There’s a common saying that dogs are man’s best friend, but for one dog walker in Des Moines, Iowa, it’s clear who’s really in charge.
Argo, a professional dog walker, recently learned a hilarious and unyielding lesson in canine authority from a golden retriever named Rheager.
It turns out, Rheager has a very specific idea of what makes a good walk, and he won’t hesitate to take matters—or his leash—into his own paws if you dare to stray from the path.
Argo was already aware that Rheager was a dog with a reputation.
According to notes from previous walkers, the golden retriever had a set of preferred routes.
If a walker tried to deviate, he would simply stop, sit, and refuse to move until they understood who was boss.
Argo was prepared for this, but on their first walk together, he faced a dilemma.
They were going to be late getting back if they stuck to Rheager’s usual route, so Argo made a decision to turn onto a different street.
That’s when the true “king behavior” began.
In a viral video that has since been viewed over a million times, Argo showed the world Rheager’s hilarious protest.
Looking a bit grumpy, the golden retriever had a firm grip on his leash, holding the handle in his mouth as he led the way.
He was, in effect, walking himself home, with a very surprised Argo trailing behind.
As Argo explained, Rheager was so upset by the change in route that he had grabbed the leash and wouldn’t let go, all while pretending to walk himself.
For ten minutes, they continued like this, with Rheager refusing to relinquish control.
The video’s viewers couldn’t get enough of Rheager’s antics.
Comments poured in, with people loving his assertive personality. “Nah, he’s walking you,” one user joked.
Others shared their own similar stories of dogs with very strong opinions about their walking routes, proving that Rheager’s behavior isn’t as uncommon as it might seem.
One person even commented that their dog “will only turn left out of our driveway,” believing the right side to be filled with “lava or dragons.”
Rheager’s viral moment is a funny reminder of the unique personalities dogs possess.
As the American Kennel Club notes, to give a dog the best walk possible, owners should give them time to sniff, explore, and move at their own pace.
Rheager certainly takes that advice to heart.
For Argo, who walks up to 15 dogs a week, this experience was a memorable one.
He told Newsweek that he’s constantly learning about the vastly different personalities of the dogs he works with.
While his video’s explosion in popularity was unexpected, it’s a testament to the fact that people love seeing the special, goofy, and sometimes incredibly stubborn quirks of our four-legged friends.
