Most dogs love to play. It’s one of their favorite things, and they never seem to get tired of it no matter their age.
They spend hours going for walks or playing games like fetch, which are great for keeping them mentally engaged.
Still, some dogs may hold back around more active or faster dogs, unsure if they can keep up.
Take Zoey, a sweet Labrador from North Carolina, who enjoys playing, but usually stays back while her faster siblings take the lead.
Zoey’s Unexpected Grab
Zoey’s parents knew she liked to hang back while her siblings, Zayda and Zillo, played together, but they still made sure to include her.
She usually didn’t bother chasing the ball, since she knew she couldn’t get there first. Most of the time, she just waited patiently, even if it didn’t lead anywhere.
But watching from the sidelines didn’t seem to bother her. Her parents could see she was happy just observing the fun.
One day, though, her dad tossed the ball, and it landed just right for Zoey to catch it.
Her parents saw it happen and were amazed. Zoey turned and gave them a stunned look, clearly surprised herself.
Once she noticed her parents were proud, she brightened up and looked pleased with herself.
Internet Responds With Joy
After the family from North Carolina captured Zoey’s big moment, they decided to upload the video to TikTok.
Naturally, people loved it, and the comments came pouring in.
One viewer said: “The delayed reaction while everyone, including Zoey, wondered where the ball went.”
You could instantly tell that even Zoey needed a second to realize she had the ball.
Another person said: “So cute lmao, it’s like it accidentally bounced into her open mouth.”
This really was one of those rare moments where everything just fell into place.
Someone else wrote: “This is so true. I have two border collies and one rescued stray. Every now and then she surprises us like this.”
It’s nice to know other families have seen similar moments. Until reading that, I hadn’t realized how common it was.
Either way, it’s clear that Zoey’s parents go out of their way to make sure she feels included, and it’s heartwarming to see how proud she was when she realized what she’d done.