Philly-based Gimly is currently at that age where his primary hobby involves turning his humans into giant chew toys. Over at @gimlythegolden, his family is documenting the “golden chaos” that comes with a teenage pup. One who hasn’t quite learned how to use his mouth for anything other than chomping. A recent video shows the Golden Retriever lounging on his dad’s lap, looking innocent enough until a sudden urge to hunt kicks in, and he lets out a growling noise. One second, he’s soaking up a belly rub, and the next, he’s making a strange, grumbling noise while confusing his dad’s hand with prey. His parents even put it out to viewers to decide, “Be honest… dog or shark?”
Golden Retriever’s many noises leave owners with questions
The transformation from sweet pup to predator is surprisingly fast. At first, Gimly tilts his head back into the sofa cushions, completely docile. You blink, and suddenly, he wraps a paw around his dad’s arm for leverage and goes to town with some playful gnawing. You can see every single one of his pointy “teefers” as he maintains a goofy chokehold on his dad’s fingers.
Dad tries to stay calm, gently telling him to “be nice.” But as we see in the video, the low grumbling noise suggests the Golden Retriever is far too committed to his new role. This “land shark” era is a rite of passage that many other pet parents recognized immediately.
One commenter lamented the marks their own Lab’s baby teeth left on their arms, noting it “hurts like hell.” Another person shared a wild story about their pup carving through hardwood floors and eating through a hallway wall during their first year. Gimly’s playful nibbling seems pretty tame in comparison.
Most owners agree that while this breed is notoriously mouthy until they reach maturity, the stage is ultimately just a hilarious, albeit toothy, phase. Gimly’s expression during the whole ordeal is what makes the clip so funny to watch. He isn’t being aggressive; he’s just in a state of high-energy while he “wrestles” with his dad’s hand.
