2 days ago
Man Takes Labrador Puppy Out for Socialization—But There's Just One Problem
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Socialization is an important step in dog training, but one owner's idea for socializing didn't quite turn out as expected.
Socializing a puppy during the dog's first few months helps set them up for success. It exposes them to different sights, sounds, smells, people and other animals. Those with inadequate socialization early in life often develop behavioral problems, Newsweek previously reported.
Owners often bring their puppies with them to restaurants and stores for socializing, which is what TikTok user @jimmy_thelab did with his black Labrador puppy named Jimmy. He placed Jimmy in the shopping cart as he strolled down the aisles of the hardware store.
The hope was that Jimmy took in the views, sights and sounds from around the store, but instead, Jimmy only looked at his owner. The pup didn't care about anyone else around. He kept his focus right on the owner, staring up at him with the big, bright puppy-dog eyes.
Impossible to ignore that precious face, the owner stopped pushing the cart and reached his hand out to pet Jimmy's face. The pup happily accepted the love, as it was the only thing he wanted since being brought into the store.
"He's honestly so chill," the owner told Newsweek via TikTok. "He has a look around at the start, but most of the time he just wants to be close to us. It's so sweet it melts me."
This owner's method of socialization has taken Jimmy to other locations, including several trips to the pet store, a photo studio for a photo shoot and visits with Grandma. And yet, with all that exposure, the pup still can't lose sight of his owner.
Screenshots from a June 10 TikTok video of a black Lab puppy staring at his owner while at the store.
Screenshots from a June 10 TikTok video of a black Lab puppy staring at his owner while at the store.
@jimmy_thelab/TikTok
Viewer Reactions
People instantly fell in love with Jimmy, as his eyes pulled on their heartstrings, and within two days, the TikTok video reached over half a million views and 133,000 likes.
"You're his safe place. That's why he's looking at you," commented a viewer, while another echoed: "He's looking at his world."
Commenting on what the pup was thinking, someone wrote: "Yeah, this place is cool and all, but you're way cooler."
A fourth person asked: "How did you get any shopping done? I would've been crashing into things left and right. My focus would be on the goodest boy." But the owner did confirm he was crashing into everything.
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