Golden Retriever From New York Stuns The World With His Talent And Lands In Guinness Records
Dogs have a way of turning ordinary moments into something joyful without even trying. Their silly routines, big personalities, and unfiltered happiness make life feel lighter.
From spinning in excited circles to proudly parading a favorite toy like it’s priceless, they find endless ways to make us smile. But one dog in New York takes that joy to a whole new level.
Meet Finley, a golden retriever from Canandaigua whose unusual talent has people everywhere doing a double take. And once you discover what he can do, it’s easy to see why so many hearts belong to him.
Finley, like any other good boy, loves to play with tennis balls, or as his owner Shirley explained in an interview:
“Well, really any ball, but mostly tennis balls because that’s what we have.”
What makes Finley truly stand out is that he doesn’t settle for an ordinary game of fetch. Instead, he takes it to an entirely new level.
When the last ball has been thrown and the game seems over, Finley refuses to stop.
Shirley explains that he gathers every single ball he can find, scoops them all into his mouth, and struts proudly around the yard, showing off his impressive collection.
This sweet canine tennis ball enthusiast knows how to have fun all by himself – he doesn’t need his humans to play with him. As Shirley explained:
“If we’re busy doing something, he knows how to entertain himself. So when I tell him, ‘Okay, go lie down now,’ he’ll go to the side of the yard, and he’ll usually have multiple balls in his mouth. And he lay on his back and put them up and then drop them into his mouth – like he’s playing catch with himself!”
How amazing is that? My own dog could never come up with something like that! Just look at him play – he’s adorable!
Finley typically carries four to five tennis balls in his mouth at once. And according to Shirley, he does it to brag, haha! Shirley added:
“When he has them in his mouth, it’s as if he’s trying to show off, like ‘Look at me!’ He’s very proud!”
Every so often, Finley pulls off something that leaves his family amazed—he manages to cram six tennis balls into his mouth at once.
One day, Shirley’s daughter Erin laughed that this had to be some sort of world record. Curious, she did a bit of research, and what she uncovered was quite surprising…
Erin’s research revealed that the Guinness World Record was already held by another golden retriever in Texas, who could carry five tennis balls at once.
Realizing Finley could do even better, she submitted his story to Guinness, hopeful that his special skill would earn recognition.
And after three years of waiting, the news finally came. Guinness officially confirmed Finley’s record and mailed the certificate for “most tennis balls held in a dog’s mouth” straight to Canandaigua, New York.
Finley’s family was bursting with pride over his big achievement. To celebrate, they hosted a party in his honor, complete with all the neighborhood dogs joining in on the fun.
It turned out to be an unforgettable day filled with wagging tails and happy faces. Honestly, I can’t help but wish I’d been there too!
Aside from his love for tennis balls, Finley has a second obsession: Stuffed toys. However, according to his mom, those are strictly for indoor play:
“When I open the door for him to come inside, he will have a ball in his mouth, and he will immediately drop it because he knows balls are outside, stuffed toys are inside.”
I’m really glad I came across this silly, lovable pup. His unique talent is nothing short of amazing, and it’s wonderful to see him officially recognized as a Guinness World Record holder.
If you want to see more of this adorable dog, be sure to follow him on Instagram!
