A sweet but heartbreaking senior Golden Retriever’s moment is making the rounds on TikTok in a video that hit a little too close to home. Florida-based account @theorlandogoldenss shared the clip of the senior Golden, who sits on her dog bed in the living room, wearing a red bandana and watching two younger ones play nearby. The pups’ energy fills the space, but it is the senior’s attempt to get involved that stops viewers in their tracks.
Senior Golden Retriever trying to participate in young dogs’ activity is a bittersweet moment
In the video, the younger Golden Retrievers focus on their toy, while the senior dog sits nearby, watching them. The young ones bounce and tug with the kind of speed only a pup can keep up with, but the senior does try to join in, coming forward as if she wants a turn. Still, the younger dogs stay locked into their game, circling past her and keeping the toy moving.
After a brief attempt, she pulls back. She settles into her bed again and watches them from a distance — alert and seemingly interested, but clearly not part of the action. That’s when the owner steps in, walking over to give her a head rub and a big hug, turning the sad moment into something gentle.
In the onscreen caption, the owner says what every viewer thought: “Watching my senior dog try to include herself with the younger dogs makes my heart SHATTER.” Meanwhile, the video caption adds, “I love her SO MUCH.”
Viewers felt the senior dog’s predicament. One person wrote, “The way I am mad at the other dogs for not letting her have it ??? give it to her right now!!!” Another tried to see the bright side, “Tail is wagging! She’s just happy to be there,” while a third user commented, “In her mind, she’s 100% apart of them playing ? I HAVE to tell myself that.”
The senior Golden Retriever doesn’t look angry in the video. She just looks like she wants a turn, and she is grateful for the attention when her human notices.
