Gus, a 2-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog, can’t catch a break or a treat. In a short Instagram video that has now racked up 254,000 views, Gus tries and fails to catch a snack tossed by his owner. Every single time!
Gus became an instant internet name after the video was posted by @waltandgusthebernese on June 25. In the video, he sits patiently as his owner tosses him a treat, only to let it hit him square on the nose. No reaction. Another one falls to the floor. Still nothing.
Walter, lounging beside him, casually catches every toss like it’s second nature. Gus fumbles, Walter shines, and together they somehow make it comedy gold.
“There is truly no hope for him,” the caption reads, with affectionate resignation. That tone helped make the video feel more like a moment shared between friends than a polished pet promo.
The video crossed 250K views within days. Some of the best responses came from the comments section. One said, “My dog is the same, and it is cute and sad.” Another added, “Gus is the perfect name for him.” The replies were warmly amused, like watching a toddler try to high-five the air.
Netizens Love Gus’s Clumsy Behavior and Cute Looks
waltandgusthebernies / Instagram / Commenters joke that Gus will “survive on his good looks alone.” They praise the 2-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog’s beauty!
Part of why this clip landed is Gus’s timing–or lack of it. He doesn’t react too fast or too slow. He just kind of blinks. The treat is already gone by the time he seems to realize it was for him. The pauses between toss and reaction add to the awkward charm.
It is essential to note here that Bernese Mountain Dogs are not exactly known for agility. They are big, fluffy, and famously gentle. Gus fits the profile. Watching that much fluff attempt coordination and come up short is funny without being mean-spirited. It is clumsily done in the kindest way possible.
“Gus” is one of those names that already sounds slightly clumsy. It is short, soft, and a little goofy. That is probably why so many commenters pointed it out. You can almost hear the name being said with a sigh after every bounce-off-the-nose.