It’s no secret that dogs have favorite people, or at least different moods depending on who they’re around. A new viral video perfectly captures this idea, as a dog named Elvis switches from gentle angel to goofy gremlin depending on whether it’s mom or dad on the other end of his paw.
Labrador is gentle with mom but with dad, it’s a different story
A hilarious video posted on the Instagram account @elvisbatzthelab shows a Labrador Retriever dog interacting with his mom and dad while lounging on the couch. What stands out most is the sharp contrast in how he responds to each of them. When the dad reaches his hand toward Elvis, the playful pup immediately starts mouthing and nibbling on it. He gets a bit rowdy, acting goofy and slightly rough in a way that suggests the two are used to some good-natured wrestling.
But when mom offers her hand, it’s like a switch flips. His whole demeanor softens as he gently licks her hand, completely ditching the rough play. It’s as if he knows to turn on his “good boy” mode for his mom. The change in behavior is instant, and it’s clear this dog has a whole different rulebook depending on who’s giving him attention.
The comments section was full of people who found the moment both relatable and entertaining. One commenter wrote, “Our baby does the exact same thing!!!” while another said, “I love how Elvis looks over to his dad as if to say, ‘you know it’s true.’” Someone else added, “Elvis be like—Oh Mom gibes me Spaw… I can’t chew on it,” jokingly referencing how Elvis sees mom’s hand as something too special to nibble on.
Behavior like this isn’t uncommon in dogs. Just like humans, they often adjust their energy based on the person they’re interacting with. Some experts say it’s about reading body language — if someone tends to be more energetic, dogs might respond with more playful behavior. If someone is calmer, they may go into “soft mode.” In Elvis’s case, he seems to have figured out that dad equals playtime and mom equals pampering, and he’s happy to switch gears accordingly.
