Just the sight of a leash is enough to send many dogs into a frenzy, but one golden retriever has put a unique spin on zoomies by taking them upward.
Five‑year‑old Captain has gained popularity on TikTok after his owner shared a clip (@thegoldencaptain) showing him literally jumping for joy as she holds his blue lead. The video’s caption reads, “When the zoomies hit but vertically,” as Captain repeatedly springs into the air, barely able to contain his excitement.
The reason behind his enthusiasm is revealed in on‑screen text. “POV [point of view]: Mom says she’s going to get a coffee which means I get a pupcup,” it says. The clip had earned over 3,700 views, at the time of writing.
A “pup cup” is typically a small cup filled with whipped cream, allowing dog owners to enjoy a coffee stop with their pets in tow. While the treat has become popular, experts warn it isn’t suitable for every canine.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) says dogs can drink milk in small amounts, but only occasionally. Many pups are lactose-intolerant, and even small quantities can cause stomach upset, including gas, diarrhea or vomiting.
Milk is also high in fat and sugar, which can contribute to obesity or pancreatitis. The AKC advises owners to choose alternative treats and consult a veterinarian before adding new foods to a dog’s diet if symptoms occur.
That doesn’t appear to be an issue for Captain. His owner said in the comments that pup cups are his “favorite time of the day!”
“They know what time it is,” one user wrote, to which the owner replied: “Yes always.”
The exchange taps into a question many dog owners have wondered about: can canines tell the time?
The AKC points to research showing that animals can learn to sense how long they need to wait, thanks to a newly identified group of brain cells. The study, published in Nature Neuroscience, found these cells activate when an animal pauses, functioning much like an internal timer.
In the study, mice were trained to stop for six seconds at a certain spot before moving on to receive a reward. Even after the visual cue was removed, the mice continued to wait for the same amount of time. Brain scans showed that one set of cells turned off when the mouse stopped, while a different set activated to track the wait.
Experts say the findings help explain everyday behaviors dog owners already recognize. Pups often seem to know when it is time for walks, meals or bedtime, but researchers stress this sense of timing isn’t instinctive. Instead, it is learned through routine and repetition.
That learning may explain why Captain knows exactly what a coffee run means and why the promise of a pup cup is enough to send him bouncing straight into the air.
Newsweek is waiting for a comment from @thegoldencaptain.