"Let's Play, Mister Burglar": Golden Retriever Offers Toys to Intruder

Homeowners Witness Break-In Live from Their Flight
Golden Retriever Approaches Intruder Three Times, Wanting to Play
Greets Arriving Police Officers with a Toy in His Mouth
Suspect Eats from Fridge and Even Takes a Nap

An intruder broke into a house in the United States, but instead of barking or acting threateningly, the Golden Retriever guarding the home persistently approached with a toy in its mouth, inviting the intruder to play. On September 18, Yonhap News TV, citing NBC7 San Diego and the Los Angeles Times (LAT), reported that this so-called “guard dog mission failure” was completely captured on a home security camera, drawing significant local attention.

An intruder entered a home in the United States, but instead of barking or threatening, the Golden Retriever guarding the house kept bringing toys and persistently approached to play together, drawing attention. NBC NEWS

The incident took place recently at the home of Dante Rolly and his fiancée Stephanie Calderon in Sherman Heights, San Diego, California. At that time, the couple was on a flight returning from Chicago to San Diego. As the plane was taking off, they checked the home security camera app and noticed a ladder propped up at the back of the house. The footage showed a man climbing over the fence, taking a ladder stored behind the shed, and using it to enter the house through a slightly open window on the second floor.

Two of their three dogs were at home at the time. Among them, Nash, a 4-year-old Golden Retriever weighing about 90 pounds (around 41 kg), spotted the intruder. However, Nash’s reaction was entirely different from what the homeowner expected. Instead of barking or showing signs of caution, Nash approached the stranger with a toy in his mouth. The security camera captured Nash bringing not just one but three different toys to the intruder, acting as if he was asking him to play. Nash even wagged his tail and lingered around the intruder.

Rolly jokingly stated on a local broadcast that Nash “wasn't exactly a great guard dog.” He explained that although Nash sometimes barks at unfamiliar visitors and he expected him to be wary of the intruder, the dog behaved as if a new playmate had arrived when the person actually entered the house. Far from hurrying, the intruder was seen making himself at home--taking off his shoes and shirt, sitting on a bench near the front door, and opening the refrigerator to eat yogurt, turkey, and cheese. He reportedly even lay down and took a nap afterward.

The Golden Retriever, Nae-shi, approached with a toy in its mouth once again to welcome the "new guests" as the armed police officers entered through the front door. NBC NEWS

While watching the situation unfold on their flight, Rolly and Calderon’s greatest concern was not their belongings but the safety of their dogs. They attempted to use the speaker function on the security camera to coax Nash outside, but Nash refused to leave the intruder’s side. Even while in flight, Rolly notified the San Diego Police and provided them with access to the camera feed in real time. According to follow-up local reports, police arrived within minutes of the report, first deploying a drone to assess the situation inside the house before sending officers inside.

Throughout the ordeal, Nash’s attitude remained the same. As armed police officers entered through the front door, Nash again approached them with a toy in his mouth to welcome the “new guests.” When police entered the home, the intruder attempted to escape through a first-floor bathroom window but was confronted by waiting officers in the backyard and was ultimately apprehended. Fortunately, there was minimal damage. Rolly told LAT that besides some missing food from the fridge and a broken outdoor flowerpot during the intruder's attempted escape, there were no stolen items or significant interior damage. Most importantly, none of the dogs were harmed.

After the incident, Rolly expressed a hope that the intruder would receive the help he needed, though he could not help but laugh at Nash’s “total failure” in his guard dog duties. The incident has sparked reactions locally such as, “Classic Golden Retriever behavior,” and, “Disqualified as a guard dog, but perfect as a friend.”

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