Top News

A dog lover adopted a golden retriever puppy and was stunned by his size just six months later. Golden retrievers are an incredibly popular breed, known for their gentle, friendly, silly and loyal natures as well as their emotional intelligence, which has seen them widely recommended as the ideal choice of pet for families.

The breed is recognised by their long, golden coats and large size but one woman still got a shock after weighing her seven month old golden retriever puppy. Katie, who posts on TikTok as @barkstreetboys_, is no stranger to dogs, having raised them for years. She and her husband currently own four golden retrievers, including Rory and Enzo, two brothers who are the most recent additions to the family.

Despite the siblings being given the same amount of food since Katie and her husband brought them home, Enzo is significantly larger than his brother. The couple had to "double check the scales" in a humorous video shared on TikTok which saw them couple weigh their seven month old dog.

In the clip, which has so far gained more than 62,000 views, Katie's husband can be seen carrying Enzo and standing on a set of scales. In his arms, Enzo stares at the camera forlornly, adding an extra layer of humour to the clip.

By subtracting her husband's weight from the number displayed on the scales, the couple determined their puppy weighs over six stone.

In text written over the top of the footage, Katie penned: "The moment we had to double check the scales. Seven months old and 38.7kg (85lbs and over 6st)".

In the caption, she added: "If you've had a golden retriever pup a similar weight, how big are they fully grown?"

In the comments section, one TikTok user shared: "Our show line golden was big like that as a puppy! He is 42kg now and looks perfect, not overweight, he is just a big boy."

Katie replied: "Is he quite lean? Enzo is tall, big head, big feet, quite broad shoulders! We have his brother who is much lighter/different build and he is much lighter!"

Another said: "Our two year old golden is 27kg this makes her feel absolutely tiny!!!! What the helly."

Others branded Enzo "so handsome" and "a little chonker", while someone else said: "What a big boy! He's gorgeous!"

Some TikTok users were concerned by the dog's weight, which prompted the couple's dog walker Megan to share: "I can say as Enzo's dog walker that he is not overweight and his vet has confirmed this. Katie and her family have had this line of retrievers for years and know exactly how to look after them.

"This video is a completely unflattering angle which doesn't do his real figure justice. He is a happy and well cared dog just as his brothers and uncles. Katie was reaching out for peoples experiences, not opinions."

Megan added a photo of Enzo where he can be seen lying on his back on a rug and looks much trimmer. She said: "Please watch what you say to others, especially without knowing the whole story - here is another pic of Enzo which clearly shows the opposite of what others have suggested."

Getting a dog is a serious commitment which can span around 10-15 years and even longer, depending on the lifespan of your chosen breed. All dogs require dedicated commitment to their care, with owners responsible for ensuring they're well fed, exercised, groomed, and mentally stimulated.

Before getting a dog, it's important to do your research and bear in mind, not all dogs are suitable for first time owners. Training is often essential. Many rescue centres and charities have an abundance of dogs awaiting their forever home so it's worth considering the benefits of rescuing an animal instead of purchasing from a breeder.