A golden retriever from West Lothian has captured the internet's attention with her distinctive 'moo' sound, a habit she has maintained since puppyhood and which she uses to communicate with both humans and cows. Lucie, now nine years old, first made the noise at around ten weeks old, according to her owner, Cara Ovens, 36.
From Puppy to Viral Sensation
Cara Ovens began sharing clips of Lucie on her Instagram account, @luciewoos, in 2020. The dog's unique vocalisation, which Cara describes as more of a 'woo' than a full 'moo', gained traction last spring when a short video of Lucie running down the stairs while making the sound went viral. 'It started very early, and it was a bit of a shock – she was about ten weeks old when she first did it,' Cara said. 'It just got more enthusiastic as the years went on, and here we are, nine years later, and she's louder than ever.'
A Unique Communication Method
Despite her unusual sound, Lucie is in perfect health and can also produce a typical bark. Cara believes the dog enjoys the reaction she gets from people. 'I think she learnt that it gets a reaction,' Cara laughs. 'She does many different tones, different volumes, different strengths – I do think it's a communication method above all else.' In one viral clip, Lucie can be seen 'mooing' at a group of cows, who moo back in surprise.
Social Media Stardom
Lucie has amassed nearly 200,000 followers on Instagram. Commenters have been both amused and bemused, with some even suggesting Cara consult a pet psychic to understand the reason behind the noise. Cara said: 'In April last year, I posted a really short video of her running down the stairs – she 'woos' while going down the stairs, so it sounds incredibly daft. That video went way more viral than I could ever have thought. A lot of her followers on Instagram have suggested I speak to one of those pet psychics who tell you what your pet is thinking.'
Spreading Joy
Cara said she started sharing the videos to bring joy to others. 'Most of the time we get comments of people saying how much joy it brings them, which is the reason I decided to start sharing in the first place,' she said. 'She makes me laugh out loud, without fail, every single day. If we can spread that joy a little bit further, that's the goal.'
