Golden Retriever Comes Home After Surgery, Unaware of the Sweetest Greeting Awaiting Him

A car door opens, and Oakley just sits there for a second with the tiniest bit of tongue sticking out, looking like he is trying to remember what planet he is on. Shared by @the3retrievers, the viral clip follows the Golden Retriever as he comes home after surgery and receives the kind of greeting that makes over 119,000 viewers melt. Oakley had dental work and three small skin masses removed, and while he is still a little groggy, his brothers seem to understand that today calls for extra gentle manners and a whole lot of nose boops.

Human brings Golden Retriever home after surgery and his siblings have a sweet greeting for him

The video starts in the back seat, where Oakley looks adorably confused after the procedure. His human opens the door and tells him, “We’re home,” but he remains planted in place, blinking slowly and taking his time.

Once inside, the welcome committee gets to work. One brother approaches first, giving Oakley a careful sniff, almost like he is checking if it is really Oakley. Another joins in, and the two take turns sniffing him. What’s so good to see is that they are not making a ruckus; it’s just the softest possible reunion.

Next, Oakley stands in the entryway on his leash, still a little dazed, while his brothers wag their tails and shower him with gentle kisses. At one point, the dog sniffing his face even glances back at mom, as if asking whether Oakley is okay. It’s a tiny moment, but it says everything about how tuned in these dogs are to one another.

The caption explains that Oakley is already feeling much better and that his brothers have been “taking such good care of him.” Going by the video, that care includes personal space when he needs it and nonstop affection when he is ready for it.

Viewers were relieved to hear the procedure went well and joined the family in hoping the test results come back clear. For one groggy Golden Retriever, home apparently comes with three very attentive nurses and the sweetest greeting imaginable.