...
By Melissa Fleur Afshar
Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
A video of a senior golden retriever showing off his newfound bark, which had developed suddenly after 14 years, has warmed the hearts of viewers online.
The TikTok post, shared on May 6 by the dog's owner @thegoldenboysfredandrocs, captured the moment the senior dog living in Surrey, England, let out an unrelenting series of barks. The lighthearted clip has since struck a chord with canine lovers on the platform, drawing more than 551,000 views and racking up over 81,000 likes to date.
"Freddie is 14 on June 3 and has over the last year found his bark," the dog's owner, Amanda, who would prefer to keep her full identity private, told Newsweek. "Lots of comments say that he is probably going deaf as their dogs did the same." She added: "But he just loves doing it now."
Read More on Pets
"He loves his new voice," Amanda had captioned the post, which features an overlaid text that read: "When your 14-year-old dog suddenly finds his bark."
Viewers were able to see the golden retriever laying on the grass, tail wagging, delivering bark after bark with growing enthusiasm. Off-camera, Freddie's owner can be heard chuckling as they say: "We are all happy for you, but you've got to stop doing it all the time.
...
Golden retrievers are known for their friendly temperament and loyalty, but not all are particularly vocal. While barking can increase in older canines due to cognitive or sensory changes, a sudden burst of voice after years of relative silence is unusual and may point to a new sense of comfort or energy in the dog's surroundings. Still, the mood in the video makes clear that the canine's vocal performance is now a welcomed part of the family dynamic.
The dog's noisy breakthrough has become an unexpected source of joy not just for his family but also for tens of thousands of viewers, many of whom took to the comments to share their delight and humor.
"He sounds like he has a sore throat," one viewer said. "Just a baby."
"Mine only barked once," another added. "Made himself jump and never did it again."
"Oh, let him talk," a third viewer wrote.
"You are never too old to learn something new," one comment read.
"I also have a 14-year-old golden who does this too. Genuinely think it's cause he has gone deaf," another said.
"Love this," a third added. "My retriever is 12 and all of a sudden he starts barking now and I love it."
Updated, 05/09/2025, 01:40 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional comment from the dog's owner, Amanda.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines