Raising puppies comes with moments that test patience, both for owners and for older pets in the home. As such, learning how to interact respectfully with others is a key part of early development for young dogs. A recent viral clip shows how those lessons can sometimes come most effectively from another dog.
The video, shared on Instagram by @pearl.the.golden.girl, captures a calm but telling interaction between an adult Golden Retriever named Pearl and her younger puppy sibling, Poppi.
Golden Retriever teaches puppy boundaries by doing this
In the clip, Pearl is seen lying comfortably on the floor while Poppi repeatedly tugs and nibbles at her tail. A caption on the screen reads, “This is how puppies learn dog manners,” as the puppy continues the behavior for several seconds.
Pearl remains calm and tolerant at first, clearly giving Poppi time to figure things out on her own. Their owner, who is filming the interaction, asks Pearl if she’s okay, but Pearl appears unbothered and confident, as if she knew exactly how to handle the situation.
As the tail pulling continues, Pearl eventually reaches her limit. She gets up and snaps at Poppi, responding with a sharp bark and immediately stopping the puppy in her tracks. The correction is brief and controlled, and Poppi backs off right away.
In the caption accompanying the video, the owner explains why she chose not to intervene. She notes that adult dogs play an important role in teaching puppies boundaries through natural communication.
According to her, a quick growl, bark, or change in posture “isn’t aggression, it’s information.” These moments help puppies learn respect, understand personal space, and develop social skills they will rely on throughout their lives. The owner also adds that allowing Pearl to correct Poppi helps the older dog stand up for herself and prevents bad habits from forming.
Viewers were quick to praise Pearl’s patience and restraint. Many commented on how long she tolerated the behavior before responding.
One viewer wrote that Pearl did an excellent job correcting Poppi calmly, while another joked that Pearl clearly communicated, “That tail is attached.” Others noticed a small clump of fur left in Poppi’s mouth as evidence of her persistence, adding humor to the moment.
