This might just be the cutest morning routine on the internet—and people can’t get enough of it.
Golden Retriever breeder Kerry Nichols has what many are calling a dream job: waking up an entire litter of sleepy puppies every morning. And yes, it’s every bit as adorable as it sounds.
In the viral clip, Kerry gently greets each puppy with soft words and light pets as they slowly come to life. One tiny pup steals laughs by crawling out from under a miniature couch, while another completely melts hearts at the end—springing up the moment she recognizes Kerry’s voice and running over with pure excitement.
WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW:
“I love that when my voice finally registers, she runs over to me with such joy,” Kerry shared in the caption.
The video has sparked a flood of reactions online, with viewers completely obsessed. Many called it the happiest thing they’ve seen all day, while others admitted they were jealous of such a wholesome start to the morning.
“In the whole world, there is nothing more joyful than a litter of Golden Retriever puppies!” one commenter wrote.
Another added, “She was like, I was dreaming about you—and then there you were!” capturing the exact moment one sleepy pup seemed to wake up mid-dream.
Others couldn’t get over the tiny movements the puppies made while still asleep, with one viewer pointing out how it looked like a pup was already trying to run toward Kerry before even waking up. And of course, the puppy under the couch didn’t go unnoticed, with fans joking she suddenly realized she was missing out on all the attention.
As cute as it is, there’s actually a science behind those sleepy twitches.
According to Marcos Frank, a professor at Washington State University, dogs often move, twitch, or even make noises while sleeping because they’re in REM sleep—the stage where dreaming happens. These movements are caused by something called myoclonus, which are small, involuntary muscle jerks that happen in both dogs and humans.
What’s more unusual, he explains, is when dogs appear to fully act out their dreams, like running in place. The brain normally prevents that by temporarily “switching off” the muscles during sleep—a built-in safety feature that keeps both humans and animals from physically acting out dreams.
If a dog seems to be fully running or thrashing while asleep, experts say it could point to an issue in the brain and may be worth checking out with a vet.
Still, in this case, it’s all harmless—and incredibly heartwarming.
Between the sleepy stretches, tiny tail wags, and that one puppy bursting with joy at the sound of Kerry’s voice, it’s easy to see why the internet is completely melting over this feel-good moment.