A video of a dog enjoying a blissful "dream life" at sea has gone viral on Instagram.
The video, which shows a dog enjoying a swim, was shared by @derekgrenada and has garnered 3.9 million views since it was first posted on July 23.
According to hashtags accompanying the post, the footage was taken on the Caribbean island of Grenada. It features a pup named Yoda, described by the poster as "a Grenadian street dog rescue."
A caption shared with the post says, "Yoda climbing back on-board after playing in the beach."
The clip shows Yoda swimming up to a boat and walking up a small set of stairs attached to it. The dog calmly waits on the stairs while a man rinses him off with water. Overlaid with the message, "When it's time to come inside and you live in a boat," it ends with Yoda shaking off the water before heading onto the boat deck.
In a later comment, the poster said there are "four dogs on board and all swim several times a day." They added that they're "as comfortable swimming as walking."
While Yoda's life may seem like a dream come true, experts advise that not every dog is suited to swimming.
Swimming is a great form of exercise, particularly for canines with stiff or painful joints, and it helps keep them cool in hot weather. However, "not every dog is a water baby," warned the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals, a United Kingdom-based veterinary charity. The PDSA notes that breeds with short legs, like corgis, or short noses, like pugs, might find swimming challenging.
VCA, one of North America's largest animal hospital chains, further advises that dogs should be checked by a veterinarian for conditions such as arthritis, heart disease or epilepsy before they go swimming, as these can make the activity risky. They also emphasize the importance of supervision, warning that "even a regular swimmer can get into trouble if they encounter strong currents or can't figure out how to exit a pool."
For the pups that do enjoy the water, certain areas are safer for swimming than others. The PDSA recommends lakes, dog-friendly beaches, slow-moving rivers, and private swimming pools as ideal spots for dogs to swim safely.
'Living His Best Life'
The viral post has attracted a storm of comments on Instagram, with users expressing their admiration for the dog's idyllic lifestyle. One commenter, @paulabeshara, marveled at the dog's intelligence, writing "What a smart doggie! Just stood there waiting to take a shower!" Another user, @trueobelisk, commented, "Waiting to be washed off from salt water. Smart boy!"
Instagram users also noted the dog's apparent joy and contentment. "What a smart dog!! He seems to be living his best life," wrote @hannahroamswild, while @sammysage20 commented, "Yoda has a GOOD life."
The sentiment was echoed by @starsaparilla, who said, "This dog has a great life!!!! Better than all the other dogs trapped in tiny apartments and concrete jungles!"
Others were inspired by Yoda's seemingly carefree life. "New life goal... living on a boat with doggies," commented @pinoy_joe, and @chelseanotchelss agreed, saying, "That's the life I want."
User @emmalubben said, "What a beautiful angel!! Living his dream life!"
Newsweek reached out to the original poster for comment via Instagram. This video has not been independently verified.
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