Difference Between Golden Retriever and Human Wanting Attention Goes Viral

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A social media video that captures the difference between how a golden retriever and her owner show they want attention has left the internet in hysterics.

The viral video, which has been viewed more than 803,000 times since it was first shared to Instagram on February 15, filmed Juni the 9-month-old golden retriever leaping enthusiastically towards her owner in a show of attention.

The comedic clip quickly transitioned to show audiences a different shot of Juni's owner placing her hand on the dog, in an equal show of affection and plea for attention, only to be rebuffed by Juni and her sassy side-eyed expression.

"When my dog comes to me for attention vs when I come to my dog for attention," Juni's owner said in a caption overlaid on the video.

The pair live in California and have amassed over 4,000 followers on the Instagram page, @junithegoldenretriever, where the pup's daily antics and funny moments are shared.

The post was captioned: "Apparently this relationship only works when Juni wants it to work. The audacity! The sass! The attitude."

dog
A file image of a golden retriever. A viral video captured the difference in how a golden retriever behaves when she wants attention compared with when her owner wants attention. Getty Images

Dog registry the American Kennel Club (AKC) describes golden retrievers as being outgoing, friendly and family-oriented pets.

"Goldens are outgoing, trustworthy, and eager-to-please family dogs, and relatively easy to train. They take a joyous and playful approach to life and maintain this puppyish behavior into adulthood," the AKC writes on its website.

What Do the Comments Say?

Since being shared to the social media platform on February 15 by @junithegoldenretriever, the Instagram post has been liked by over 37,000 users and commented on more than 50 times. Plenty of users have voiced how much they relate to the lighthearted video.

"Mine literally gives the worlds best bombastic side eye," one user wrote.

Another user added: "I feel seen."

"I've never felt more seen in my life," a third user shared.

A different Instagram user wrote: "The here we go again, so accurate."

"When my dogs know I'm needy and clingy , they won't even come to me. They will just give me a stare and just walk past me like they are done with this s***," another user commented.

Newsweek reached out to @junithegoldenretriever for more information via Instagram.

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.

About the writer

Melissa Fleur Afshar is a Newsweek reporter based in London, United Kingdom.

Her current focus is on trending life stories and human-interest features on a variety of topics ranging from relationships, pets, and personal finances to health, work, travel, and family dynamics. She has covered current affairs, social issues, and lifestyle stories extensively.

Melissa joined Newsweek in 2023 from Global's LBC and had previously worked at financial news publication WatersTechnology, tmrw Magazine, The Times and The Sunday Times, Greater London-based radio broadcaster Insanity Radio, and alongside other journalists or producers for research purposes. Since joining Newsweek, Melissa has been especially focused on covering under-reported women's health and social issues, and has spent a large part of her time researching the physical and mental impact of both the contraceptive pill and abusive relationships.

Prior to that, Melissa had been specialized in reporting on financial technology and data news, political news, and current affairs. She has covered data management news from industry giants like Bloomberg and Symphony, alongside the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the U.K economy's 2022-pound sterling crash, multiple National Health Service (NHS) strikes, and the Mahsa Amini protests in Iran.

A show that she produced and presented at the Greater London-based community radio station, Insanity Radio, was awarded 'Best Topical News Show' and the runner up award for 'Best New Radio Show' on the network.

She is a graduate in MA History from Royal Holloway, University of London.

Languages: English, Persian.

You can get in touch with Melissa by emailing m.afshar@newsweek.com.

You can follow her on X or Instagram at @melissafleura.


Melissa Fleur Afshar is a Newsweek reporter based in London, United Kingdom.

Her current focus is on trending life stories and ... Read more