This Golden Retriever Has Serious Influencer Ambitions and Fans Are Loving It
Some dogs chase tennis balls. Some chase squirrels. This golden retriever appears to be chasing online fame.
With the pet influencer market reaching millions of dollars, most dogs have to wait for their parents to set up the lighting and the tripod.
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This golden retriever decided it was time to take matters into his own hands. A hilarious Reddit video posted to r/goldenretrievers shows the dog playing in the yard before grabbing his mom's phone mid-recording.
He accidentally created what we call "user-generated content." The footage is chaotic, close-up, and deeply unprofessional. Just the type of content the internet loves.
Not His First Attempt
The fun part is that this was not his first attempt. As his mom explained, "This is the second time he's done it and the other video was just a recording of his mouth."
To be fair, that sounds very on-brand for a golden retriever influencer. And as one person in the comments joked, "Did he perhaps, retrieve it."
Related: A Golden Retriever, a Baby and Tiny Kittens Star in the Cutest Scene Ever
Golden Retrievers Have a Special Kind of Chaos
There's a very specific energy golden retriever parents recognize immediately. It's sweet, enthusiastic, and slightly unhinged.
One commenter summed it up perfectly, saying, "Hahahaha I love unhinged goldens. I have a crackhead golden who looks almost exactly like yours!"
Another offered a different perspective on the chaos in the video, saying, "Put down phone and play with me HOOMAN!"
If you have ever tried taking a calm photo of a golden retriever, you know how miserably that fails most of the time. These dogs have a talent for sitting politely for one second, and choosing chaos the next.
The Joy of Watching Dogs Online
In a world that rarely feels calm anymore, pet videos feel refreshing. There is something special about watching the excitement, curiosity, and joy of our furry friends. It is all honest.
And pet parents recognize the familiar chaos of living with an animal whose personality is powered by enthusiasm.
What we often forget is that in an era of trying to capture the perfect videos of our pets, we sometimes forget to play with them. One commenter said, "I think he was telling you that the phone was taking your attention and he needed to be more prominently featured in the interaction," and we can relate to that.
Related: Patient Golden Retriever Gives Baby a 'Lesson' in the Art of Fetch
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This story was originally published May 15, 2026 at 9:48 AM.