See These 22 Cute Baby Ducks Loyally Follow a Puppy as If It's Their Mama

Ducklings have a curious habit of imprinting – basically, they think the first thing they see is their parents. In the short video below, we get to see an absolute swarm of baby ducks following a Saint Bernard puppy. The likely explanation is that these tiny birds have mistaken the little dog as their mom! In all honesty, the pup seems just as confused as the ducklings do. Scroll on to see this hilarious case of mistaken identity for yourself!

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Are Saint Bernards Herding Dogs?

Although this massive breed has been used for herding tasks in the past, they were never bred specifically for it. Originating from a breeding program designed for making the perfect alpine rescue dog, these titans normally prefer other jobs. For example, common responsibilities for Saints include hauling carts and guarding properties. However, they can be taught to assist with herding animals if necessary – they just might take a bit longer to catch the hang of it.

On the topic of their regular duties, Saints are sadly not regularly used for search-and-rescue missions any longer. Their iconic claim to fame largely occurred between the 1700s and 1800s and was in a particular region between Switzerland and Italy. The monks that inhabited the local Great St Bernard Hospice desired a strong dog who could protect them. They later discovered the huge canines had a knack for saving people who were otherwise impossible to track down!

Why Are Ducklings Yellow?

While there are many different colors that baby ducks can exhibit, yellow seems to be the most expected. Film, cartoons, and rubber ducks alike have captured this popular image of the little birds. However, you might be surprised to learn that only several species of duck have the genes capable of producing pure yellow feathers. Just consider a range of breeds, like the eider, mallard, and mandarin ducks. Although yellow markings are present on their offspring, another color is usually mixed in. And, as many of us know, ducks lose this coloration fairly quickly as they mature.

To clarify this mystery, it’s the more domesticated duck breeds are likely to have that one cute, yellow appearance. Their selective breeding over the years has made it incredibly easy to end up with the look! On the other hand, wild ducks are far less likely to have the same genes as their tamer counterparts. This in turn sees wild ducklings in a variety of colors, usually prominently featuring white, black, brown, and tan hues.