Golden Retriever Puppy Meets Mirror For First Time — Cannot Handle It

At 8 weeks old, a golden retriever puppy named Waffle encountered many things for the first time: grass, stairs, the concept of puddles. But nothing — nothing — prepared him for the mirror in his new family’s hallway. The 90-second video captured by his owner Kelly Park has become the most-watched puppy video of the year, and it’s not particularly close.

The Encounter, Second By Second

0-10 seconds: Waffle notices something in the mirror. Stops. Tilts head approximately 45 degrees to the left. 10-20 seconds: Approaches slowly. The puppy in the mirror also approaches. This is concerning to Waffle. 20-35 seconds: Waffle stops. Mirror-Waffle stops. Waffle tilts head right. Mirror-Waffle tilts head right. Waffle stares directly into the existential abyss. 35-50 seconds: Waffle barks once, very small. Mirror-Waffle barks back silently. Waffle does not appreciate this. 50-70 seconds: Waffle attempts to go around the side of the mirror to find the other puppy. There is no puppy. Returns to front. Puppy is back. How. 70-90 seconds: Waffle sits down in front of the mirror and stares at his reflection with an expression of profound philosophical resignation. Kelly can be heard laughing off-camera until she cries.

The Internet’s Verdict

“He looked into himself and didn’t like what he found,” reads the top comment. “Same, Waffle. Same.”