A dog walker has delighted the internet by revealing what happened the first time she met one of her newest clients, and social media can’t get enough of the encounter.
As a professional dog walker, Sarah Gator, of Dallas, Texas, sees many pups every day and loves to document their adorable reactions on social media (@sarah_gator on TikTok). She’s developed a familiar and loving bond with her clients, who get so excited to see her and go on a walk together. But of course, it takes time to forge those relationships, and she wasn’t sure what to expect when meeting Emma, the golden retriever, for the very first time.
Thankfully for Gator, as soon as she walked into Emma’s home, any nerves or hesitation went out the window as the pup instantly greeted her with warmth and affection. Emma was so excited, she even went to find her favorite toy to show her newest friend. Gator told Newsweek that, as soon as Emma brought her cuddly toy over, it was clear she’d been “welcomed into their home.”
She shared the adorable clip on TikTok to show her followers how her first meeting with Emma went, and the video went viral with more than 10.7 million views and 1.5 million likes in a matter of days.
@sarah_gator / TikTok
“Emma is a very calm, shy, soft, and loving golden retriever,” Gator said. “I think she was really confused when I came in, but then she smelt all the other dogs on me and knew I was a good person.
“A lot of people think it’s crazy that I didn’t meet her beforehand, but I am totally OK with it. I walked one dog for over two years before meeting their owner. So many people have fallen in love with her though.”
During their first meeting, Emma didn’t waste any time in getting fuss and belly rubs from Gator, who was more than happy to oblige.
Of course, Gator wasn’t there just to give Emma head scratches, and she did have to try and get the dog’s harness on eventually and take her out for a walk. But the golden retriever wasn’t quite as interested in that option and wanted to stay inside instead.
Gator continued: “At first, Emma didn’t want to go walking and she stayed near the house. I also started the walk with her harness on incorrectly, but it was fixed before we made it outside. Dog walkers make mistakes too, and sometimes it takes us longer in the moment to realize.”
Once they overcame the initial hesitation, Emma walked perfectly for Gator when they got outside. Indeed, they’ve even had a second encounter, as Gator shared a video revealing what happened on their next walk.
Social media has been a great tool for Gator to give people a glimpse into her life, and to show the wonderful work that dog walkers do. She originally started her page just to show her friends and family what her work is like, as they were “so curious to know more.” Since then, she’s amassed over 60,200 TikTok followers who can’t get enough of her daily adventures.
“Dog walkers can be a great addition to your life, and we are here to help take care of your dogs when life gets busy,” she told Newsweek. “It doesn’t have to be a daily thing, and it can be a special treat for your dog. Some of my owners swear the dog is more excited to see me than them.”
With over 5,200 comments on the video of Emma’s first walk with Gator, there was plenty of praise for Emma’s adorable reaction.
One comment reads: “Such a great guard dog. Very welcoming.”
Another TikTok user wrote: “awww maybe she thinks she is being kidnapped.”
While another TikToker joked: “This sums up golden retrievers in a nutshell.”
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.