A golden retriever named Ziggy has captured millions of hearts after a viral TikTok video showed him meeting a litter of puppies for the very first time.
An encounter his owner summed up perfectly in the caption: he was “so excited he could barely control himself,” racking up over 991,000 views.
In the clip shared to @thecrewoffloof, Ziggy can be seen eagerly approaching the whelping area, his tail wagging furiously as curiosity takes over. While five of the puppies are nursing, he leans in to sniff one of the tiny newcomers up close. At one point, he attempts to gently put the pup’s head in his mouth, prompting the owner behind the camera to tell him “no.” He quickly switches gears and begins licking the puppy instead, unable to contain his enthusiasm.
Layered text across the video reads: “Parker finally let a desperate baby Ziggy meet her babies,” framing just how long he’d been waiting for this moment.
Though some videos refer to him as “Uncle Ziggy” and others call him “Dad,” it’s unclear whether he has any biological connection to the litter. What is clear is that he has stepped confidently into a father figure role as the puppies grow—hovering protectively, greeting them with gentle sniffs and offering the kind of clumsy, joyful interest that only a golden retriever can deliver.
Do Male Dogs Make Good Dads?
The American Kennel Club (AKC) states male dogs generally don’t play a natural caregiving role when puppies are first born, and their presence can sometimes cause problems in the early weeks. Even friendly, well-behaved males can unintentionally make things harder for the mother and the litter.
How to Safely Introduce Puppies to Their Dad
Once the puppies are stronger, more mobile and starting to explore, the father can be safely introduced. The AKC has provided tips on how to do it in a controlled, low stress way:
- Wait until the right age. Keep the male away from the litter until the pups are at least 4–6 weeks old, when they’re beginning to wean and can handle brief interactions.
- Choose a neutral, calm environment. Don’t start in the whelping area. Begin somewhere neutral so the mother doesn’t feel her space is being invaded.
- Keep the first introductions short and controlled. Start with the male on a leash or behind a gate. Allow him to observe from a distance and gradually move closer as long as everyone stays calm.
- Closely supervise every moment. Watch the mother’s body language as well as the father’s excitement level. End the session immediately if the mother looks stressed or the male gets too enthusiastic.
- Slowly increase interaction time. As the pups grow and become steadier on their feet, you can extend the sessions. Let the father sniff, explore and gently interact, always under supervision.
- Allow natural social learning once fully weaned. After weaning, the father may join in play and can help model general dog to dog behavior, such as boundaries around play and mealtime manners. While it won’t be a “dad” role in the human sense, it can still be healthy socialization.
TikTok Reacts
Viewers flooded the comments with praise for his restraint, excitement and obvious affection for the pups.
One user said: “its giving “ITS SO CUTE I COULD JUST EAT IT,” a phrase often used by humans when visiting a newborn baby.“
“Not that one curious puppy being volunteered as tribute,” said another user.
A third commenter wrote: “That puppy won’t be scared of anything.”
Newsweek reached out to @thecrewoffloof for comment via email. We could not verify the details of the case.