Couple introduces Labrador to their newborn—and is stunned by his reaction
Many first-time parents eagerly await the heartwarming moment when their beloved dog meets their newborn for the first time. But for Bryan and Neive Arteen, that moment didn’t quite go as planned—and the internet can’t get enough of their black Labrador, Gus, and his hilariously indifferent reaction.
Bryan, 24, shared a video of the encounter on TikTok (@bryanarteen). The clip shows the moment he and Neive, 25, brought their baby daughter, Macy, home to meet Gus. Instead of the Disney movie-worthy interaction they might have envisioned, Gus gave the newborn a quick sniff before deciding there were more interesting things to do.
The video, which has racked up over 1.3 million views and 174,300 likes, captures Gus taking one look at Macy before moving on. “He basically acted like the baby was never there,” Bryan told Newsweek.
“Gus is a very sweet dog who’s extra careful around puppies and kids,” Bryan shared. “Although he’s never seen babies, we figured he would be excited to sniff the baby and give her attention because, throughout the pregnancy, he was attached to Neive and the nursery. But that was clearly not the case.”
In the video, Neive cradles Macy while Bryan brings Gus into the room. Gus rushes to greet Neive but spares only a second to glance at Macy. While his reaction was less than enthusiastic, Bryan admitted they’ve found Gus’s indifference more amusing than disappointing.
Gus is warming up
Although Gus didn’t immediately bond with his new ‘sibling,’ the Arteens are confident he’ll come around. In fact, Gus has already started showing more interest in Macy, often watching her sleep and lying near her during naps.
“He has no issue with us all snuggled up on the couch being right in the middle alongside Macy,” Bryan shared. “He will occasionally come up and give her sniffs and lay his head on the couch right by her. When we are all together as a family, he curls up right next to Macy.”
Related: Mom checks on baby at 3 a.m.—and is stunned to see who’s on the changing table
Internet loves unbothered Gus
The TikTok post has drawn over 560 comments, with users loving Gus’s calm and collected attitude.
User @dogmom23 wrote: “Gus realized she didn’t have any treats for him.”
Another commenter, @aspireforcalm, said: “I aspire to be Gus’ level of unbothered.”
TikToker @nextpls joked: “Gus: thank you, next.”
It seems Gus’s relaxed response has struck a chord with many who can relate to his energy. As one user aptly summed up: “Gus is all of us in dog form.”
The Arteens are cherishing their growing family dynamic—and Gus’s evolution from indifferent to caring big brother will surely bring even more adorable (and viral-worthy) moments.
Related: Benefits of pets for kids actually start during pregnancy, study finds
