Mom Camping With Kids Can’t Cope With Where She Finds Golden Retriever

A mom couldn’t believe where she found her dog sleeping the next morning after a night of “camping” with the kids.

Carrie, known on Instagram as @carmichael.farm, set up a fun slumber party for her and her kids to sleep in a tent outside the home. There needed to be new sleeping arrangements because the family’s golden retriever always sleeps alongside Carrie’s bed. Luckily, the tent was big enough to fit the whole family, but the dog didn’t seem interested.

Carrie told Newsweek via Instagram that they tried bringing the dog inside the tent, but she wouldn’t stay. All she wanted to do was be outside, which Carrie ultimately let her do. She was safe anyway since they were in the backyard of their home. But Carrie couldn’t believe what she saw when she walked outside the text the next morning.

Her September 5 Instagram video revealed that the golden retriever didn’t go back inside. Instead, she slept nuzzled up next to the tent the entire night in a specific spot.

“She slept right next to the tent where I was sleeping,” Carrie said, just as she does when they’re inside.

The dog was still sleeping when Carrie realized the next morning. It must’ve been a long night of protecting the family for the sweet pup. Carrie gently called for her. She perked up immediately, wagging her tail as she greeted Carrie. The dog was thrilled to know everyone was safe.

This dog’s desire to sleep next to her owner isn’t uncommon. As a pack animal, dogs have a behavioral instinct thanks to their wolf ancestors to sleep together, the pet blog The Hepper reported. It’s for warmth and safety. They think of you as part of the pack and because of that, they want to protect you while you sleep. Sleeping together also forms a special and trusting bond between an owner and a dog.

But be wary about why your dog wants to sleep next to you. It could be due to separation anxiety, a behavioral problem that occurs when dogs become extremely stressed without being with their owner. The Hepper article stated separation anxiety should be addressed to help the dog’s long-term health.

With over 1 million views and 78,200 views on Instagram, people instantly fell in love with the dog’s sweet gesture of staying guard while the rest of the family slept.

“This is TOO precious! She said, ‘I’ll stay on watch, Mom,'” commented a viewer, while another echoed: “That baby was protecting her family.”

Another wrote: “The way he chose to be with you over her own comfort.”

Others shared similar stories of their dogs wanting to stay outside. One person said: “I go camping all the time and my dog refuses to sleep inside the tent… likes to protect…so I set up his sleeping bag right outside.”

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