A 9‑year‑old Golden Retriever named Maverick has the internet laughing after dozing off while sitting straight up as his mom gives him a little massage. Instagram user and Maverick’s owner, @maverickthegoldennn, posted the video, showing the sleepy Golden Retriever watching TV with his mom before the massage sends him into a Thanksgiving‑weekend snooze. And there was no way he could fight it.
Golden Retriever just can’t stay awake during mom’s spot-on massages
The video opens with Maverick sitting perfectly upright in the living room. His owner scratches his back, his eyes immediately start drooping — and within seconds, he is blinking in slow motion, trying to stay awake the way kids do after a long day. His mom softly laughs behind the camera as she films him.
When his mom switches back to massaging his fur, the Golden Retriever seems to be really into it, with his eyes half‑closed. By the end of the video, she zooms in on his face and asks, now audibly laughing, “You okay?” as Maverick slowly turns his head toward her. It is a look that says he is seconds away from completely nodding off.
The caption reads: “Falling asleep while sitting up … someone had a busy Thanksgiving” — and viewers agreed that the holiday might have tired him out.
Viewers loved Maverick and had plenty to say. One person joked, “Too much turkey? We get it,” while another reasoned, “mavy feels foodcoma after lovely thanksgiving dinner.” A third viewer added, “He’s all tuckered out.” One viewer summed it up perfectly with, “Life is tough being cute all day.”
It’s no surprise Maverick melted with the scratches so easily. Many dogs relax instantly with gentle back scratches, especially older dogs who love routine touch and warmth. With a long holiday, a cozy living room, and mom’s perfect massage at play in the video, it was clearly too much for the Golden Retriever to resist.
