Puppy Surprises Owner After Leaving Crate Door Unlocked

Golden Retriever Puppy Stays in Open Crate, Melts Hearts Online

When Maui’s owner forgot to lock his crate one night, she braced herself for the chaos most puppy owners would expect. Instead, the golden retriever pup surprised her with an act of calmness and loyalty that soon went viral.

The sweet moment was captured on a pet camera and later posted to Instagram by @lilgoldenmaui. In the clip, Maui’s paw nudges the crate door open during the night. But rather than sneaking out to wander or make mischief, he simply stretched and curled back up inside, snoozing peacefully.

His owner admitted to a moment of panic the next morning when she saw the crate door wide open. “We had only had him home with us for a week, and when I woke up and saw the door to the crate open, I had a mini heart attack,” she told Newsweek. “But he was right inside!” Reviewing the footage confirmed that Maui never even stood up once the crate door swung open—he felt perfectly safe right where he was.

By morning, she found him with his head resting just outside the crate while his body stayed tucked inside, sleeping soundly. The video struck a chord with viewers, earning over 462,000 views. Many praised the success of his crate training, noting how secure and relaxed he clearly felt. One commenter wrote: “The goal of crate training is to create a quiet, safe space that’s their zen den to get calm and relaxed, not a form of punishment. You’ve accomplished this.” Others laughed at his unusual sleeping positions and applauded his sweet restraint.

For Maui’s owner, the moment was a reminder to always check the crate latch. For Maui, it was just another peaceful night in the safe space he’s already learned to love.

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