According to the American Kennel Club, the Golden Retriever is a sturdy, muscular dog of medium size, famous for the dense, lustrous coat of gold that gives the breed its name. The broad head, with its friendly and intelligent eyes, short ears, and straight muzzle, is a breed hallmark.

Golden Retrievers are serious workers at hunting and field work, as guides for the blind, and in search-and-rescue. They enjoy obedience and other competitive events and have an endearing love of life when not at work. Golden Retrievers are known for their friendly and gentle temperaments, making them excellent family dogs.

They are also very intelligent and easy to train, making them popular choices for working dogs. True to its description, this particular Golden Retriever shows exactly what they are made and capable of.

Beating the summer’s heat

On a scorching summer day, Lauren Lynde and her spouse decided to take advantage of the weather by cooling off with their 2-year-old golden retriever, Wally. They went on a canoe trip to one of the picturesque islands in Hickory Hills Lake, nestled in the serene town of Lunenburg, Massachusetts.

Little did they know that their outing was about to have an extraordinary encounter.

Wally was an avid swimmer, and once he dove into the water, getting him out of the water can become quite a challenge.

“Typically, we toss sticks or his ball for him to chase, but sometimes he’d swim aimlessly in circles, which is incredibly amusing,” Lynde shared with The Dodo. “And he always wears this adorable shark life vest.”

As Wally paddled joyfully through the lake, Lynde noticed something bobbing in the water nearby. Initially, she mistook it for an otter or a large stick. However, to her surprise, the mysterious object hopped onto Wally’s back.

To her astonishment, the “stick” turned out to be a woodchuck.

“My husband and I were flabbergasted,” Lynde recounted. “We watched in awe as Wally glanced at the woodchuck, started swimming back to shore, and the woodchuck nonchalantly hopped onto his back. Wally displayed no concern whatsoever. He glanced over his shoulder a few times and continued swimming.”

Lynde couldn’t fathom why the woodchuck had taken to swimming; perhaps it sought respite from the sweltering weather, just like everyone else.

Thankfully, Wally’s affection for swimming paled in comparison to his love for making new friends.

“He adores every animal he encounters,” Lynde explained. “He especially adores young children and showers them with affectionate kisses. He’s the gentlest dog one could ever meet and gets along with everyone.”

Curious about this unique alliance, you can witness Wally and the woodchuck enjoying their swim.

A gesture of gratitude

The woodchuck appeared grateful for the impromptu lift and made sure to express its appreciation to Wally once they reached the shore.

“A little before they reached land, the woodchuck hopped off Wally’s back. They gazed at each other, their snouts touched briefly, almost as if bidding farewell,” Lynde recounted. “The woodchuck scampered up the shore, casting one last glance at Wally before disappearing, while Wally immediately resumed swimming.”

“I honestly couldn’t believe my eyes,” she added. “I was utterly dumbfounded.”

Woodchucks are typically timid creatures, but there was something about Wally that put the wild animal at ease.

“I believe Wally simply emanates goodness, and perhaps all beings can sense it,” Lynde mused. “Even animals.”

This beautiful story simply proves that dogs can be friends not just with humans but also with other animals.

Know more about this story by watching the video below.

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Source: YouTube – Kind Animals, The Dodo