There’s no denying that senior dogs have a special kind of magic.
With years of experience and personality behind them, they sometimes surprise their owners with the most unexpected habits. And when they decide to get a little mischievous, well, all you can do is sit back, watch, and enjoy the show.
And if any dog knows how to put on a show, it’s definitely Duke, a 10-year-old Golden Retriever from Richmond, Virginia.
His idea of fun is stealing random household items and taking them to bed like prized possessions. But here’s where it gets super funny: nothing, absolutely nothing, in Duke’s home is safe from his “heists!”
Laundry Baskets, Fine China, Trash Cans, You Name It
For Duke, every single item in the house is fair game. Laundry baskets, trash cans, even fine china: if it can be carried, Duke will find a way to make it his.
Cathy Hoyt, Duke’s mom, finds this habit amusing, even though it was probably the reason why Duke was shuffled through several homes in the past.
“Before we adopted Duke, he was shuffled through several different living situations because of his domestic issues. He was finally adopted, and then given up because of resource guarding,” Cathy shared on Instagram.
Today, however, Duke’s living situation looks completely different. Once misunderstood, Duke now lives a life filled with love, laughter, and just a little bit of mischief in Richmond, Virginia.
While most people might try to discourage a dog from stealing, Cathy, Duke’s mom, has learned to find the humor in Duke’s antics.
A post shared by Duke (@lifewithduke2025)
On Duke’s official Instagram page, Cathy shares her dog’s daily “heists,” and so far, it’s been nothing but adorably funny.
Duke steals absolutely everything and makes it his comfort toy: fine china, trash cans, car keys, Cathy’s purse, even her laptop. But here’s where it gets even cuter: he breaks nothing!
A post shared by Duke (@lifewithduke2025)
Duke is extremely gentle in his heists. Once he steals something, he just takes it to his bed and cuddles with it. And that’s about it.
Everyone’s Favorite Furry “Thief”
The funniest part of this Duke’s behavior is, when he decides to take something, he won’t go anywhere without it.
Recently, one of his favorite heists involved the family’s kibble bin, which Duke decided to make his personal comfort object.
“He’s been taking this bin everywhere with him for like a day and a half. There’s hardly any kibble in it but he loves having it. He takes it to every room, he took it to bed, he got up during the night and took it with him to move his position,” Cathy said in the video.
His Instagram followers couldn’t get enough of his quirky charm.
A post shared by Duke (@lifewithduke2025)
“I also carry around emotional support snacks I know I can’t/shouldn’t eat. I love him,” one commenter wrote.
“His emotional support kibble bin. His side kick. His best friend. I could melt,” another added.
A third person chimed in with the perfect observation: “I love how proud he is of himself. It’s nice to see him in a loving home where he feels okay to be proud, when he probably was scolded for his “work” in the past.”
Through it all, Duke’s story has become more than a viral moment. It’s a small reminder of what love can do for a dog who once didn’t have a stable home. But thanks to Cathy and her family, Duke now has it all, and he couldn’t be happier.
