Man reveals the 'hard' process of making his golden retriever cuddle with him: 'Gotta stand your ground'

Golden Retrievers are often seen as the perfect family dogs—irresistibly adorable, playful, quirky, and, of course, affectionate. But not all Golden Retrievers are the same. Some can be quite lazy, lounging on the couch all day and avoiding cuddles. Meet Chili (@goldenchilidog on Instagram), a pup with a simple rule—no snacks, no cuddles! That's right! He's all for showing love, but apparently only if there's a treat on the table.

In the heartwarming Instagram reel, Chili—the ultimate treat negotiator—sat calmly, watching as his daddy-dearest tried his best to earn some cuddles. Simultaneously, the onscreen text read, "Trying to get a Golden Retriever to cuddle." At first, Chili glared right at his dad, contemplating his wish for some love. Then, with what his parents called a "polite smile," he calmly declined. And, just when his father thought he'd won, Chili faked him out—leaning in as if for cuddles, only to back away and wait for snacks instead. However, even after waiting, when Chili did not spot any treats coming his way, he sighed, shook his head in disappointment, and refused to cuddle. "Cuddles only on his terms," the dog's mom shared in the caption. 

Meanwhile, reacting to the hilarious reel, @santi commented, "Not Chili giving us the Jim Halpert turn and look at the camera." Similarly, @nataliecavazos shared, "And usually I still can’t get a cuddle! She’ll cuddle with everyone except her mother, the one who literally does everything for her." @the_fuzzy_peach, another pet parent, wrote, "Why are they like this (except my female, but she loves her daddy, and I’m just the spare human)." @pear commented, "The big sigh after they finally decide to cuddle is the funniest part of it all." @steve90244 said, "The look of betrayal when no treat is offered." On the other hand, @imjaxthelab interpreted Chili's point of view and commented, "The 'fake-out!' joke's on you, I (Chili) bet you thought I was coming up.'' @odinthepnwgolden wrote, "This is why I always keep treats in my pocket!" @petvetruthann shared, "It’s important to have boundaries and clear expectations for negotiation. Way to go, @goldenchilidog!"

Interestingly, although Chili might not be too excited for cuddles, the golden boy loves gentle chin scratches. In another Instagram reel, his mother shared why Chili was upset. Reason? Well, there were multiple reasons, but his mom not being "passionate enough" during chin scratches topped them. While Chili was eagerly waiting outside the bathroom door, his owner had been in there for too long, and that did not sit well with him. "I should feel honored, nay, privileged to scratch his chin whenever he demands. I took too long in the bathroom. Obviously, I need to time my basic human needs during his nap time, or better hold it," she said sarcastically. Moreover, just to make his mom realize her mistakes, Chili decided to give a little extra attention to Daddy while giving her side-eye. "Do you think I’m worthy of forgiveness?" the owner asked in the caption. 

You can follow CHILI | GOLDEN RETRIEVER (@goldenchilidog) on Instagram for more updates on the Golden Retriever.