In the vast TikTok content universe, a heartwarming trend has emerged likening partners to loyal, tail-wagging golden retrievers.
A video on TikTok has gone viral for capturing such a "Golden Retriever" moment in London. Holly Burt recorded a clip of the bus her husband was returning on from work, writing that every night he calls her from the bus so she can wave at him from their window. The video has received 2 million likes in only two days.
As his double-decker bus approaches their street, Holly's husband can be seen on the upper level eagerly waving at his wife—a loyal and enthusiastic companion.
@holly_burt I married a golden retriver #marriage #couple #fyp #london
♬ Waterloo - Originally Performed By ABBA - The Musicworker's Gang
"I married a Golden Retriever," Holly captioned the clip.
The comments section flooded with users expressing admiration and amusement at the husband's commitment to his daily wave.
"You need to record as many as you can and make a montage. Imagine watching that when you're both 80!" @pipprike wrote.
"Tomorrow when he calls flash him and post [his] reaction," user @bevvo said.
"Is this a 90s sitcom intro?" @shazbo11_ wrote.
Dog Breeds as the New Astrology Signs?
Holly Burt's video exists within a huge cohort of TikTok videos and hashtags highlighting "Golden Retriever" behavior in men. A TikTok search reveals that "Golden Retriever Boyfriend" videos have amassed nearly 200 million views.
When searching "Golden Retriever boyfriend explained" on TikTok, the app itself offers a definition for the canine-likened partner:
- "[The] Golden Retriever partner is easygoing."
- "Makes life easy and does nice things."
- "Very supportive and require little to make them happy."
- "They are loved," and love "receiving attention."
The trend hasn't stopped there.
Many on TikTok are running with the dog breed analogy, using it to describe their partner's behaviors and even to assess compatibility and address conflict.
A common counterpart to the "Golden Retriever" boyfriend is the "Rottweiler boyfriend," indicating a partner who is gruffer and more direct in communication.
Some users have pinned the other partner to an animal as well. One video of a "Golden Retriever" boyfriend discusses his relationship with a "black cat" girlfriend and the ensuing ways they balance his high-energy, extroverted Golden Retriever energy with her more reserved "black cat" energy.
@hunterkaimi This one goes out to all my golden retrievers✊🏼
♬ original sound - Hunter Ka’imi
As the "Golden Retriever" trend continues to gain momentum on TikTok, dog breeds seem to be giving astrology a run for its money in terms of online compatibility assessments.
Whether black cat or Pisces, Holly's video showcases some underlying indicators of a healthy relationship--love, loyalty and enthusiasm--even if the animal analogies aren't for everyone in the comments.
"I want a golden retriever husband," @karenfourtwenty wrote. "I married a whole crocodile."
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