Panic-Stricken Dog Mom Has a Post-Walk Secret - Her Golden Retriever Thinks He's at the Spa
Every dog parent with a golden retriever knows the feeling. The walk was awesome. The weather was absolutely perfect. Now comes the part nobody likes talking about.
The insightful TikTok from @mr_maverickthegolden captures exactly what that quiet part looks like. The caption is simply "Tick season as a golden retriever" and the text overlay confirms what every golden retriever parent already knows: this is a full post-walk production.
Maverick's mama comes inside and immediately starts brushing him down with the intense focused energy of someone who has been here before and is not losing the battle today. Then comes the torch. Mom burns every single tick she finds. Then, she finds the toilet. She flushes them. Every single one.
@mr_maverickthegolden Tick season as a golden retriever #ticks#goldenretriever#goldenretrieverlife#tickseason
original sound - jwills
Maverick's reaction to all of this: pure relaxation. He's not stressed. He's not concerned. He's just a golden retriever receiving what he considers excellent spa services and he has absolutely no complaints about any of it.
The comments understood completely:
"So scary. I'm constantly tweaking over the possibility of ticks"
"I start yelling tick check and they come to me thinking I'll just give them scratches "
"POV: Just got my golden retriever puppy yesterday and now I have a new fear"
"You're just a tick magnet!!"
"He's like 'Girl are you done?' "
That last comment is Maverick's entire personality in four words.
Here's the thing about that post-walk panic though. It is completely, 100% justified.
Why Golden Retrievers Are Especially Vulnerable to Ticks and What Actually Works
Golden retrievers are basically built to be tick collectors and nobody warned you about that when you fell in love with the breed.
According to Majestic Manor Goldens all that beautiful thick fur that makes goldens so cuddly and huggable also makes them a perfect hiding spot for ticks and fleas. Ticks nestle in and stay completely hidden in their fur. And as the source points out: "fleas can lay up to 50 eggs per day." The tiny baby ticks, nymphs, are even more difficult to spot. You can be looking right at one and miss it completely.
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Ticks can pass on Lyme disease which causes joint pain and lethargy in dogs. Healthcare for Pets Hospital notes that parasites are a genuine health risk for golden retrievers and that staying on top of prevention is one of the most important things you can do for the breed.
So what actually works? Majestic Manor Goldens lays out a few solid options. Monthly spot-on treatments go directly on the skin and kill ticks on contact. Chewable tablets work from the inside out. Collars can provide months of protection without any monthly fuss. Your vet is the best source to help you figure out which one fits your dog's lifestyle best.
What to do if you find a tick? Grab fine-tipped tweezers and get as close to the skin as you can. Pull straight up, slow and steady. There should be no twisting and no squeezing. Clean the spot thoroughly afterward and wash your hands.
Maverick did not choose the tick life. He was just born a golden retriever with lush locks.His mom handles it. That's why he gets the spa treatment.
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This story was originally published June 11, 2026 at 7:08 AM.