Most people see a snowman as a charming winter decoration, but Frankie saw a thief. Someone made the mistake of using the pup’s favorite toys as eyes for a frozen yard ornament, and they definitely should have checked with him first.
The result is a funny video from @jonkerrmmr showing this Golden Retriever staging a full-scale recovery mission in the yard. He might have 29 other balls scattered around the house, but these two were currently being held hostage. Frankie wasn’t about to let a pile of snow keep what rightfully belonged to him.
Golden Retriever digs into snow sculpture to get his tennis balls back
The video starts with Frankie standing on his hind legs, putting his front paws right in the snowman’s face. He looks so serious as he scraps away at the packed ice. Once the ball seems to be within reach, he tries to wedge it out with his mouth. But it is clear that whoever built this guy did a very thorough job. Determined Frankie starts problem-solving by digging out the ice around the “eye” to loosen it up.
During the demolition, the stick used for the snowman’s smile falls to the ground. Frankie pauses for a split second to look at it, as if realizing he just knocked the guy’s teeth out. One viewer joked that the snowman not only stole his tennis balls but his sticks as well. This Golden Retriever doesn’t seem to have any remorse for the property damage. He goes right back to the task, eventually scraping enough snow away to pop the prize loose.
Success finally comes with one last flick of his paw. The ball hits the snow, and Frankie’s tail starts wagging instantly. He scoops up the prize and leaves the one-eyed snowman behind without a second thought. His owner mentioned he has plenty of other tennis balls, but apparently, these specific ones were non-negotiable.
It is a good lesson for anyone building a snowman in a yard with a retriever. If you use their gear as accessories, don’t expect the sculpture to last through the afternoon. Frankie has his priorities straight, and aesthetic winter decor is not at the top of the list.
