For some Labradors, going out for a walk is the highlight of their day and they simply can’t wait to go out and meet new people. But the same can’t be said for Bruce who will do just about anything to get out of walking any further.
When Amy Nicholson volunteered to walk Bruce, her boyfriend’s family dog, she thought they could get in plenty of extra steps and maybe even play a game of fetch if he was up to it. However, that certainly wasn’t what Bruce had planned for his day, and towards the end of the walk he decided he couldn’t possibly take another step and proceeded to fake a leg injury.
Nicholson from Cornwall, United Kingdom, told Newsweek that Bruce started “walking really slowly” once he’d had enough exercise for that day, but even dropping the pace didn’t seem to get the message across. Instead, he decided to take more drastic measures, so he “lifted his paw” up to prevent Nicholson from walking any further.
“I checked his paw over, but after two minutes he was back to normal again anyway. He’s done it a few times now, but he’s just the sweetest boy,” said Nicholson.
@freelance_amy / TikTok
While this instance with Bruce was sheer fakery, the American Kennel Club (AKC) explains that common causes of limping can be a paw injury, joint disease, broken bones, sprains or a ligament tear. There is a key difference between a gradual onset limp and sudden limping, with the latter usually occurring after an injury or trauma.
The AKC adds that gradual onset limps are usually caused by an underlying, chronic, or degenerative condition, such as osteoarthritis or dysplasia. For any owner who is concerned about their dog’s injury or well-being, it’s best to seek advice from a vet.
It was a valiant attempt from Bruce, but unfortunately it didn’t get him out of finishing off the walk that day. Nicholson shared the video on her TikTok account (@freelance_amy) and it instantly went viral with more than 4 million views and over 345,400 likes in a matter of days.
Alongside the clip, Nicholson joked: “You don’t fool me, Bruce! Does anyone else’s dog do this?”
Since the clip was posted, social media users can’t get enough of Bruce trying to “fake a broken leg” to get out of the rest of his walk, and he’s certainly gained plenty of new fans. “Social media has gone crazy, and people have fallen in love with Bruce,” Nicholson told Newsweek.
Indeed, with over 1,100 comments on the viral video, there’s been a lot of support for Bruce and his excellent acting skills. One comment reads: “Hollywood is calling.”
Another person joked: “As Bruce’s [doctor], he definitely needs to lay on the sofa RIGHT NOW with blankies or he risks permanent injury.”
While another TikTok user responded: “My dog does this. Sometimes he forgets what paw hurts and switches between them.”
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.