A golden retriever’s reaction to seeing a dolphin up close is melting hearts online. In a viral video shared on social media by @healthierwithhan, the dog’s owner took her pup to a Miami Beach aquarium, and the pup’s excitement is impossible to miss.
The footage, posted in September, shows the golden retriever grinning and wagging his tail as a friendly dolphin swims up to the glass, performing tricks as if to impress him. The owner captioned the video: “Remember your dogs only get to see the world you show them,” as the dog follows the dolphin around, clearly captivated.
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While more pet owners are taking their dogs to aquariums and zoos, some wonder if pups even understand the creatures they’re seeing. Experts say dogs can distinguish between species, using a combination of vision, hearing, smell, and social learning to recognize the animals in front of them. Studies even show dogs notice when sounds don’t match the expected animal, like a bark not matching a dog’s face.
The video quickly went viral, racking up over 700,000 views and more than 240,000 likes. Social media users couldn’t get enough:
“My dog barks at everything no matter how much we tried to train him. If only I could take him out to do stuff without it feeling like a humiliation ritual,” wrote one.
“Yall just train your dog. If they have problems going out it’s not their fault—you just have to train them,” added another.
“My dog would go feral over this,” commented a third.
The adorable encounter is a reminder of how magical everyday experiences can be when shared with our furry friends.