There are moments when a dog remembers something so good that every part of them gets in on the celebration — ears, paws, tail, the works. That’s exactly the vibe in the video shared by @novathegoldengal. In it, Nova suddenly picks up that unmistakable “I know (and love) this thing” energy on a quiet mountain path.
Additionally, the on-screen text reveals that she’s headed toward the first snow she’s seen in two years. And you can practically feel the excitement bubbling up through the Golden Retriever‘s trot. One look at her face, and it’s clear winter has always been her happy place.
Golden Retriever runs freely on snow in adorable video
The clip is already pulling in thousands of views. And truly, the second it cuts from the trail to that first patch of snow, it’s obvious why everyone keeps hitting replay. The moment Nova steps onto the snow, her whole face lifts into this wide, delighted grin. It’s the sort of joy that only comes from a memory resurfacing in real time. She makes a beeline for her mom, tail whirling, overwhelmed with happiness — like her love for winter just snapped back into focus.
Then the clip cuts to her bunny-hopping through the snow, legs bouncing in uneven, joyful arcs. She skips the usual sniff-and-evaluate routine entirely and dives right into being thrilled. Maybe that’s the reason why her mom calls her “Nova bear.” It’s like she’s remembering a feeling she hasn’t had in a while, and you can almost hear her mom’s heart cracking open behind the phone.
Furthermore, knowing their whole journey together kind of adds an extra layer of warmth to it. This is their seventh Thanksgiving together, a journey that stretches all the way back to Pennsylvania. Then across Los Angeles, Park City, Vail, Breckenridge — each place holding a different chapter of their life together. Now, with Nova’s “official dad” joining their little pack, this snowy adventure feels like another memory being stitched into the collection.
In the comments, everyone sees it too. “Such a happy girl!” “Snow fun!!” “Have the most fun, Nova!” And honestly? She absolutely is.
