Dogs don’t always goof around. Sometimes, they can also be great problem solvers. To provide the perfect example, this Instagram video shows a Golden Retriever cleverly releasing a stuck fish toy in a swimming pool. The owner seems surprised with the result and mentions in the caption, “We’re in crisis mode.”
Golden Retriever successfully retrieves stuck fish toy without owner’s help
In an Instagram video, a Golden Retriever named Oatmeal (or Mr. Meal) successfully retrieves a stuck fish toy without any help. On-screen text at the beginning of the clip reads, “Swim Shady is stuck,” referring to the dog toy.
The Instagram Reel begins with the dog patiently waiting for the fish toy to “break free.” However, it is stuck behind a skimmer basket in the swimming pool. Oatmeal is standing on his two legs, while his front paws are resting on the basket.
He watches the stuck Swim Shady patiently, and his owner turns into the narrator of the situation. The dog mom says that she is “just gonna let him figure this out.” Soon, Oatmeal finds a solution and uses his “cat paws” to free the toy.
As he gently tries to get the object, the owner advises the dog to use his mouth. He looks at his mom, supposedly asking for help, but she refuses. While the pet parent continues talking, the furbaby moves his paws closer to the toy and finally sets it free.
It stuns his owner, who gasps in surprise and questions, “Did he actually figure that out on his own?” After receiving praises from his mom, Mr. Meal grabs the toy in his mouth and gets out of the pool.
Meanwhile, viewers loved the Golden Retriever video and lauded the dog’s problem-solving skills. A user commented, “Very smart little oats! Even with his cute little cat paws.” Another wrote, “He looks at you like ugh do me and my tiny cat paws have to do everything ourselves.” Many called him the “smartest,” “cutest,” and most “clever.” Since the upload, the video has gone viral and garnered over one million views and 41K likes.