Kristina Campbell and her Golden Retriever, Nova, share the kind of bond that instantly makes you smile. From everyday routines to big life moments, the two have grown through every chapter together. In this interview, Kristina opens up about their adventures, her recent wedding, Nova’s joyful personality, and the intentional, love-filled life they share.
Hey Kristina, welcome to Dogopo! To begin, can you please introduce yourself, tell us where you live, and, of course, tell us a little about Nova?
Hi! I’m Kristina — Nova’s mom and the storyteller behind all of our golden girl adventures. Nova and I have had quite the journey together: she was raised with me in New York City, then we moved cross-country to Los Angeles, and now we’re spending this season in sunny Florida. Through every move, she’s been my constant — my best friend, my adventure buddy, and the heart behind everything I share online. She’s joyful, sensitive, intuitive, and so full of life. She’s completely changed the way I see the world.
Your life must be full of excitement, especially with the recent wedding preparations! How has life changed for you and Nova in the past few months?
Getting married was such a happy moment — personal, intimate, and honestly so much less planning than people expect, which made the whole experience feel easy and enjoyable. I surprisingly didn’t feel stressed at all. Because of that, life hasn’t really “changed” much for us over the past few months. We’re just enjoying this happy time together as a little family of three.
Nova has such a joyful, sunshine personality online. What are three words you would use to describe her in real life?
Joyful. Soulful. Adventurous. Nova radiates pure happiness, but she also has this incredibly intuitive nature. She’s deeply empathetic — she’s actually my task-trained psychiatric service animal — and she knows how to comfort me without a single cue. And then in the next moment she’s sprinting down the beach or diving headfirst into the water like the little adventure girl she is.
What made you fall in love with Golden Retrievers, and what has been the most special part of sharing your life with Nova?
I actually grew up with a Golden Retriever named KC, and ever since then, I’ve always known there’s no other breed like them. They’re loving, smart-but-silly, endlessly loyal, and always down for an adventure, the kind of dog that becomes part of your soul. Nova has been all of that and more. She has taught me what unconditional love truly means and expanded my heart in ways I never expected. She helps ground me and reminds me, every single day, to live in the moment. She’s been through every chapter of my adult life with me: living in the city, moving cross-country, breakups, a new relationship, an engagement, and now marriage. She’s been my constant through every transition, every high, every low, and everything in between. Sharing life with her feels like having my heart walking beside me.
You often share beautiful moments of travel, health tips, and outdoor adventures. What’s your favourite activity to do with Nova, and why does it feel meaningful to both of you?
We love being out in nature, on the beach and on the trails. The beach is her absolute favorite, but finding new trails lights me up, which makes her so excited too. I loved our time in California because of all the incredible trails, and I cherish spending so much time in Pennsylvania for the same reason. We even have a few fun mountain trips coming up. But at the end of the day, her happy place and mine will always be the beach.
As Nova’s mom, how do you keep her healthy, happy, and mentally stimulated? Do you follow any specific wellness routines for her?
I’m very intentional with her wellness — I’m such a health nut myself, and I treat her routine the same way I treat my own. She eats a nourishing raw diet (We Feed Raw) with rotating proteins, and I use clean supplements that I rotate depending on the day. She loves the beach, loves frisbee, and we’re always working on training and improving her skills. For her physical health, she does underwater treadmill sessions, land-based agility exercises, and acupuncture every 6–8 weeks. And just like her, I follow a strict wellness lifestyle too — an 85% clean diet, structured workouts like HIIT, running, and Pilates, and monthly acupuncture. We’re definitely a wellness duo.
With such a big fan base following Nova’s journey, do you feel any responsibility as a content creator in the dog community? What message do you hope people take away from your posts?
Absolutely. Nova has built the most kind and supportive community, and I want our space online to reflect that. My hope is that people feel inspired to be present with their dogs — to prioritize health, create adventure, and make everyday moments meaningful. Our dogs count on us to shape their world, and I want that world to feel full of intention and love.
What’s one memory with Nova that you’ll never forget, something that truly captures the bond you share?
That is such a tough question because I have so many memories with her — honestly, all of my best memories are with her. If I had to choose one chapter that really strengthened our bond, it would be our move from NYC to California. Being able to explore so many adventurous places together, especially in those early months when it was just the two of us on all those trails and beach days, brought us even closer. She’s been here for me through so much and has always been my constant. I can’t pick just one moment, but that chapter definitely deepened our bond in such a meaningful way.
And finally, what can Nova’s fans look forward to next? Any fun adventures, trips, or projects coming up?
So much! We’re currently working on a new partnership I haven’t announced yet — that one will be shared next month. And we have two other surprises in the works that we’ll be revealing soon. We also have a lot of holiday travel coming up, including special family time (especially with grandma!), plus plenty more beach days, wellness content, and cozy seasonal adventures. We love bringing our community along for some of the highlights.
You can reach Kristina and Nova on Instagram @novathegoldengal