A foster dog named Odyss, who lives in Australia, has won hearts and prompted laughter across the world, after a TikTok video showed him faking a paw injury to avoid a walk.
The video, shared by the dog’s foster mom @sabinanaprelac on April 13, has already amassed over 280,000 views, highlighting the measures that some cunning canines will take to stay a bit longer in the comfort of a soft and warm car seat.
The playful display starts with Odyss comfortably seated in the car, seemingly not distressed by his paw. However, as the prospect of departing the car and going on a walk becomes imminent, his demeanor swiftly changes.
The golden retriever quickly raises his left paw, to indicate that it is sore and painful. He then switches up by choosing to frame his right paw as the poorly one, and raises that instead, leading his fosterer to doubt the truthfulness behind his actions.
“He didn’t want to get out of the car so he pretends to hurt his paw/s,” Sabrina Naprelac, said. She captioned the post: [Don’t worry] he made it out safe and sound.”
Odyss’ charming ruse has not only entertained viewers but also sparked a broader conversation about the intelligence and emotional complexity of dogs.
Some TikTokers have felt compelled to share similar stories. One user, @heypollyau, commented, “[I] spent $700 at the vets once for my boy limping making sounds. He recovered immediately at the vets to find out there was nothing wrong with him. He’s just a chihuahua.”
“My bulldog used to randomly put on a limp so he would get extra treats, then he would forget which leg he was limping on,” another user, @melissahurley13, added.
@sabrinanaprelac
“Definitely sore I forget what happened but I seen it happen from the comfort of my lounge room,” a third user, @bradc2023, joked.
A different pet account, @parker_riverdog, drew attention to how Odyss’ “ouchie” suspiciously transfers from one “pawsies” to another.
Despite the humor in the playful antics of these pups, veterinarians always caution owners to be attentive to their pets’ feelings. They urge owners who suspect their pet may not be well to pay a visit to their veterinary center for a check up.
Newsweek reached out to @sabrinanaprelac for more information via TikTok.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.