An Instagram reel has gone viral, with over 2.4 million views, 82 thousand likes, and 766 comments at last glance. A content creator’s rescue dogs are creating an undeniable buzz, sparking both love and a spirited debate among dog lovers.
Instagram page @lifewithgoldenshepherds frequently shares reels of their two rescue dogs, Bear and Nala, much to the joy of internet users.
The dogs, described as Golden Shephards, are an adorable cross between a golden retriever father and a German shepherd mother, as described in the reel. “They are a perfect combination of loyal, alert, protective and sweet!”, declares the text on the reel, continuing, “and that’s my life with Golden Shepherds.”
The caption of the viral reel reads: “Meet our Golden Shepherd: loyal like a German Shepherd, loving like a Golden Retriever. You get the fluff, the smarts, and the snuggles in one perfect package. Tag someone who needs to know about this amazing breed!”
The digital creator’s reel has been inundated with positive comments and love for the two dogs, with one Instagram user writing: “That’s gotta be the best mix ever. Loving and derpy like goldens but smart and trainable like shepherds!”
While a second user said: “I have a golden shepherd as well except she’s gold with the pointy ears. Seriously the best of both breeds!”
A third fan of the dogs playfully commented: “I feel like mine, who I adopted when he was 9 months old, got the hyper energy of a Shepard, the intelligence of the golden and the bravery of a chicken. Also he would sell all our secrets for a bone.”
While another user gushed: “Omg golden fluffy protecting sweethearts?! I think I want one.”
However, not everyone was happy with the creator’s choice of words in calling their dog a ‘breed’, with one user writing: “Breed? This is a MUTT. stop purposefully breeding dogs and calling them their own breeds. Adopt don’t shop, anyone breeding dogs like this should be ashamed of themselves.”
Another individual wrote: “Not a breed, only breed this is backyard breed. Ethical breeders don’t make mutts.”
While one argued: “Absolutely nothing wrong with loving your pups but let’s not promote unethical breeding practices.”
And a fourth disgruntled user said: “Stop glorifying mixed breeds. If you want one, go to a shelter. This shit will just give backyard breeders more ideas on what mutts they can exploit next.”
“Glad they are rescues,” one user commented, “But humans being disgusting and greedy as they are, I can see someone intentionally seeking out a designer mutt.”
The reel’s comment section points to a wider dialogue in the pet community about ethical breeding and the significance of adopting pets versus buying them from breeders.
