Woman Wonders Why Senior Dog Lies in One Spot—Then Has Tearful Realization - Newsweek

Rachael O'Connor is a Newsweek Life & Trends reporter based in Leeds, U.K. Her focus is on reporting trends from across the internet and all corners of the world. Rachael joined Newsweek in 2024 from Metro.co.uk and previously worked for The Irish Post. She is a graduate of the University of Galway. Languages: English, Irish. You can get in touch with Rachael by emailing [email protected].

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A woman watched her childhood puppy grow into a slowed-down senior, and suddenly noticed he had chosen a new place to sleep every time.

Chloé Kelleher, 30, is from Southern California, and is the owner of "incredibly special" golden retriever, Hank.

"I've had him since he was just a puppy," Kelleher told Newsweek. "He's been by my side through so many chapters of life—from my teenage years to adulthood. He truly is my best friend."

Hank is now 12 years old and a senior dog in every way, from his adorable white face to his special socks to help him keep traction on smooth floors.

As Kelleher put it: "As he's gotten older, it's been harder for him to get around on hardwood floors, so the socks help keep him steady—and stylish!

"We try to do everything we can to keep him comfortable and happy in his senior years."

Now, as is common with older dogs, Hank is unable to get up the stairs. Instead, he has chosen a special spot in the sitting room, near the staircase, where he sleeps, naps, and relaxes—and at first, Kelleher didn't know why he chose this spot.

"He started sleeping in that exact spot a little over six months ago," she explained. "At first, I just thought it was a cute habit, but then I realized it was always positioned perfectly so that he could see me the second I opened my bedroom door."

Kelleher shared a sweet video to her TikTok account @chloekelleher7 on June 27, showing Hank relaxing on the floor, having explained in another video that the senior dog has always preferred lying on the floor than on a dog bed, and while he has a crate, he prefers his usual spot.

She wrote: "Hank can't get up the stairs anymore, so this is his new favorite spot.

"I always wondered why out of the whole entire house, he chooses this spot to lay in. Until I realized."

The video then turns into a montage of Kelleher opening her bedroom door—and below the staircase is Hank, watching her bedroom. Each time she opens the door, Hank is there, sometimes napping, sometimes with his eyes open, but always in the same spot, and always facing her bedroom.

"He can see my bedroom door from this spot. He lays right where he knows I'll see him when I open the door," she wrote, adding in a caption: "I'm not crying, YOU ARE."

Kelleher told Newsweek: "No matter what time of day it is, I'll find him there, just quietly watching and waiting for me to come back down. It honestly melts my heart every time."

TikTok users had a massive reaction, viewing the clip more than 1.8 million times.

One commenter wrote: "Ma'am you sleep downstairs now, I don't make the rules," and another shared: "When my dogs got to this point, I slept on an air mattress right beside them. I couldn't sleep without them right beside me as they had for 14 years."

And as one put it: "That baby loves you so much."

Many urged Kelleher to get Hank a dog bed, but as one commenter pointed out: "Maybe he likes sleeping on the floor! My chocolate lab has his own bed, can lay on my bed and he still chooses the floor 90 percent of the time," to which Kelleher replied: "You get it."

As dogs get older, they begin moving more slowly, with their eyesight, bones and general coordination beginning to slip, according to the American Kennel Club (AKC).

Owners may consider special stairs, a ramp or even a stroller to help their elderly dog move around, while some dogs benefit from special beds and crate pads to help aching muscles and stiff joints.

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.

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