Dad's inner child comes out when he finally gets the puppy of his dreams for his birthday

Editor's note: This article was originally published on December 16, 2022. It has since been updated.

We've all seen videos of parents giving puppies to their children as a gift but have you seen a dad's heart-melting reaction to getting a puppy from his children? It is wickedly adorable! With his emotional response to getting the dog he'd always wanted for his birthday, a Canadian father won over hearts online and left many "bawling their eyes out." In a video, originally shared on TikTok by the man's daughter—who goes by the username Kelseyhayes._. on the platform—the dad can be seen gasping with excitement and surprise when handed a basket with a Labrador puppy inside.

He said, "I love him," right away, and Ruger—his new friend's name—must have felt the same way since he was "hugging" his arm. "He's so fat, he looks like a beaver," the new pet parent adds. His daughter, who got him the dog, reveals in the text overlay on the video that her dad has always wanted a chocolate Lab. "After years of my dad asking for a chocolate lab... He finally got one for his birthday!! We love you dad enjoy your new puppy," she explained as a caption on the video said: "Never seen my dad so happy." The American Kennel Club (AKC) reports that without missing a single year since 1991, Labrador retrievers have been America's favorite dog breed.

According to Newsweek, the Labrador retriever is the most popular breed of dog in the United States in 2022 as well, followed by the French bulldog, German shepherd, golden retriever, bulldog, poodle, beagle, rottweiler, dachshund, and German shorthaired pointer. The family-friendly Labrador breed is a laid-back, loving, active dog that is equally at home on the sofa as they are in the field. Since they were originally trained to hunt, Labradors make excellent employees in a number of occupations because of their intellect, desire to please, and work ethic. They are among the most often used breeds for therapy dog work, search and rescue, and the detection of drugs and bombs.

The video has gained over 45.3 million views and 9.7 million likes since being posted after drawing in animal lovers from all over TikTok. One commented: "This is so dang wholesome. I love it". Another user said, "We had a choc lab growing up and my dad would feed her carrots out of his mouth! This is so wholesome." However, this isn't the only instance of a dog being a man's best friend.

A dog named Vaguito became an internet sensation after the story of how he waits for his late owner's return on the shores of a Peruvian beach went viral online. A Punta Negra local told Jolie Mejía the canine's heartbreaking tale when she stumbled upon him at the beach and sat next to Vaguito.

Mejía said, "He told us that the animal lived with a fisherman who passed away a long time ago. And that, since then, the dog comes here every day and looks at the sea." Mejía added that Vaguito was taken in by a local woman when his owner died and that other members of the local community also assist with his care. She said, "I have a dog at home. I love dogs in general. His story really touched my heart." When Mejía and her family parted ways with Vaguito at the end of the day, he still had his gaze fixed out to sea. "We were very moved," Mejía told Dodo.