Adorable dog fills in as employee at family-owned shop in Ireland and he might just be the best cashier ever

Dogs have long been celebrated for being loyal companions. However, their intelligence often remains underappreciated. From fetching balls with endless energy to getting the morning newspaper in the blink of an eye, dogs are capable of far more than we sometimes realize. But have you ever seen a pooch working like an ordinary employee at a store? Sounds hard to believe? Well, Linda Finnegan (@finnegansgraveawakening), a tour guide, actually saw it happening in a family-run shop in Ireland. While the woman was sightseeing with tourists exploring Ireland, she stopped at a small shop in Julianstown where Bell, a labrador retriever, was a working staff member. 

"So here we are at County Meath and this is Bell, the shopkeeper," Finnegan began as the adorable dog stood with its paws up against the table, behind the counter, barking and wagging its tail continuously. As soon as the woman handed over $20, Bell took it in its mouth and walked off. "Here Bell!," Finnegan called the the four-legged shopkeeper back to give another currency note. With the same enthusiasm, Bell returned, grabbed the second note and rushed back to hand it over to its owner. The TikTok video quickly gained popularity, leaving viewers in awe of the adorable labrador retriever.

For instance, @ana893733 wrote, "My dachshund brings me shredded paper to trade for chicken. I call it dog currency." Similarly, @residentpyromaniac commented, "Bell's trying to hold it together during the rush, I see." @peaksandtroughs wrote, "Are you even Irish if you didn't have a favorite shop dog growing up?" On the other hand, @jaywarda who was seemingly impressed with the cute little shopkeeper wrote, "I have no idea what Bell is selling, but I’ll have three of them and can she deliver? @trapper6499 wrote, "Better mannered than a lot of human shopkeepers I know."

Meanwhile, the 52-year-old tour guide posted another video from her next visit to the shop. This time, Finnegan decided to tip Bell with a $5 currency note. The dog came running to the counter upon seeing her. The woman mischievously snatched the note away every time Bell got close. However, after a quick tease, she finally let the clever dog take the note from her. And just like the last time, Bell rushed back to its elderly pet parent, sitting behind the counter, to hand over the money. But, It seemed like the dog took the hint to heart. Even though it stood by its owner, proudly showing her the money, she did not let go of the note.

The elderly woman seeing the cute interaction between her pet and Finnegan asked if she would buy something. "That's (money) for Bell. Get her some treats. Isn't she beautiful?" the tour guide said. Moreover, when Finnegan asked if people could bring treats for Bell to the shop, the owner said, "Well, some people do but she gives it to me. Everything is for Mommy! She is very good to Mommy!" The heartwarming story reflected the surprising and usually underestimated intelligence of dogs, highlighting their ability to learn complex tasks and interact with humans in unexpected ways. Talking to Newsweek, Finnegan revealed that the first time she visited the shop, she tripped over a bag of kindling and that's how she met Bell.

You can follow Linda Finnegan (@finnegansgraveawakening) on TikTok for more content related to Ireland.