When Your Giant Dog Has No Idea How Big He Actually Is
Every large-breed dog owner has experienced it: your 100-pound dog climbs onto your lap, completely convinced he’s the size of a Chihuahua. It’s one of the most endearing — and occasionally chaotic — things about living with a big dog.
For the Parker family, this is everyday life with Herbert, their five-year-old gentle giant dog who has absolutely no concept of his own size. And a recent cuddling session with Dad proved it in the most hilarious way possible.
Meet Herbert: The Gentle Giant Who Thinks He’s a Lapdog
At five years old, Herbert is a fully grown adult dog. But in his heart and mind? He’s still a puppy — and a tiny one at that.
According to his mom, Marybeth Parker, Herbert genuinely believes he’s a five-pound lapdog. He’s incredibly mellow, loving, and obsessed with cuddling. Despite his massive frame, he remains one of the gentlest dogs his family has ever known, always careful and tender when he wants affection.
The problem is that Herbert’s desire for lap time far exceeds his lap-to-body-size ratio — and that mismatch finally caught up with the family in spectacular fashion.
The Recliner Incident: How a Hug Went Hilariously Wrong
Marybeth’s husband, Mitch Parker, has a go-to recliner where he relaxes after a long day. Herbert knows this routine well. Whenever he spots Mitch in the chair, he climbs up for some quality lap time and pets. Usually, this works out just fine — Mitch braces himself, Herbert settles in, and everyone’s happy.
But on this particular day, Herbert decided to switch things up. Instead of his usual gentle hop onto Mitch’s lap, Herbert went in for a full hug. He launched himself upward and planted both front paws squarely on his dad’s chest.
The result was instant and inevitable. Herbert’s weight pushed the recliner backward, and before Mitch could react, he was flat on his back — with a very happy Herbert sitting right on top of him.
Herbert Had Absolutely No Idea What Happened
Here’s the best part: Herbert was completely oblivious to the chaos he’d just caused. While Mitch lay on his back trying to process what had just happened, Herbert stayed perched on top of him, tail wagging, fully convinced the hug had gone exactly as planned.
All Herbert wanted was to love his dad. The tipped recliner? The startled human beneath him? Completely irrelevant details as far as he was concerned.
Mitch, to his credit, took it in stride. He may have been caught off guard by Herbert’s enthusiastic display of affection, but he’s never one to turn down cuddles from his oversized lap dog — even from the floor.
Why Big Dogs Who Think They’re Small Are So Lovable
There’s actually a reason so many large dogs behave like lapdogs. Dogs form their bonding habits as puppies, when they genuinely are small enough to curl up in your lap. As they grow, the behavior sticks — but their awareness of their own size doesn’t always catch up.
This is especially common in breeds known for being a gentle giant dog. These dogs tend to be deeply affectionate and people-oriented, which means they’ll keep seeking that close physical contact no matter how impractical it becomes.
For Herbert, no amount of growth will ever change the fact that his favorite place in the world is right on top of his dad. Recliner stability is just an afterthought.
A Big Dog With an Even Bigger Heart
Herbert may never understand that he isn’t a lapdog. He may keep knocking over furniture in his quest for cuddles. But for the Parker family, that’s exactly what makes him so special.
He’s proof that the biggest dogs often have the biggest hearts — and that sometimes, the best hugs come with a little bit of collateral damage.
Credits to Marybeth Parker
