Most dog owners have plenty of terms they use to describe their pet (bed hogger, dog child, best friend all spring to mind), and one woman has left the internet in stitches with her vivid description of all her canine’s different personality traits.
When Emma Fagerberg got her Yorkshire terrier named Lilo back in December 2020, she was hoping for a dog who would always keep her entertained. But she has since learned that Lilo is so much more than just that, and in a viral TikTok video (@yorkielilo), she wrote that the pup is also “a stalker, a boyfriend stealer, a travel buddy, a colleague” and, most importantly, an attention-seeker.
Wherever Fagerberg goes, Lilo is sure to follow, but the 30-year-old loves that she is never alone. She told Newsweek that they have the best relationship she could have ever wished for.
After posting the clip revealing all of Lilo’s quirky habits in March, it went viral and has already gained over 3.5 million views and more than 274,000 likes on TikTok so far. Alongside the video, the caption reads that “she is everything is one little body.”
@yorkielilo / TikTok
Fagerberg, from Sweden, said: “She has always followed me everywhere, since day one really. Whether it’s the bathroom, kitchen, the balcony, wherever.
“My favorite things about her are that she’s so cuddly, loves to be close to me at all times, and even sleeps on me sometimes. She’s really easy to take with me anywhere I go, so I never travel without her. She goes absolutely everywhere with us, from restaurants, shopping, the hairdresser, and the nail salon.”
Fagerberg may not have expected to get such a clingy dog who stays by her side at all times, but this is something that many dogs are guilty of doing, and the American Kennel Club (AKC) says that it is down to their animal instincts.
Clinginess in dogs can be due to their pack mentality, as they never want to leave each other’s side for safety. Alternatively, it may be a sign that they imprinted as a young pup and see their owner as the leader, almost like a motherly figure whom they look up to. The AKC adds that it is a common habit for dogs to follow their primary caregiver, who provides them with food and walks, or the playful owner who gives them attention and, most importantly, the treats.
So, some owners prefer the term Velcro dogs, while Fagerberg prefers to call Lilo a stalker, but it’s all in jest.
“There is nowhere she won’t follow me to, but I love that she’s my forever soulmate and the best thing that ever happened to me,” Fagerberg told Newsweek.
The clip of Lilo has amused and delighted plenty of TikTok users, which Fagerberg believes is because so many owners can recognize their own dogs in the video. The viral post has already amassed more than 2,300 comments. One person wrote: “that’s not a dog, that’s a baby.”
Another person responded: “I also have a Velcro pup. They are awesome!”
A third comment reads: “Stage 4 clingers but so worth it.”
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.