Golden Retriever Trio Hilariously Protect Mom From 'Terrifying Intruder'

A trio of 75-pound golden retrievers has left the internet in stitches after a clip of them protecting their mom from a "terrifying intruder" went viral.

The post was shared on TikTok on Sunday by the pets' owner, under the username @the3retrievers_. Archie, Oakley, and Winston can be seen barking at someone in the living room, but when the camera zooms in, the terrifying intruder is revealed to be a plush toy dog, sitting there, "menacingly."

The goldens' owner, Melanie, told Newsweek: "I actually have three Golden Retriever boys and an older Labrador Retriever girl, who is the 'queen' of the family. Having four dogs under one roof is the perfect guarantee for constant joy and entertainment. There is never a dull moment in our house, nor is it ever spotless! However, the amount of love they provide makes me not care about the fur balls and muddy paw prints.

"The three Golden Retrievers are all certified therapy dogs who I take around our community to spread comfort and cheer to individuals who need it. We visit hospitals, schools, nursing homes, corporate offices, and a variety of other venues. It is truly amazing to see how many lives they touch on a daily basis.

"A lot of people wonder what it's like having 4 dogs. All four of them get along great with each other. They spend about 90 percent of the day snuggling with each other and the other 10 percent of the time they are either chasing squirrels out in the backyard or wrestling over a toy in the living room. They truly are best friends! Even though they are similar in many ways, they each have their distinct personalities, as described below.

"Archie is the oldest and the wisest of the Golden brothers. His 6th birthday [was on Saturday]. He is the most protective one in the house and is always right by my side. He is also an opportunist when it comes to food. Watch out when you eat pizza around Archie, as he has been known to steal a piece from guests who aren't paying attention.

"Oakley is 3 years old and he is the most mellow and affectionate of the pack. As soon as someone walks in the door, he will start singing (or crying) very prominently due to his excitement. Winston is 18 months old and is definitely the goofball of the trio. He is obsessed with squirrels, sticks, and stuffies."

The clip comes with a caption that reads: "Watch my three 75-lb golden retrievers protect me from this terrifying intruder." This is followed by: "I feel so safe!"

While golden retrievers can learn how to guard their home after some training, they are naturally loving and docile creatures who do not have aggressive tendencies, according to advice website PetKeen. So, golden retrievers typically do not make great guard dogs, but they can be good watchdogs.

"Both watchdogs and guard dogs work to protect their homes and human companions," the PetKeen website states. Watchdogs simply alert their humans of possible intruders and suspicious activities, while guard dogs do more than just that. "They will do whatever it takes to protect their home and family, even if that means becoming aggressive and attacking an intruder," the website adds.

The video quickly gained popularity on social media, attracting animal lovers from across the platform. It has so far received over 530,000 views and more than 67,000 likes.

One user, Brandon, commented: "He's just standing there.....MENACINGLY." And Omgnowaywow wrote: "I love how each of their barks keep startling the other ones." User kp added: "The jump scare when going near it is cracking me up."

Rodrigo Umana H wrote that "they really think they are intimidating with those beautiful fluffy faces." And Son0FHam posted that "this is heaven to me. a giant slice of golden heaven. best breed of dog out there." Kathryn Taylor added: "The one that got brave enough and still had the hair standing up on the back. sweet baby!"

Another user, Jodi Christensen, commented: "I love how one of them was brave enough to get close. And the others just stood back and let him face it." And jay posted: "stay back hooman, we will protect you!"

Unknown Stuntman wrote: "At least they tell you he's there." And snl0916 added: "I love my two black lab boys, but I'd die for a golden."

Update 5/09/23 3:46 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with comments from the OP, Melanie, and new pictures.

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