Senior Golden Retriever Shows No Remorse After Stealing Items From Around The House
What do a framed print, a hardcover book, a laptop computer, a 12-pack of toilet paper, and an empty juice jug have in common? They're all items that 11-year-old golden retriever Duke has stolen from around the house and dragged back to his bed, along with a teapot, a lamp, a laundry basket, an empty pizza box, a bag of potatoes, an 18-pound turkey, and countless other random items.
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In a delightfully charming TikTok video that's been viewed more than 7.8 million times, Duke is seen carrying a framed print that's almost as big as he is while his owner, Cathy Hoyt, exclaims in dismay about her beloved "Dukie" dragging more items to his bed. "I love how all goldens use their retriever instincts to just commit robbery constantly," one viewer commented. "Justice for Duke. He's trying to become a home decor influencer," another joked.
Hoyt is constantly perplexed by Duke's thieving. "The behaviors were a bit startling because we had never had a dog like this," she told The Washington Post in October 2025. "He is also a 'counter surfer,' so you can't have clutter on your counter." Duke always appears supremely chill on camera, as if he can't understand why anyone might be perturbed by the dartboard, shoe, lantern, or giant fake tarantula hanging out of his mouth.
Duke the golden retriever's search for a feeling of security
Sadly, this golden retriever's, well, retrieving may come from his lived experiences. "Duke's past has been erratic. He has been shuffled throughout three or four homes within the same family," Cathy Hoyt shared with The Dodo in October 2025. She and her husband took Duke home in 2024 after their senior golden retriever, Charlie, died. "We love taking in seniors because we know it's harder for them to find loving homes," Hoyt added to The Washington Post. It's true that older dogs often take a long time to get adopted, but adopting an older dog instead of a puppy can be a wonderful experience for both dog and owner — and adopting the oldest dog in the shelter can be the most heartwarming of all. This is especially true because shelter surrender is worse for a dog than you may have thought.
Hoyt wonders if, after Duke spent so many years bouncing around between people and homes, he now clings to his random items to feel more secure. Resource guarding usually happens with items that a dog perceives as high-value, such as food, toys, and beds, so Duke's behavior is unusual. But one viewer of the TikTok video shared a story that backs up Hoyt's theory: "So, when I was younger, I would put all of my stuffies inside of my sleeping bag every night just in case there was a fire, I would be able to save all of them. It stemmed from anxiety. I wonder if this is what's driving sweet Duke to bring things to his bed."