Keeping dogs occupied usually entails having plenty of toys that they can sink their teeth into. However, that's become a problem for one golden retriever, who is terrified of his own toy basket.

Dog owner Abby Brumbelow, 23, knew that her 2-year-old golden retriever Gus was afraid of cardboard boxes, grocery bags, and balloons, but he's recently unlocked a whole new fear.

It became clear that Gus was reluctant to get too close to his basket of toys, as Brumbelow tells Newsweek he's developed "a true fear" of it. He wouldn't dare rummage around for his favorite toys, as the woven basket is far too scary for his liking.

Brumbelow, from Atlanta, had to come up with an unusual new method any time her pup wants a toy from the basket—as she jokes that they go "toy shopping" instead.

"On occasion, he'll grab a toy that's at the top of the basket, but he's quick to get it and then he runs away," Brumbelow said. "He usually sticks to a bone and a ball that stay out of the basket, so I don't have to go toy shopping too often.

"He's always been scared of new things or large items, and when he was a puppy, he was even scared of his food bowl. I will say that he demands his toys mainly when I work from home, probably because he just wants the attention."

It's not uncommon for dogs to develop new fears, especially when they're young and learning about the world around them. The American Kennel Club (AKC) previously explained that dogs have two key fear periods, with the first usually occurring between 8-11 weeks, and the second at around 6-14 months of age.

The AKC suggested that dogs may become fearful of harmless or inanimate objects, but should eventually overcome this and get more confident.

In some instances, the fear can last longer, and owners may need to step in to help their nervous dog out. This can be done through desensitization and counterconditioning techniques.

This can include giving them rewards while exposing them to the object that scares them to give them a positive emotional response. Alternatively, it can be training them to swap out a negative response, such as barking, for a positive one, such as lying down.

The idea of counterconditioning or desensitizing is to help dogs grow accustomed to the stimulus that normally makes them fearful. By gradually increasing the exposure and giving them rewards each time, it can change their reaction from an anxious one to a joyful one.

The Social Media Reaction

Now, whenever Gus wants a toy and he isn't brave enough to get it himself, he will sit in front of Brumbelow and whine until she walks over to the basket instead.

She shared a hilarious clip on TikTok (@retrievernamedgus) on June 19, showing the hilarious toy shopping routine that has become "an everyday thing." The clip delighted social media users, and in just a matter of days, it's already been viewed over 442,000 times and gained more than 48,100 likes.

While Brumbelow often posts videos on TikTok showing Gus's unpredictable antics, she's been amazed by the response to this particular clip.

She told Newsweek: "I've always joked about how he's scared of everything, so I decided to share his toy basket routine after he approached me for the third time in a day searching for something.

"I was shocked that so many people thought it was as humorous as I did, and I loved reading the comments from other pet owners with similar stories."

The quirky routine has certainly captured attention since it was shared. With over 200 comments on the post so far, many people offered Brumbelow their advice to help Gus overcome his anxiety, while others jokingly defended his irrational fears.

One comment reads: "Okay, my dog does the same thing and if I tip the basket on the side, she will usually go in and find what she's wanting."

Another person responded: "Sounds like my golden, they're scared of the most random things."

While another TikTok user jested: "Maybe the basket leads to Narnia and he's not trying to go there."

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.