A rescue dog named Goose appeared heartbroken after watching his owner pack up her New York City apartment, seemingly convinced he was being left behind—until he realized he was coming along for the move to Chicago.
The 1-year-old German shepherd and Great Pyrenees mix feared his time with his owner, Courtney Tushaus, had come to an end after she began boxing up the apartment ahead of the move. Tushaus previously told Newsweek that Goose was adopted from Muddy Paws Rescue in August 2025 after being transported from Bowling Green-Warren County Humane Society in Kentucky.
Goose quickly became a neighborhood celebrity in New York City, regularly stopping to greet shopkeepers and front-desk staff during walks. But as moving boxes piled up around the apartment, he grew visibly gloomy, appearing to think he was being left behind.
In an April 24 TikTok video posted to @goose_the_goober_, which can be viewed here, the dog sat beside her with his head lowered or tucked into his paws. He cuddled close to her as if pleading to stay with her. It was not until the car ride to Chicago and their arrival at the new apartment that Goose appeared to realize he was part of the move after all.
She wrote on the screen that “he’s happier than ever,” as the video showed Goose proudly parading down the hallway of his new apartment with his tail wagging. The pup repeatedly glanced back at Tushaus, seemingly making sure she was still following close behind, with a smile never leaving his face.
The pair moved from a 250-square-foot apartment to a significantly larger space in Chicago at 1,000 square feet. Unsure what to do with the space, Goose continued to move around in awe.
Newsweek reached out to @goose_the_goober_ via TikTok for additional information and comment.
While dogs may not fully understand the concept of moving, they are highly sensitive to changes in routine and can recognize “departure cues” associated with an owner leaving, such as packing or picking up keys. An article from dvm360 states that some dogs can become visibly distressed before the owner even leaves, showing behaviors such as withdrawal, restlessness or appearing “downcast.”
The moment quickly struck a chord on social media as TikTok users flooded the comments section with relief and emotion, celebrating the happy update Tushaus shared. The clip has reached nearly 514,000 views and 107,000 likes as of Monday afternoon.
One user pointed out: “The way he keeps checking behind him to make sure you’re still following.”
Another wrote: “That’s a dog who remembers every moment of his abandonment. Thank you for giving him love.”
And a third user posted: “I hate that we can’t explain these things to them.”
Tushaus mentioned in the comments section this is the happiest she has seen Goose since adopting him.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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