Puppy “firsts” never get old — whether it’s the first time they ride in the car, meet a new friend, or, in Gus’s case, spot a duck. With his big, curious eyes, this Golden Retriever pup’s video captures that exact mix of confusion and excitement. This combination makes it so much fun to be around a young dog.
Growing puppies have a way of making the simplest things feel like a big event, thanks to their curious nature and expressive faces. And Gus’s very first encounter with ducks on his camping trip? Let’s just say it’s got his humans — and now the internet — laughing at every bark, bounce, and bewildered stare.
Instagram video shows what Golden Retriever does on seeing a duck for the first time
The clip opens at a campsite, where Gus is on a leash, completely transfixed by two ducks hanging out nearby. The on-screen text reads: “pov: you’ve never seen a duck before.” One duck waddles behind a log, while the other perches calmly on top. Meanwhile, Gus looks completely stumped, like he just can’t process what he sees. He barks and growls, trying to make sense of these mysterious creatures.
Gus springs into the air when the second duck hops off the log and disappears. His human gently asks, “What is it?” Gus spins around, does a little hop, and almost seems to throw the question back — “Seriously, you tell me!” The whole scene is as funny as it is sweet.
This breed was initially bred to retrieve waterfowl, among other things, so their excitement at seeing ducks is an instinct. That mix of barks and bouncing is really just his puppy brain trying to figure out what to do with that chasing instinct.
By the end of the video, Gus does one last exaggerated bounce, his version of an “I’m flipping out!” as the caption puts it. With over 6,000 likes, viewers couldn’t get enough of this campfire comedy. One person joked, “The big jump sneeze got me,” while another described his reaction as “an interpretive dance.” And honestly, they nailed it — Gus might have just given us the most dramatic duck debut ever.
