuously adds new retailers, but here are our top 5 favorites: - Hotels: save up to 25% - CarAdviseFuel: 5 cents off per gallon at over 60,000 gas stations - Rental car: discounts, fee waivers, and additional coverage options - 1-800-FLOWERS: discounts on flowers and gifts - Active&Fit Direct: choose from thousands of gyms for $28/mo Check out usaa.com/travelperks to see the current deals! @CarAdviseApp @Hertz @1800flowers @getactiveandfit #ad #USAAPerks #goldenretrieverlife #dog #beach #smile #birthday

Can someone please help Emma fix the wifi 😉 #goldenretrieverlife #dog #workfromhome #comedy #smile

This might be the best hidden gem in all of Italy 🇮🇹 We booked a last-minute trip to Riva del Garda and, within 48 hours of arriving, decided to extend our stay a month! It's active, but not too hectic or touristy. The lake is beautiful, the mountains are perfect for exploring, and dogs are welcome almost everywhere. It's the kind of place that you find yourself saying, "I could live here." #goldenretrieverlife #dog #baby #travel #italy #lakegarda #rivadelgarda

I made a BIG mistake... 😬

Proof dogs can smile 😆

Traveling around Italy with 2 dogs and baby! We've learned so much along the way, like a king bed is just two twin beds pushed together, and the hotel didn't put you in the wrong room 😂 Italy is one of the most dog AND baby-friendly places we've visited! Dogs are allowed almost everywhere, and strangers will go out of their way to make your baby smile. If you're looking for a good destination to visit, I highly recommend it. Although, visiting less touristy areas such as Lake Garda or before peak season might be best. #goldenretrieverlife #dog #baby #italy #europe #travel #petfriendly #smile

Dogs teach baby to high-five!

We've traveled to 14 countries with Ellie and Emma, and if there's one thing we've learned, it's that dogs are the universal language of love. No matter where we go, they always spread smiles. Although, I think E&E are a little confused as to why strangers know their names 😂 #goldenretrieverlife #dog #europe #smile #reactions #bffs

For those who are new or just curious, here's the story of our Mission to Spread Smiles 😊 Thank you for joining us on this journey! We appreciate you. 💛 #goldenretrieverlife #dog #family #ourstory #veteran #bffs

Emma has been waiting for this moment! Ball is Life 🎾 #goldenretrieverlife #dog #baby #fetch #smile

This made the top of our Global Selfies list, but based on the comments, I think it also deserves its own post! lake > selfie 😂 #goldenretrieverlife #dog #italy #europe #selfie #bffs #smile

Surprising my dogs with an Italian adventure

Traveling through seven countries with two dogs and a baby took a little extra planning, but it was an experience we’ll always be grateful for. We love discovering new places and hoped that wouldn’t change when we became parents. So we brought our baby along and embraced the adventure as a family of 5. Thankful for the memories, the laughter, and everything we learned along the way like: – I can't believe I didn't use packing cubes before this – dogs are welcome nearly everywhere – changing tables are rare, so be creative – strollers don't always work, so bring a carrier – baby books are a great way to learn some new languages – there are stairs... lots of stairs #goldenretrieverlife #dog #travel #europe #petfriendly #baby #smile

Can dogs get jet lag? We noticed some changes upon returning from Europe. Ellie and Emma had random bursts of energy in the middle of the night, wanted to eat at 2 pm, and would even put themselves to bed early. This is only supposed to last a few days, especially after doing all the things to help them adjust, so at this point, they’re just running a con to get second dinner. It makes sense, though, because they LOVE their Spot & Tango UnKibble so much and would do anything for it. If you want to try it and see why they’re so obsessed, use the promo GOLDEN to save 60% off your order. @Spot & Tango #SpotandTangoPartner #goldenretrieverlife #dog #story #jetlag #bffs #smile