Internet Can't Cope as Golden Retriever Meets Puppy Next Door—'Best Friend'

A golden retriever has struck up an adorable friendship with his neighbor's near-identical young dog.

The video was posted to TikTok in October under the handle @tish198. In it, Mervin the golden's owner says how, a couple of months back, her dog was looking out the window at the new neighbors who had just moved in when he spotted "a miniature version of himself."

His human companions decided this was the perfect opportunity to introduce themselves to the people next door. They quickly discovered they had gotten a puppy that was "the exact same breed" as Mervin, and the young dog was called Waffles. Over the next few months, Mervin waited patiently while Waffles, the pup next door, did a "little growing up" and got all the necessary vaccinations.

Mervin finally got the chance to socialize with his neighbor after his owners agreed to puppy sit the young golden while his humans were away. After such a long wait, the two pups wasted little time in becoming the best of friends. In the TikTok clip, the two golden retrievers can be seen running laps around the house together. "When the new neighbor becomes your best friend," an accompanying caption reads.

It may amount to two dogs messing around together, but activities of this kind can have a hugely positive impact on canines, especially those who may be suffering with some form of anxiety.

A 2022 study published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior found that exercise with other dogs can have a calming effect on anxious pups. That was the conclusion of an analysis involving 1,308 dogs, including 273 that struggled with some form of generalized anxiety disorder.

Researchers found that anxious dogs who took part in sporting activities involving their fellow canines were three times more likely to show signs of an improvement in their overall mental state.

All of which isn't necessarily a surprise. After all, exercise and social interaction provides a mental boost to most humans, never mind dogs.

Mervin and Waffles certainly seem to be making the most of their time together, much to the delight of those watching on social media.

One animal lover commented: "I need more of this....just heals my soul." Another wrote that the footage was "pure happiness if I've ever seen it." A third posted, "I couldn't love this more," while a fourth added: "Having a best friend for your dog is the most wonderful thing."

Elsewhere, one user added, "I love watching dog friends," with another commenting: "I love how all goldens magically know when they see another goldens."

Newsweek has contacted @tish198 for comment on TikTok.

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.