Pet Parents 'Fake Pet' Their Golden Retriever Puppy and His Reaction Is Priceless
A Golden Retriever is not happy when his pet parents try to give him "fake pets."
In a TikTok video, the pet parents captured the sweet puppy's hilarious reaction when they mess around and pretend to pet him. In the video, he anticipated the pets, but then became confused about why his parents weren't actually giving him rubs. Then, his annoyance set in, and he ended up playfully pulling her hand back so she could pet him.
@thegoldenboybutter I deserved it #ragebaiter#goldenretrieverlife#goldenretrieversoftiktok#puppytiktok#goldenretrieverpuppy
Blue Danube Waltz - The London Symphony Orchestra
In the text overlay, his parent jokingly wrote, "rage baiting my puppy by fake petting him, but he just turns violent." In the video's caption, she admitted she "deserved it" for trying to trick her puppy.
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People in the comments loved the hilarious interaction, with some pointing out that "he's such a cutie!"
One user urged his parents to "pet him" and stop playing games with him. Another commenter wrote, "[the puppy's] look is 'mom stop fake petting me , but he's such a cutie."
Why do dogs love being pet?
Like other pets, dogs absolutely love to get pets from their pet parents or other people. But what's the reason behind that?
According to Rover, being petted can strengthen a dog's bond with their people and help relieve their stress.
"Most dogs are naturally social and seek out physical touch as part of their connection with people and other animals," the blog post explained. "That's why a scratch behind the ears or a cuddle session can be just as rewarding for them as it is for you."
Petting can also "trigger biological, social, and emotional responses in dogs that make the experience extra rewarding."
The types of pets a dog likes from its parents can depend on its personal preferences. It's important to understand your pet's body language and actions when they're being petted to know what they like and what may be too much.
Paige Gordon, a Certified Professional Dog Trainer with SpiritDog Training, also told Rover that petting can mimic grooming for a dog. She noted that "While you're not licking your dog like their mother or another dog would, the rhythmic motion of petting can mimic grooming behaviors."
"Studies have shown that our dogs' brains will even release oxytocin, the ‘love hormone,' when we are petting them," says Gordon. "Meaning our dogs-and our relationship with them-can benefit from pets."
Related: Golden Retriever 'Politely Declines' Grooming-and the Internet Can't Stop Laughing
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This story was originally published May 4, 2026 at 12:03 PM.