#golden-retriever

#golden-retriever

Most people who sign up for a road race expect to receive a commemorative T-shirt and perhaps a banana and an electrolyte drink for their efforts, but the racers in a half-marathon in New York City got something extra: furry high-fives from a happy golden retriever. In a TikTok video that's been viewed more than 2.4 million times, @ellici.a shared the sweet sight, which she described as "the best part of NYC marathons."

When we bought Otto, a golden retriever, a year after the death of our previous dog Bertie, we were sceptical that he could live up to our high expectations. What quickly became apparent, during the routine humiliation of our puppy training classes, was that Otto was a law unto himself. He's not normal quickly became a stock family phrase, as Otto demonstrated a series of wild, mischievous and outlandish behaviours.

Many dog breeds are noted for their personalities and behavioral traits, from the distinctive vocalizations of huskies to the herding of border collies. People have worked to identify the genes associated with many of these behaviors, taking advantage of the fact that dogs can interbreed. But that creates its own experimental challenges, as it can be difficult to separate some behaviors from physical traits distinctive to the breed-small dog breeds may seem more aggressive simply because they feel threatened more often.