For a creature that can chase squirrels at 20 miles per hour and destroy a couch in under a minute, you’d think hopping out of a dry bathtub would be no big deal. But Golden Retrievers, for all their loyalty and charm, also have a deeply theatrical streak. That much became clear when Bowie, a lovable pup on Instagram, found himself stuck — emotionally, at least — inside a tub with no water and no clear exit plan.
Golden Retriever struggles to get out of bathtub in adorable Instagram video
Bowie, the Golden Retriever, has gone viral for what might be the most relatable dog dilemma ever: trying, and failing, to get out of an empty bathtub. In the now widely shared video posted by his owner, Bowie appears genuinely convinced he is trapped, despite the tub being completely dry and not especially tall.
In the clip, Bowie stands at the edge of the tub looking hesitant, while his owner gently encourages him from behind the camera. “Come on bud! Hop out,” she says, trying to coach him through what should be a simple jump. Bowie creeps toward the edge of the tub several times, appearing ready to make the leap, but each time he backs off as if reconsidering. At one point, he even lets out a few pleading barks, as if asking for assistance. His owner, however, stays patient and keeps encouraging him, waiting for him to build the courage to leap.
The moment is made even funnier by the caption written in Bowie’s “voice,” which reads: “mother says it’s ‘just a lil hop’ but I seen what gravity did to my dignity before.” What’s more, Bowie’s bathtub struggle sparked a wave of hilarious and heartfelt responses. One person wrote, “Awe Bowie! You can jump over the tub! You got this.” Another quipped, “Legend says he’s still in the tub.” And one viewer offered a creative solution: “Turn in the water… either he’ll jump out or start playing 50/50.”
