Puppies often want what they can't have—like a toy being played with by another dog, as demonstrated by a golden retriever in a now-viral TikTok video.
The clip, which has gathered 8.5 million views since it was shared to @nursemomjk, features Daisy, a golden retriever, sneakily attempting to steal a blue octopus toy from Donna, a rescued Labrador. Donna had the toy on her leg, and Daisy couldn't resist the temptation.
Initially, Donna silently warns Daisy by baring her teeth, causing Daisy to freeze with a tentacle in her mouth. However, Daisy isn't deterred, instead, she changes her tactics.
Standing on her hind legs, Daisy places her paws over Donna's head as though trying to cover her eyes. While Donna looks toward her owner, seemingly in disbelief, Daisy successfully snatches the toy in a move that viewers have called clever and cheeky.
Her success has racked up 488,000 likes and over 9,000 comments, with many praising her creativity.
"Clever maneuver to get the toy," one commenter praised. Another wrote: "Awe, the good old hug, pat, steal!"
A third user described Daisy's antics as "elite manipulation lol. Smooth criminal," while a fourth simply said: "Distraction at its best."
Dogs are well-known for acting like children when it comes to sharing, as one user pointed out: "There's probably two of this toy and they both want the same one."
The owner confirmed that this was indeed the case.
Joe Nutkins, an accredited dog trainer and canine behaviorist, previously told Newsweek that owners with multiple dogs should buy similar or identical toys to avoid conflicts.
"Dogs will often want the one another dog has," Nutkins explained. "But if they don't have access to that type of toy, it will make training much harder."
She added that dogs might become overly protective of their toys if another frequently takes them. "Give dogs space to focus on their own toy play," she advised. "This may involve keeping both dogs on a lead or separating them with a baby gate. Teaching a dog not to steal toys from another will help both feel more comfortable sharing."
Nutkins also recommended larger toys that require cooperation, such as those that encourage tug-of-war or team carrying.
"Another option is hiding toys for your dogs to find," she suggested. "When one dog finds a toy, you can throw another to the second dog. This teaches them there are various ways to get toys and enhances the overall play experience."
Newsweek reached out to @nursemomjk for comment via TikTok. We couldn't verify the details of the case.
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.
English (US) ·