Cesar Fernanez-Chavez first got his loving Golden Retriever, Louboutina, nearly five years ago when she was just a puppy. Now, her friendly hugs have made her a social media sensation.
Whenever Loubie goes on a walk with her owner Cesar Fernandez-Chavez, it’s never a typical walk.
The incredibly friendly pooch insists on stopping to greet strangers within minutes of hitting the sidewalks — and when they stop to pet her, Loubie loves to hug them by wrapping her forelegs around their knees.
According to Fernandez-Chavez, Loubie learned the behavior all by herself, she just loves cuddling people, which sometimes includes complete strangers.
Because of this, Loubie’s daily walks around New York City are quite the sight.
“It’s just not a regular walk,” Fernandez-Chavez told The Dodo. “It’s a walk with hugging. So we don’t get to go too far.”
Prior to Loubie wanting to give out hugs to people, she wanted to hold hands. That particular hand-holding tradition started way back around on Valentine’s Day in 2014, just after Fernandez-Chavez got out of a long-term relationship.
In an interview with The Dodo, Fernandez-Chavez explained,
“She started sitting up and grabbing my hands with both of her paws, and then crossing the other paw over her paw. I remember joking with my friends, ‘At least I have someone to hold hands with during Valentine’s.’”
It soon became Loubie’s favorite activity, and she quickly began seeking it handholding attention whenever she went out hit the streets of New York.
From then on, every walk, Loubie always wanted to hold hands. It was seemingly a comfort response for her, but passers-by couldn’t help but stop to comment.
Then, a few years later, Loubie started showing her affection in a different way – through hugs.
Instead of insisting on holding hands, she would instead sit very close to Chavez, right near his legs.
She’d then wrap her legs around his knees. At first, Chavez thought it was weird, but allowed to her continue doing it.
And it was from there, her habit of hugging continued. In fact, it only grew stronger.
“She gets a very good grip, depending on where I’m standing. I have to make sure that I’m keeping well-balanced,” Fernandez-Chavez said.
Loubie quickly began to extend her hugs towards others. She clearly enjoyed making friends and spreading love – which is why dogs are just the best.
“We’d run into neighbors that she knew, and instead of just leaning on them, she started hugging them, and then random people who would come to us.”
Loubie quickly became a social media star – people couldn’t get enough of Loubie and her hugs.
Even though Loubie will generously hand out hugs to others, she won’t hug just anyone. She can be very picky sometimes and the precious pooch will only hug those with whom she has a connection.
Sometimes people will run up and ask for a hug, but Chavez explains to them that she needs to bond first. But when she sits next to someone, then it’s much more likely that something will happen.
Loubie seems to love hugging people – she wouldn’t do it if she didn’t. And the people she embraces clearly love it, too.
Here’s the video of the loving golden retriever, Louboutina give hugs and handshakes to people on the street of New York City!
To see more photos of Loubie the golden retriever giving hugs, you can follow her Instagram page.
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