A dog’s determination to bring home a giant stick gained viral attention, bringing in over 5.9 million views on TikTok.
Brooks the 3-year-old golden retriever who lives in Charleston, South Carolina, with his owner has taken the internet by storm for his hilarious habit of picking up sticks on his walks. His owner told Newsweek via TikTok that Brooks picks up sticks on “almost every walk.” Rain or shine, he’s on a mission.
The behavior isn’t far off from what this dog breed was originally bred to do. As hunting dogs, golden retrievers helped retrieve game, such as ducks or geese, from bushes, cliffs and water. The retrieving instincts are now engrained in a golden’s DNA and many enjoy holding sticks, toys and other objects in their mouths, an article from Vet Explain Pets stated.
While picking up sticks on his walks is nothing new for Brooks, a particular stroll in the rain captured people’s attention. In the February 19 TikTok video posted to the account @goldenboybrooks, Brooks found a stick along his route. But not just any stick. The largest one he could find.
He used all his mouth strength to lift the stick, which was longer than him, but, as the owner wrote in the video, “he was adamant” about bringing it with him. She called him the “kindling king” in the caption.
The walk took longer than planned as he dropped the stick and took breaks. When he was ready to go again, he picked it up, sometimes dragging it along. He eventually swapped sticks along the route for a slightly smaller one.
@goldenboybrooks/TikTok
At one point Brooks pleaded with his owner, looking at her with hopeful eyes that she would step in and carry the stick for him. But when she didn’t, he mustered up the strength and continued on doing it himself.
With over 5.9 million views and 715,500 likes on TikTok, the internet immediately fell in love with Brooks and his stick obsession.
“Amazing branch manager!” joked a viewer.
A second added: “He was walking with weight to really get that exercise in.”
Others demanded better from the owner: “Lady, next time that sweet boy asks you to carry his stick the correct protocol shall be a curtsy followed by a ‘Yes sir it would be my pleasure.’ I would carry a whole tree for him.”
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