A social media video that captures a service dog’s “sneak attack” on his owner has left the internet in hysterics.
The viral video, which has been viewed more than 181,000 times since being shared on TikTok, filmed the Doberman walking towards his owner and surprising them with his presence while they’re busy at work.
“Every time I go to throw away something at work my service dog tries to sneak attack me,” the dog’s owner said in the post.
“Here he comes. He really thinks he’s invisible when he creep walks. Maybe he just likes the high drama this hallway brings,” they added.
Viewers watched as the dog snuck up the warehouse corridor to where his owner was handling cardboard packaging.
The post had been captioned: “It’s one of his favorite games.”
What’s a Service Dog?
As defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, a service animal is a dog that has been trained to perform tasks or do work that directly relates to its handler’s disability or special need. The companion animal is highly trained with excellent manners and a strong sense of obedience.
An animal like the Doberman in the viral clip would work to mitigate the impact of their handler’s disability, thereby increasing safety or independence for them.
Tobias’ owner shares in a different post that the dog is a three-year-old Doberman Pinscher who has been trained to watch out for their dysautonomia, a neurological condition that can affect blood pressure, heart rate and breathing.
The Americans with Disabilities Act only considers dogs, and miniature horses trained to guide people, as official assistance animals. No other animals are considered service animals or get the benefit that service animals do of accompanying their owners in all public spaces.
The service dog, when partnered with one disabled person, is trained to perform tasks that mitigate the effect of that person’s disability
Sharon Wachsler
Sharon Wachsler, the owner and head trainer at At Your Service Dog Training, gave Newsweek a brief explainer on what service animals are trained to do and what rules they follow.
“A disability is a permanent or chronic mental or physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. The service dog, when partnered with one disabled person, is trained to perform tasks that mitigate the effect of that person’s disability,” she said.
Getty Images
“A person with a psychiatric disability, like depression, may have a service dog whose tasks include waking them up so they don’t spend all day in bed, reminding them to take their medication, lying across their legs to help reduce anxiety during a panic attack, or guiding them to an exit or their car if they are experiencing sensory overwhelm,” she added.
What Do the Comments Say?
Since being shared to the social media platform on February 3 by @thatkidwiththedog, the TikTok post has been liked by over 27,000 users and commented on more than 80 times.
“Bless him, his little jump to get you at the end,” one user wrote.
Another user added: “He’s such a tiny little petite baby, didn’t even see him till the very end 10/10.”
“That’s so cute,” a third user shared.
Newsweek reached out to @thatkidwiththedog 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.