Gosta is a dog like any other, with one exception: this English Cocker Spaniel falls asleep anytime and anywhere, completely uncontrolled.
@thecockerspanielpuppy / TikTok
Nearly 27,000 followers follow his daily life through the numerous videos shared on the account TikTok “ @thecockerspanielpuppy » which is dedicated to him. In one of them, posted on September 7, 2026 and totaling 1.6 million views, we can see him running, then suddenly stopping to lie down. This is neither a play posture nor an ordinary pause during the walk; at this point he is asleep.
Gosta is, in fact, narcoleptic. He is therefore subject to sudden episodes of falling asleep. He also suffers from cataplexy, which means he experiences a sudden loss of muscle tone in these moments, which are often triggered by strong emotion or excitement. These “attacks” can also occur when eating.
Here is the video:
In the caption of this publication, his family explains having adopted Gosta when he was 9 weeks old and had, from the start, noticed the symptoms of this neurological disease in him. The diagnosis was confirmed 3 days later: narcolepsy associated with cataplexy.
“Gösta is a puppy who leads a wonderful life”
“ Although the diagnosis may seem scary, it is important to know that the prognosis is good and dogs with narcolepsy often enjoy a good quality of life. Gösta is a puppy who leads a wonderful life », assure his humans.
Maud Descamps spoke about Gosta and its particularity in “ Good morning?! The Morning TF1 », reports TF1 Info. “ I discussed it with Laetitia Barlerin, our veterinarian, who said that it is completely harmless, it is a genetic disease. There is no danger for the dog. The only time it might be annoying for a dog is if it's a working dog: a police dog or the dogs that work with rescuers. Not so for Gösta, who is living his best life “, declared the presenter.
Woopets advice: how to keep a narcoleptic dog safe on a daily basis?
Narcolepsy does not necessarily prevent a dog from leading a normal life, as Gösta demonstrates, but sudden falling asleep and episodes of cataplexy can lead to falls and accidents. A few simple precautions can therefore be useful:
- Secure stairs, balconies and access to a swimming pool or water point, in particular by installing barriers
- Avoid leaving the dog unattended in a place where a fall could be dangerous.
- Identify situations that trigger episodes, such as strong excitement, in order to anticipate them
The objective is not to limit his activities, but to adapt his environment so that he can continue to enjoy his daily life in complete safety. If there is worsening or a change in the frequency or appearance of episodes, a veterinary check-up is recommended.