Internet in Stitches at Golden Retriever Whose 'Intrusive Thoughts Won'

It looks like this golden retriever has selective hearing when it comes to being told what not to do.

In a viral TikTok video, a female voice can be heard telling her dog, Igloo, not to jump into a swamp. She can be heard repeatedly saying "don't," while Igloo peers over each side of a narrow bridge with his tail wagging away.

For a few seconds, it seems like he is obeying his owner's order, but then temptation wins and he dives in for a quick paddle. The owner can then be heard saying "OK, well, nice," in a resigned fashion as Igloo dashes off.

Owner Jen LeClair, 25, told Newsweek: "When I saw how dirty he was, I had mixed feelings. I was smiling because he looked so happy and so cute which made me happy but I was like 'oh no.' Because I knew I would be spending the rest of my morning trying to clean him."

LeClair from Boston, Massachusetts, explained she couldn't "stay mad" at her energetic pup as he has been through a lot.

"He's a very goofy boy, he's only one year old but has already had to get two hip replacements. He has been getting surgeries and recovering all year and that video of him getting all muddy is the first time he's gone into water all year due to his surgeries.

"So it was good to see him be able to be a real dog again," she told Newsweek.

The hilarious clip shared by @igloosmom has racked up 285,600 views since it was shared on October 14.

There's a strong chance Igloo understood what his owner was saying, but chose not to listen. After all, dogs are clever creatures, and some of them are capable of understanding 150 words, according to psychologist and leading canine researcher Stanley Coren, PhD, of the University of British Columbia.

Coren has made many studies about dogs and their behaviors. He has found that dogs' mental abilities are close to those of a human child aged 2 to 2.5 years old. He even discovered that dogs are able to count up to five, according to an article by the American Psychological Association.

One of Coren's books, titled The Intelligence of Dogs: A Guide to the Thoughts, Emotions, and Inner Lives of Our Canine Companions,aims to help owners understand the habits, antics, and abilities of their dog. He has also ranked more than 100 breeds for obedience and working intelligence, as well as for specialized tasks such as hunting, home security, and companionship.

Border collies are at the top of the list; poodles are second, followed by German shepherds, and then golden retrievers. The American Kennel Club says goldens are extremely playful and eager to please when it comes to training.

But in this case, Igloo wasn't willing to miss out on an opportunity to get dirty, even though this would have made his owner much happier. However, things could be worse, as the same breed of dog has recently gone viral after covering himself head to toe in mud after rolling in a puddle. It appears that every golden retriever wants to get dirty, but it is important for owners to be vigilant to ensure they don't drink the water.

Dr. Sarah Gorman, a veterinarian, previously told Newsweek about the dangers of dogs drinking from stagnant waters.

Fortunately, Igloo didn't attempt to consume any of the water; instead, he just got his legs very dirty. The clip has racked up 12,600 likes and plenty of comments, many of which are from other owners who say their dog does the same.

One user said, "My golden also can't fight the darkness inside of him. But he tries so hard."

Another said, "Intrusive thoughts won. Mud is life; mud is love."

"'Don't' in golden retriever language means 'Yes! Do it!'" commented another person.

Update 10/17/23, 11:14 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from the OP, Jen LeClair.

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