A dog has left the internet in stitches after he was busted by his owner for making a mess of his balcony.
In the video shared to TikTok, the 13-month-old pit bull, called Ace, can be seen rolling uncontrollably around on the outdoors couch, knocking off all cushions in his way. That is until his owner caught him in the act and he feigned ignorance to any wrongdoing by pretending to nap.
“POV: dog plays ‘sleep’ when he’s caught acting up,” his owner who uses the Tyler Sabino (@tsab1313), from Los Angeles shared the tickling video on the platform which garnered 36,300 likes and 690,200 views.
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“Yo. Yo, what are you doing? Oh, you were sleeping,” Sabino said to his mischievous pup.
Ace instantly stopped rolling around and pretended to sleep when he clocked on to his owner watching him.
“He always plays ‘dead’ or ‘sleep’ whenever I catch him doing something he’s not supposed to do. He does get really bad zoomies every day at around 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. after his last meal where he’s like bouncing from wall to wall.
“I get nervous, I’m like bro you’re going to injure yourself. He truly, genuinely, does not know how big he is. He always pretends he wasn’t doing anything, he’ll give me like a side eye. He snores loud as hell he is a snorer. He’s like a little grown a** man,” Sabino told Newsweek.
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@tsab1313/@tsab1313
Dogs might pretend to sleep when being told off to avoid conflict or stressful situations, according to Dr. Eloise Bright, an animal behavior specialist and founder of Canberra Behavior Vet.
This behavior is often a response to negative reinforcement, where the dog seeks to escape further reprimand by appearing disengaged or non-threatening. Dogs are sensitive to their owners’ emotions and actions, and pretending to sleep can be a way to diffuse tension and avoid additional scolding, according to the Australian Veterinary Association.
The best way to discipline dogs involves using positive reinforcement, consistency, and clear communication, experts advise.
Owners should ignore unwanted behaviors to avoid reinforcing them, and use calm noise interrupters to stop such behaviors and redirect their pooches to an appropriate activity and praise them for good behavior.
According to the AVA, punishment-based methods such as shouting should be avoided at all costs since they can increase fear and anxiety and harm dogs’ well-being and trust in you, thus damaging the relationship.
Though, Sabino’s soft reaction did not seem to induce anxiety from his pet pooch. Commenters were hysterical over the pup’s fake slumber.
“He was sleep the whole time idk what u talking about,” said Rachell Comme. “Damn near started smiling after too,” said Brandon.
“That’s what pittys do,” said Diana. “That’s what pittys do,” said another commenter.
Some TikTok users were scared that the dog was in a precarious position on the balcony.
“Omggg why is this such an easy balcony for a dog to jump over,” said one user.
For owners wondering how to make their balconies dog-friendly, the American Kennel Club has shared the following advice:
- Install barriers, such as rail guards or screen-door netting, to prevent dogs from squeezing through railings.
- Ensure there is a shaded area to protect your pooch from exposure to the heat and sun.
- Maintain safety by regularly inspecting balconies for hazards such as loose railings.
Sabino said he adjusted his balcony after reading the comments but was adamant Ace would not jump over.
“The truth is, he’s very smart and terrified of heights. 100 percent he’s out there he’s monitored. I never leave the house with the balcony door open,” Sabino added.
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