Dog Trying To Include Toy in Daily Routine Melts Hearts: ‘His Real Bestie’

A dog’s attempt to include his favorite toy in his daily routine has melted the hearts of viewers online.

Duke, a golden retriever, was captured peering out of his owner’s window with his favorite toy, a stuffed lamb, beside him. The dog’s owner had shared a short video to TikTok, under @thegoldenpupduke, which had been captioned, “Lammy is his real bestie.”

Dogs often become attached to their toys due to a combination of instinctual behaviors and emotional connections. Experts say that this attachment can stem from their ancestral hunting instincts, as toys often mimic prey animals and can provide a sense of satisfaction and stimulation. Dogs can also develop a comforting routine with their toys, much like a child with a security blanket.

Emily Blackwell, director of Companion Animal Population Health at the Bristol Veterinary School, in Bristol, England, had told the University of Bristol that strong attachments to particular objects have been “reported anecdotally” by dog owners. In 2019, a study was launched into the phenomenon.

Viewers online were able to see the golden retriever puppy jump onto the couch, Lammy in tow, to grab a comfortable seat in front of the window for a spot of people watching or guarding.

An overlaid text on the video read: “When he brings his lamb chop up so he can see out the window too.”

The viral clip played against a moving piano melody, thus, drawing more emotion from its 115,000-plus viewers.

Since it was shared to TikTok on April 13, the post has been liked by more than 11,000 users and commented on more than 190 times.

“Duke is very thoughtful of his pal,” one user, @drhooksmedicinemachine, wrote.

Another, @gabrielekendall35, added: “Well that’s just adorable! What a sweet gesture!”

“Dogs are the purest living creatures, much better than humans,” a third user, @annwright1954, shared.

Another, @chefjaason, added: “Duke is such a beautiful soul.”

“My baby also chewed off his Lambys tongue,” another, @hunny.ryder, said.

Another, who goes by Cheryl Adams on TikTok, added: “He’s [got to] have someone to gossip with.”

Newsweek reached out to @thegoldenpupduke for more information via TikTok. Duke’s owner had shared on the platform that their pet was born in 2023 and that he is an American Kennel Club (AKC) registered dog.

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.