A dog has gone viral for his unique way of showing excitement when playing fetch with his owner.
One-year-old Fox is a Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever, also known as a toller. The American Kennel Club listed the hunting breed, known for imitation of the movement of foxes to gain the curiosity of waterfowl, as 83rd in its 2023 list of the most popular breeds in the U.S.
"They're definitely not the right fit for everyone—they require a lot of physical activity, mental stimulation, and lifelong training to thrive," Fox's owner, Elena, 25, told Newsweek. But she had wanted a toller since childhood, and was well prepared.
One of the breed's quirks is a so-called "toller scream"—a "high-pitched, frantic bark, that sounds like he's screaming," as Elena described it.
And while this is normal and expected for toller owners, viewers of Elena's TikTok channel @elenaandfox were not prepared for the toller's reaction to his owner throwing a stick.
Shared on November 9, the video—which already has over 745,000 views—starts with Fox looking relaxed, splayed out on a rock by a body of water. But as Elena captioned it: "He sees you throw a stick, I know he's gonna scream."
The clip then switches to Fox swimming through the water after a stick—and making the iconic shrieking noise, with Elena writing: "He's just passionate."
TikTok users were in stitches, with one commenter writing: "His dolphin impersonation is really coming along," and another calling him a "happy fishy".
Another said they "spewed out my coffee, I wasn't expecting that", and many found it relatable, as one wrote: "Me when I go into the ocean and something touches my foot".
Elena, who gave her first name only, told Newsweek: "Fox is a naturally vocal dog, but he only brings out his 'toller scream' when he gets to go swimming, his absolute favorite activity."
Admitting the sound can be "alarming" to someone who doesn't know the breed, she revealed there have been "many instances" where a concerned passerby has checked in on them. "I always assure them that he only makes this noise when he is at peak happiness," she said.
Public Health worker Elena, who lives with Fox in Massachusetts, said her pup is "full of personality" and has "big feelings."
She called his viral fame "such a fun experience," adding: "I absolutely love that his antics bring smiles to so many people".
"He makes me laugh on a daily basis, and it's so rewarding to share that with others."
Elena, who also posts to Instagram under @foxtoller, regularly shares clips of Fox screaming, playing, relaxing and simply showing off his "goofy personality".
Because of the nature of the internet, the dog and owner have received some negative comments, but she said: "Overall, it has been an extremely positive experience, and we've made connections with so many amazing people (and dogs)!"
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.
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