Some pets like going on walks, and then there are dogs who like being in charge of their walks. A sweet senior Golden Retriever is melting hearts online after insisting on a very specific rule before leaving the house: she must carry her own leash. And until that leash is placed directly into her mouth, she simply refuses to move. Tequila stars on the Instagram account @ourdailydoseoftequila, where she has earned a devoted audience of 23.4K followers across more than 1K posts.
Golden Retriever won’t walk until leash is given to her
The video opens with a Golden Retriever standing patiently as her mom clips the leash onto her collar. Most dogs would bolt ahead in excitement, but not this queen. As the owner tries to guide her outside, the text overlay captures the moment perfectly: “She will NOT walk until she has the leash in her mouth.” Additionally, the caption reads, “My independent queen is back. We’re keeping our walks short so her joints stay happy, even after her recent arthritis flare-up.”
The Golden takes one slow look at the leash hanging from her parent’s hand, then stops walking altogether. She gently nudges forward as if saying, “Hand it over, mom.” Her owner laughs and tries again, but the dog refuses to take a single step. Instead, she stares patiently, waiting for the leash to be placed exactly where she wants it.
Only when her owner moves the leash toward her does she finally open her mouth, gripping it as a badge of responsibility. Once she secures the leash in her mouth, her entire demeanor changes. She steps forward, fully satisfied now that she is officially “walking herself.”
The internet fell in love with Tequila’s “independent” spirit. One user commented, “Oh mummm I carry — it’s nice and soft.” Another joked, “Haha, I don’t trust you, Mom.” Someone else added, “That’s an invisible leash in mommy’s hand.” Fans showered her with affection, saying, “Gosh, she is just the sweetest!!!” Another commented, “An absolute queen.”
