And now that spring is finally coming, you may be wondering… when do butterflies start showing up again? Apparently, right on a Golden Retriever’s forehead.

This little Golden Retriever puppy is outside when a Monarch Butterfly gently lands directly between his eyes. Not on his ear. Not on the grass. Right in the center, like it scheduled the appointment. And instead of panicking, flinching, or doing the classic puppy snap-at-the-air routine, he goes completely still. Not “confused still.” Intentionally still. Like he understands the assignment.

The TikTok user @thegoldenlifeofcharlie_ shared the precious moment with the caption, “Charlie wants to introduce you all to his new friend!” and the friendship energy is honestly off the charts.

You can see him trying to get a better look without actually moving. Just tiny eye adjustments. Deep concentration.

Related: Cockatoo Adorably Reads Her Talking Book and Gets Excited Every Time She Hears ‘Butterfly’

“You can tell he’s trying to get a better look at the butterfly! How cute.”

“So tiny, so cute, so perfect! I’m in love.”

“Awwww, this is so cute. He’s being so patient.”

“Butterflies know a friend-shaped thing when they see it.”

“Love seeing this!! Charlie is being so gentle.”

And that’s the part that gets me. The gentleness. Golden Retrievers have this way of defaulting to soft, sweet babies. Even when a literal bug lands on their face.

If a butterfly, or like, honestly, even a mosquito, landed on our Pomeranian Kingston, he would call the police. Full panic mode. Emergency response. We would never hear the end of it. Meanwhile, my Maine Coon Meatball would probably just attempt to sit on it, like that solves anything. Different coping strategies in this here household.

Charlie, though? He’s just… chill. Which feels almost unrealistic in a puppy. It’s like watching a toddler resist the urge to grab a fistful of frosting.

There’s something about the symmetry of it all, too. The butterfly perched perfectly between his eyes. The golden fur. The stillness. It feels like one of those moments that shouldn’t happen but somehow does.

And yes, I would have absolutely ruined it by gasping too loudly. Just sayin’.

When’s the Best Time To See Monarch Butterflies?

Xerces.org explains, “Every year as it gets colder, North American Monarch Butterflies migrate south between August and October. Monarchs that spend the summer breeding west of the Rocky Mountains tend to migrate to the California coast, while Monarchs breeding further east migrate to Mexico.”

Peak Monarch activity depends on location, but late spring and early fall are especially active times as they migrate between breeding and overwintering grounds. Warm, sunny days with blooming flowers increase your chances of seeing them.

Because, since last year, I suddenly started to become a gardening-type person (I’ll let you know how that works out this year), if you want to attract Monarch Butterflies to your yard, planting milkweed and nectar-rich flowers can make a big difference. Just maybe keep your Golden Retriever puppy nearby in case a “new friend” needs a landing spot.

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This story was originally published by Parade Pets on Feb 17, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add Parade Pets as a Preferred Source by clicking here.