A video of a dog appearing “disappointed” in his owner for being “a little busy” and unable to sit with him has gone viral on TikTok.
The video was posted by @wilsonandwalterjoao and has had over 745,000 views since it was posted five days ago.
A voice in the video says, “Walter, why are you mad?…” as the footage shows a large dog—who is a silver Labrador, according to a later comment from the poster—sitting up on a couch while staring blankly towards the camera.
The voice says again, “Why are you mad?…Walter,” as the dog remains silent as he gazes straight ahead to the side of the camera.
“Okay, I’m just a little busy right now and then I’ll come sit with you,” the voice says as the pup slightly turns his head away from the camera.
“Stop being so dramatic,” the voice continues, as the canine adjusts his position while remaining upright on the sofa before laughter is heard as the clip ends.
Can Dogs Get Mad at Us?
Our canine companions can feel upset, as they’re highly perceptive beings that are capable of sensing emotions and reading the facial expressions of humans.
Research has shown that dogs use their hearing and sight to correspond happy and angry human faces with happy and angry vocalizations, explained Stephanie Gibeault, a certified personal dog trainer, in an April 2018 article for the American Kennel Club.
Canines are also even able to distinguish “intentional actions from unintentional behavior,” according to a September 2021 study published in Scientific Reports.
However, while dogs can exhibit certain behaviors that may seem like they’re resulting from anger, “these are simply instincts to protect themselves or actions to satisfy themselves, that the human does not always understand,” professional dog trainer and behaviorist Sally Grottini told Newsweek in June 2023.
Pet behavior expert and celebrity dog trainer Travis Brorsen previously told Newsweek: “People may wonder if their dog is angry at them and holding a grudge. But that’s not how dogs’ minds and emotions work. The truth is, dogs aren’t humans.”
If you’re wondering whether pup is angry, Brorsen advises doing a self-assessment, asking yourself, “How am I feeling right now?”
He explained that owners should consider what message they’re sending with their body language and tone of voice because that’s what your pet is responding to.
Brorsen said: “Dogs learn to express a certain body posture in response to your energy and even to a certain look on your face. If you get mad at your dog because he ate your shoe, your dog will see and hear your emotions.”
Your pup “may look sad and cower” and “we might assume it’s guilt because that’s what we might relate to,” he added, noting “but that’s us projecting our human emotions onto them.”
iStock / Getty Images Plus
‘Side Eye’
Users on TikTok were in stitches over the dog’s reaction in the viral clip.
You’ve Got It Maid noted: “The adjusting himself with side eye!”
Jessika said: “Walter’s side eye say ‘girrrl..you know DAMN well why I’m mad…'”
Iriss0004 wrote: “Walter, you’re killing me with those eyes!”
Paul Carr said: “I love when he rolls his eyes at you,” and the original poster replied: “Hahaha the king of that.”
Leslie Thompson noted: “He’s not mad, just disappointed. He thought you loved him… maybe if you gave him a treat, he’d feel loved??” The original poster replied: “He certainly gets those.”
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok. This video has not been independently verified.
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.