Golden retriever’s sweet reaction after spotting favourite human

A golden retriever’s reaction upon realising his “favourite” person had arrived at his doggy daycare has melted people’s hearts. The profound bond between dogs and humans is evident and extensively documented, with dogs earning the enduring title of “man’s best friend”.

Countless people across the globe have brought dogs into their homes, with these cherished companions becoming indispensable pets and adored family members. Doggy daycare facilities offer a practical and essential solution for owners who need to head out for work and prefer not to leave their pets alone and unstimulated for extended periods of time.

Golden retriever Sam has been attending the New Zealand-based Duke’s Dog Daycare regularly for several years and, according to a spokesperson speaking to Newsweek, he feels entirely at ease among the team and is consistently delighted to encounter them.

Through his frequent visits to the establishment, Sam has even learnt to identify staff members by their distinctive scents, with one particular person’s fragrance resonating more strongly than any other.

His touching response to realising his favourite person had arrived was filmed, with Duke’s Dog Daycare posting the recording across popular social media channels, Instagram and TikTok.

In the footage, Sam can be seen standing on an elevated platform while the other dogs remain on the ground level, playing and dashing about.

The golden retriever lifts his nose in the air, evidently detecting someone he knows and was thrilled to encounter, while his tail begins wagging enthusiastically.

Overlaying the clip, Duke’s included text which reads: “When people say they can’t wait to see you but this is our daycare dogs when they smell their favourite humans.”

The footage has already accumulated more than 68,000 views on Instagram and 18,500 on TikTok.

In the Instagram comments section, viewers were keen to share their thoughts. One user said: “The bestest doggos!”

Another said: “I work at a daycare when I’m out with them I can hear a car door slam, can’t see the driver, then one dog starts running around, and I know they’re the ones leaving.”

A spokesperson told Newsweek: “Sam loves hard, so he is always happy to see his favourite people. It’s very sweet to watch their relationship.”

The daycare facility also sent the clip to Sam’s owner, who was reportedly thrilled by the scene, and pleased Sam enjoys attending daycare and bonding with the team members there.

It’s a well known fact that dogs need regular affection, physical activity, care and devotion throughout their lives, with their owners accountable for meeting these requirements. It’s equally understood that dogs can form profound bonds with their owners and may experience significant distress, tension and anxiety when parted from them.

Should you be worried about your dog struggling with your absence, whether they visit a daycare centre or not, specialists recommend conditioning them for your departures – so they understand you will come back to them. This is because many dogs can become anxious their owner will never return.

American psychologist Stanley Coren once said: “The greatest fear dogs know is the fear that you will not come back when you go out the door without them.”