Golden Retriever Owner Worried He'll Rip Up Stuffy, Tears over What He Does
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
It looks like butter wouldn't melt in this golden retriever's mouth as he sits patiently staring at his owner behind the camera. Judging by the footage to follow—it wouldn't.
In a viral Instagram clip featuring the text, "Don't get him a stuffed toy, he'll tear it apart," Seven-year-old Nacho proves everyone wrong.
Contrary to popular belief, Nacho has no intention of destroying his toys. The montage of videos shared to the account @nacho_thekneadydog shows him gently holding multiple stuffed toys in his mouth and kneading them, earning 7 million views.
Newsweek spoke to his owner Linda Nielsen, 42, she explained: "He first started kneading his toys when he was six-months-old and it was just something he'd do when feeling snoozy. Almost like a child using a pacifier."
Two screenshots from the video showing Nacho with a grey and orange stuffed toy in his mouth.
Two screenshots from the video showing Nacho with a grey and orange stuffed toy in his mouth.
TikTok/@nacho_thekneadydog
Nielsen describes her dog as "very gentle, calm and careful," who always greets his owners with a toy in his mouth and wagging tail.
What began as a soothing behavior in puppyhood has carried over into his adult life. He has a collection of stuffed toys that are carefully packed whenever they visit restaurants or friends' houses.
The heartwarming scene, shared on July 4, has over 963,700 likes at the time of writing.
According to the comments, Nacho isn't the only dog to treat stuffed toys this way.
One owner commented: "My [golden retriever] always had a cuddly toy, it was never ripped apart just cuddled until it could be cuddled no more."
A second wrote: "Precious sweetheart!! I swear golden retrievers are on another level of sweetness!! I had one growing up [and] he was an angel on earth!!"
But not all dogs seek comfort from teddies. Many dogs love toys that simulate prey, which is exactly what plush toys do so well. The American Kennel Club explains that the soft, squeezable texture mimics the feel of small animals, while many plush toys include squeakers to imitate the sounds of distressed prey. This taps into a dog's natural hunting instincts, making these toys especially rewarding.
Nielsen, who lives in Malmö, Sweden, told Newsweek: "He'd still tear them up like any other dog does - and he still does every now and then - but as he's gotten older, the destroying as become less frequent."
For many dogs, the experience of ripping apart a plush toy is immensely satisfying—tearing, shaking, and "disemboweling" the stuffing provides an outlet for these deeply rooted behaviors. Puppies and younger dogs in particular often find plush toys highly appealing because they are soft, easy to bite, and comforting.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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