Golden Retriever Puppy Learns the Hard Way That Big Sticks Don't Fit Through Doors
Going out for a walk and finding the biggest stick is a huge thing for a puppy. They love being able to pick it up, proudly walk while it's still in their mouth, and bring it home. The problem is that some puppies haven't grasped the concept of geography, which can be an issue, especially if they lack spatial awareness.
In this video, we meet a determined Golden Retriever puppy who is proudly carrying her prized stick in her mouth. She wants to show it off, but she doesn't seem to realize how big the stick is because she can't get through the door.
@sally_thegoldenpup Sally vs Dog Door #goldenretrieverpuppy#goldenretriever#goldenretrieverlife#puppytiktok#dogsoftiktok
original sound - Sally
TikTok user @sally_thegoldenpup shared a video of the beautiful and cute Golden Retriever puppy named Sally, who found herself in a bit of a struggle.
She's technically outside the house, but she's trying to walk through the doggy door like she always does, but she hasn't been able to figure out why it's not working. She tries to step in, gets stuck, and then just keeps trying. Of course, she's completely missing the fact that it's not working because she's got a giant stick in her mouth that's too big for the door.
Related: Golden Retriever's Whole Personality Changes After Getting a Sibling
In the comments, hundreds of people left messages for sweet Sally, who is so proud of that giant stick that's stopping her from getting into the house. Some comments include, "Sally wondering if you're part of the solution or part of the problem," "If there's a will, there's a way, Mama," "Sally is practicing to bring full-length trees through that doggie door," "Smart baby," and "That's a good stick."
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Why Puppies Are Drawn to Sticks?
Sally looks so proud of herself, even though she's clearly struggling to bring her stick inside. While this quirk of hers is adorable and so easy to giggle at in this video, her being so drawn to sticks is very normal dog behavior, according to experts.
Chewy explains that dogs like to carry sticks, and puppies are so drawn to them because of their instincts. Golden Retrievers got their name because their very long history dates back to when they used to work with humans as duck retrievers. The site explains that a puppy carrying a stick is just them acting on instinct. Holding something in their mouth, like a stick, can feel like carrying prey, and it gives them a sense of pride that they've retrieved something.
Sure, Sally hasn't quite figured out how to get that stick inside (quickly) or even why it's not working (at first), but you can see the smile on her face while she tries.
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This story was originally published June 8, 2026 at 9:55 AM.