Most of us love to collect things—whether it’s stamps, coins, rocks, or even insects. But guess what? Collecting isn’t just a human thing. This adorable dog proves it!
Meet Bruce, a 4-year-old golden retriever with a unique hobby. His passion? Collecting sticks.
Bruce’s owner, Leo Icenhour, remembers how it all began. It was a snowy winter day, and Bruce’s favorite stick got buried under 12 inches of snow. No matter how hard Bruce searched, he couldn’t find it.
“He started his collection after that big snowstorm,” said Icenhour. “He only had one stick at the time, and it was his favorite. When it snowed that night, he left the stick outside. Over the next few days, Bruce was in a frenzy trying to find it. He dug everywhere, even burying his head in the snow!”
Now, Bruce has over 50 sticks in his collection, all gathered during his daily walks.
Even though he’s not allowed to play with them (he can only play with rubber toys), Bruce is proud of his sticks! There’s no rule for the size or shape of the sticks he collects, and each one seems to have its own story.
After losing his favorite stick, Bruce never wanted to be without one again.
“After a few sunny days, the snow melted enough for him to find his stick,” Icenhour recalled. “I think from that moment on, Bruce decided he’d never be without a stick, and that’s when his collection began.”
But Bruce’s love for sticks comes with a history. On his 2nd birthday, he almost lost his life when a stick perforated his esophagus during a game of fetch. From that day, his family switched to rubber sticks for playtime, and Bruce started collecting instead.
Bruce always sneaks off to gather sticks from the woods. Though he isn’t allowed to bring them inside, he keeps them proudly displayed in a special area outside.
“As a dog, Bruce is pure ‘happy-go-lucky.’ He’s always eager to please and loves being the center of attention,” Icenhour shared. “He goes everywhere with me, and we both love nap time (aside from fetch, of course). And, like many other dogs, peanut butter is his absolute favorite!”
Every year for Bruce’s birthday, also known as “Bruce-A-Pa-Looza,” Icenhour makes him a juicy double cheeseburger, which Bruce devours in seconds.
Recently, Bruce and his stick collection have gone viral, capturing hearts on Reddit, Imgur, and other news outlets.
“Am I surprised that Bruce is an internet sensation? Not at all,” said Icenhour. “He’s the light of my life, and I’m so proud of him. He’s the moon to my stars, the peanut butter to my jelly.”
Bruce even has a best friend—Lily, a rescued raccoon. “I found Lily when she was just 4 weeks old. She and Bruce have been inseparable ever since. They wrestle and chase each other around the house, and it’s the most beautiful friendship I’ve ever seen.”
Bruce’s story proves that having a hobby makes life more joyful. With over 100,000 views and 11,000 upvotes across Reddit and Imgur, his stick collection has captured the world’s attention.
And the internet? They can’t get enough of this good boy and his amazing collection!
