Neighborhood Kids Give Golden Retriever 'New Name' & It's a Total Doozie

What's in a name? They help define who we are. This is even true for our fur babies, which is why we take great care to name them something that suits them. One Golden Retriever named Haruki has a great moniker, but the neighborhood kids who greet him on his walk each day have something else in mind.

The September 2, 2024 video posted to TikTok by @harukithegolden shows the Golden on his walk as a group of children excitedly decide to "rename" him. What they chose couldn't be any sweeter!

"When the neighborhood kids love seeing you on your daily walks but they have renamed you 'Marshmallow,'" the video says. In the short clip, Haruki is out on his walk when some of his favorite kids run up to him.

"Marshmallow! We missed you!" they shout, running up to the Golden. "We thought we didn't see you today."

The kids then offer up some good pets to show "Marshmallow" how loved he is.

"Just making friends everywhere he goes," the caption says.

In the more than 724,000 likes, a lot of Haruki's devoted followers are thoroughly entertained by this whole situation.

"He's like 'don't ruin this for me, I am now Marshmallow,'" one person joked.  "Don’t embarrass him with his government name. The streets know him as Marshmallow," another said. "The way your doggo grabs his leash so quickly like like a teenager ditching you at drop off," another added.

Others shared the names kids have given their dogs and it's a hilarious commentary.

"The neighborhood kids call my cat 'phat Gus' but his name is Casper," one person wrote.

"My sister has a Great Dane named Atticus and the neighbor kids keep calling him Pancake lol," another added.

"I have a cat named Cheeto. His street name is 'queso' thanks to our neighbors," another posted.

Related: Golden Retriever Walks ‘Forgetful’ Mom to the Treat Jar Like a Real Gentleman

Do Dogs Recognize Their Names?

If you've ever called your dog and they came running, you may have wondered if they recognize their name or just your voice. PetMD explains there is evidence suggesting yes— dogs know their names ! They're smarter than previously thought, but we're not surprised. Some dogs can understand upwards of 150-250 words, and their "mental ability" is comparable to a 2-year-old toddler which is amazing!

Dogs can even learn their names in just one week through positive reenforcement and high-reward treats. Try out different tones, all bright, happy, and encouraging. If they look at you when you say the name, reward them—it's that easy.

Haruki doesn't seem to mind his new nickname and seems to actually enjoy the attention he gets for it. We don't blame him one bit. Whether it's Haruki or Marshmallow, he's a good boy!