Dads can be especially hard to shop for. And it’s easy to get hung up on finding the perfect gift, or over thinking and asking yourself too many questions about whether or not he’ll like it.

Some people are natural gift-givers and always know exactly what to buy, but that’s certainly not true for most of us.

But the secret to finding a memorable gift… is to find something unique!

And this family certainly had the perfect gift idea for their beloved Dad.

Doug was turning 46, and was expecting it to be a year just like any other.

But he had an incredible birthday surprise that would be the most memorable and lost lasting of his life!

His wife got him to unwrap a present revealing a beautiful wooden box.

He thought the box was so nice, that he thought it was the gift itself. He had no idea that the surprise he was in for was going to blow this box out of the water.

And in fact, not only was the box not the main event, but he didn’t even get to keep it.

“I’m not just giving you the box, I’m taking the box back honey.” – Doug’s wife

He laughed and said:

“You are? Well then I’m not gonna open it!”

But of course, he couldn’t help himself, and continued unwrapping his present. He really had no idea what to expect if it wasn’t this nice box. What could possibly be inside?

He wasn’t ready for what was yet to come!

He finally opened it up and pulled out two different items. It still didn’t make much sense.

A collar and a picture frame?

You can see the wheels turning as he tries to figure it out.

But it clicks, and you can tell by his facial expression that he’s onto them.

The name “Stella” and Doug’s phone number are embossed on the dog collar’s tag. And inside the picture frame was a photo of his family members with a golden retriever puppy.

His eyes lit up with disbelief!

His wife could barely hold back her excitement.

“That’s Stella!”

And then, his step-son comes walking over, carrying the beautiful little pup, and hands her over to Doug.

The look on his face is priceless. I’ve never seen a dad so excited about anything before!

I guess the family was very aware of how bad Doug wanted a little puppy. What an amazing gift!

And Stella is very happy to be held by her new dad. She’s such a sweet little thing!

Stella’s cuddling, wagging her tail and licking Doug’s face. He’s beaming with love and is still riding the high of that surprise. He almost looks like he still can’t believe it’s real!

Golden retrievers are loving, loyal, and very intelligent. That’s why they’re one of the most popular choices for a family pet in North America!

If you search #goldenretriever on Instagram, you’ll find a whopping 21 million posts!

Is there anything cuter?

More than a million viewers have watched this heartwarming moment. And this memory of the moment that Doug was introduced to his new best friend will last the family a life time!

Watch the full video below to see Doug’s reaction to the surprise for yourself!

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

Sources: tvanlieshout, Dog Time