Watch golden retriever run after school bus to join siblings - USA Today

Back-to-school season hit one golden retriever so hard that he ran after his siblings as they boarded their school bus.

Finley, a 1-year-old retriever, "busted" through his owner's legs and out the front door as his brother and sister left for school in Farmington, New York, according to his owner, Ashley Miller. Video footage shows the pup sprinting through the front yard and toward the school bus as Miller dashes after him.

Miller told USA TODAY on Sept. 11 that the incident was the first time her pet attempted such an adventure, and hopefully the only time.

"He busted through my legs to get the kids," Miller said, adding that her immediate reaction was panic because she feared he could "potentially get hit by the bus."

However, fortunately, Finley slowed down and started wagging his tail as he approached the bus, and Miller realized "this might be a different situation."

"And then I ran even faster because I knew he was going to board that bus because he's so friendly," she said.

Turns out that's exactly what Finley did, though the camera didn't capture the cuddles on the bus.

"He was fully on the bus," Miller said. "The inside of the bus was a completely different story in itself."

Students on the bus welcomed Finley with laughter and petted him, delighting the dog but posing a challenge for Miller, who had to get him off.

"I had to grab the nape of his neck because he also did not have his collar on," Miller said, explaining that at one point she even had to lift the 83-pound retriever down the bus's steps while she was barefoot and in pajamas, which "was quite the challenge."

Finley's little adventure was on brand for the pup, considering he "really loves to play fetch" and is very protective of Miller's children. Miller has a 15-year-old daughter, Madeline, a sophomore in high school, and a 13-year-old son, a seventh-grader.

"I mean, he's a retriever and that's exactly what happened that day," Miller said. "He was going to retrieve them (his siblings) off the bus."

Miller shared that their house has an in-ground pool and "Finley absolutely cannot be outside when we're swimming because he will try and rescue you and the kids."

"When it comes to protecting the kids, all bets are off," Miller said.

That's just one of the things that makes Finley special. Miller said her pet is "beyond loving, very, very friendly," energetic and a "very good listener."

"He's very loyal to us and is great with the kids," she said. "He truly is like their best friend."

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.