Viral Moment Golden Retriever Can’t Contain Affection for Owner Explained – ryan

A clip of a golden retriever appearing overwhelmed with a desire to be affectionate has blown up on social media, sparking a conversation about whether dogs can experience a human impulse. Experts told Newsweek this is unlikely to be the case.

The footage, posted on TikTok by user @adventuringwithnala, shows his golden retriever, Nala, lying on his chest and repeatedly rubbing her face on him, even making some playful growls. It was uploaded in response to a comment that read, “I wonder if dogs get cuteness aggression for humans” asked by a viewer of a previous video. The poster responded saying that they “100 percent” do, and appeared to use this clip to illustrate the point.

Cute or cuteness aggression is a term used to describe the feeling of being so overwhelmed by emotion caused by something’s charm (often babies or animals) that one feels the urge to physically manifest it, such as by squeezing something.

The video quickly went viral on social media and it has so far received over 9.5 million views and 1.9 million likes on the platform.

One user, Felexia, commented: “She literally doesn’t even know what to do with all the love she has for you.”

Klein.tov said: “And some people will say animals don’t have feelings. Like what???”

EmberRayneStorm wrote: “I don’t want to alarm you, but I think that dog might really like you. I’m just picking up some hints that might be the case.”

However, experts say Nala is likely not manifesting cute aggression the way a human would.

Dr. Nita Vasudevan, a veterinarian at Embrace Pet Insurance, told Newsweek that animals don’t experience cuteness aggression. But some pets, especially dogs, do show similar behaviors, which are usually rooted more in affection, playful behavior, or excitement, rather than a true “aggressive” urge driven by cuteness.

“A dog may mouth your hand or jump up to lick your face when you’re giving them attention—not because they’re overwhelmed by your cuteness, but because they’re excited and seeking connection,” she said.

However, Dr. Vanessa Spano, the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center’s first-ever staff behaviorist and a board-certified veterinary behaviorist, explains that just because a pet is soliciting attention, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they want to be handled.

“The pet may simply want to sit next to you or play with you without touch involved,” she told Newsweek. “To determine if a pet is consenting to physical touch, observe their body language.”

She added that to understand whether or not they want to interact with you, you can practice the “three-second rule.”

“If the pet is persistently rubbing up against you or pawing at you, provided there are no simultaneous signs of stress or conflict (for example, yawning, lip licking, or showing the whites of their eyes), practice the three-second rule.

“Pet them in a neutral area on their body (for example the chest) for 3 seconds and then move your hand away. If your pet persists in soliciting more attention, pet them for another 3 seconds and repeat. If, instead, your pet disengages from the situation, leave them be.”

Vasudevan explained that if a dog’s affection gets a bit too enthusiastic, you can redirect the behavior with a toy or a chew.

“Avoid encouraging rough play and always use calm body language and energy to calm them down. If it ever feels too intense or out of control, especially with larger dogs or children involved, a certified dog trainer or behaviorist can help tailor solutions to your dog’s temperament.”

Newsweek reached out to @adventuringwithnala for comment via email. We could not verify the details of the case.

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