Golden Retriever Refuses To Walk Until Mom Pretends To Leave Without Him
Did you know that even the friendliest dogs can have a stubborn streak? It might be rare, but it definitely happens. Just ask my Goldendoodle, who can somehow find a tennis ball under the hutch, and despite there being four perfectly good ones nearby, has to have that exact one... or he'll start digging at the wood floor like it's his full-time job.
Zebby, the Golden Retriever, is an easygoing guy who loves all the attention he gets from his pawrents, but Mom recently shared a video showing that-even with all that fluffy cuteness-he's got a stubborn streak, too.
@zebbythegolden Mother of the year award #goldenretriever#dogsoftiktok#dogs#funnydog#goldensoftiktok
original sound - Deo M. Divinagracia - RetroSibs
The two were out for a walk when it seemed they had a disagreement about which way to go. Zebby stood his ground, and even as his mom said, "Come on. This way, buddy. Let's go," he dug his paws in even more.
So the self-described "Mother of the Year" did what any tired mom would do... she dropped the leash and pretended she was going to abandon him. As she walked away, the Golden Retriever's look of concern grew more intense. One fan hilariously joked, "His flabbers were gasted at the pawdacity! "
Related: Golden Retriever Is Sad To Be Stuck With ‘Just His Parents' After Grandparents Leave
As his mom walked away, saying goodbye, Zebby stood there for a moment, contemplating his life choices. He decided he didn't want to be left behind, so he put a little pep in his step and caught up to his human. His concerned look quickly returned to a smiley face, too.
Fans React to Zebby's Abandonment
Now we all know his mom had no intention of leaving him behind, but his facial expression when she dropped the leash was epic. @sparkles5655 loved his head tilt while @mislina thought maybe the Golden Retriever was thinking, "Can you even do this?"
Obviously, Zebby wasn't willing to be away from his mom for more than a few seconds, and he was eager to catch up with her rather than be left behind. Maybe she'll take him the other way next time!
SIGN UP to get "pawsitivity" delivered right to your inbox with inspiring & entertaining stories about our furry & feathered friends
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published May 5, 2026 at 9:35 AM.