In Johannesburg, South Africa, a beautiful Golden Retriever residing with his family found himself in a comical situation that quickly went viral. The mischievous canine was caught on camera growling, seemingly directed at someone. However, upon closer inspection, it became evident that he was actually engrossed in staring at his own reflection in the mirror.

Unaware that it was his own reflection, the dog displayed an exaggerated and aggressive attitude, attempting to intimidate the “other dog.” In the video, the laughter of his amused owner can be heard as she witnesses the hilarious incident alongside her furry companion.

The puppy’s mother shared the story with the Daily Mail, revealing, “I was in my room with my dog when I noticed him fixated on his reflection in the mirror. Initially, I thought he was gazing at me through the mirror, but soon realized he was looking at himself and began making funny faces. That’s when I decided to record the video.”

The dog’s intense focus on his reflection, coupled with his mother’s laughter, seemingly prompted him to adopt a menacing expression, even revealing his fangs. The video quickly gained widespread attention on social media, sparking various opinions and reactions.

One comment touched on the humorous aspect, suggesting that the dog was practicing his scared expression for future visits to the vet. However, according to Affinity Petcare, the “mirror recognition test,” which evaluates an animal’s ability to recognize its own image and exhibit self-directed behaviors, is not commonly observed in dogs, cats, and some primates and parrots. Dogs perceive the reflected image as another dog and react accordingly, while only certain primates exhibit recognition similar to humans.

Despite the peculiar nature of a Golden Retriever making such a face, these dogs are renowned for their calm and affectionate demeanor. The juxtaposition of a Golden Retriever and a fierce expression may seem perplexing, resulting in the comment, “It’s so strange to watch a Golden make a face; the two things just don’t make sense in my head.”

Source: paws-daily.com