A golden retriever got more than he bargained for when he tried to play with a Chihuahua at a puppy training class in New York.
In a video posted to Instagram under the handle, @TheBarefootRetriever, New York City-based TV producer John Hyland showed what happened when his adorable puppy Myles tried to approach the tiny dog.
Hyland and his partner had been talking about getting a golden retriever for years before Myles came into their lives. “We adore everything about the breed—intelligence, affection, friendliness—the list goes on,” Hyland told Newsweek. “My partner was able to track down a golden in Maine, and surprised me with the news this Christmas that we’d be getting one.”
A few weeks back, the couple made the trip up to New Gloucester where they met and quickly fell in love with Myles. “From the moment we met Myles, we knew he was the dog for us. He was sweet, playful, spunky, brave and everything else you’d want in a puppy,” Hyland said.
It wasn’t long before Myles found social-media fame. Stopping outside of the city on their way back, Hyland filmed a video of Myles hopping around in the snow. It quickly went viral on Instagram and @TheBarefootRetriever was born.
When he’s not bouncing around it and sometimes even eating snow, Myles likes all the things you would expect a rambunctious puppy to enjoy.
“He loves playing fetch and running around, but he’s also extremely affectionate and loves his ‘num nums,’ where he’ll roll on his back and take head scratches, belly rubs and pets,” Hyland said.
With Myles now old enough for his vaccinations, Hyland and his partner started out carrying him in a bag everywhere they went in New York “so he could see the world and meet new people,” but they knew more was needed.
Socialization is a crucial component of any healthy puppy’s development.
A 2024 American Veterinary Medical Association‑linked literature review concluded that puppies exposed to diverse, positive experiences during their early, sensitive period experience significant behavioral advantages as adults.
Puppies with more social contacts before 12 weeks were found to be less likely to develop fear or aggression. Those attending puppy classes before 20 weeks also showed reduced fear of thunder, vacuums, crate training, and novel environments. By contrast, the study found animals deprived of exposure during this period often become fearful and avoidant, sometimes permanently.
Throughout their time together, Hyland has been conscious of the need to aid Myles’s socialization. “We’re taking every step we can to socialize him in his early days, so, naturally, puppy class sounded like a good idea,” Hyland said. “We even socialized him with a cat which went great! When it comes to puppy play, we want him to learn the right way to play with dogs and to know when something is off limits or dangerous.”
Hyland and his partner live near a dog club that offers puppy classes and Myles was “excited from the moment he stepped paw into the class.” It wasn’t without the occasional hairy moment, though, as the video posted to @TheBarefootRetriever shows.
At the start of the class, the big dogs and small ones were separated into groups, and Hyland said Myles “had a blast” playing with the puppies his age. Things took a different turn when some of the canines were mixed.
“Toward the end, they opened the gates quietly to allow the smaller dogs to interact,” Hyland said. “Myles approached the smaller dogs with respectful sniffing, and was not rambunctious like he was with the bigger dogs. Then came the Chihuahua.”
The Instagram video captures what happened next. “Myles approached him head down, back in the air to indicate he wanted to play,” Hyland said. “But that dog wanted nothing to do with him or any other dog in that class. He approached him on several occasions and the dog just snapped—the trainer eventually stepped in and had to scoop him up off the floor.”
Despite what happened, Hyland said Myles was “completely unfazed” by the Chihuahua. “He had the time of his life at class and was immediately ready for bed after,” he said. “Every time we walk him past the dog studio, he goes up to the door wanting to go inside again.”
Since then, the video has blown up on social media, which Hyland put down to “the universality of dog interactions.” He said: “What dog parent hasn’t come across a 5-pound dog who wants to take down something 10 times its size.”
It may not have been what they expected, but Myles is definitely going back again soon. “We’re still planning to go back to puppy class,” Hyland said, “although, this time, we will likely steer clear of the Chihuahua if he dares to show up again.”
Every good dog deserves a treat. If, like Hyland, you have a puppy that is attending classes make sure to reward them. Blue Buffalo Baby Blue Training Treats Natural Puppy Soft Dog Treats are a good option and proving popular on Amazon right now.