A woman’s attempt to add more calm into her life by getting a dog backfired spectacularly after her miniature dachshund decided to wade into a pond, a moment she filmed and later shared to TikTok, leaving thousands of viewers online in stitches.
The short clip, shared by the pet’s owner under @thelifeoffen on January 8, has been viewed more than 580,000 times, liked over 106,000 times, and has drawn a wave of amused reactions from viewers who found humor in the gap between owners’ expectations and real‑life pet behavior—and this owner’s panicked protests against their dachshund’s stint in the pond.
Viewers were able to see the little dachshund lifting their upper body up in a small pond as his owner screams in the background, “oh my God, get out there right now.”
An overlaid text added more context: “The dog I got to help me with anxiety,” while the caption delivered a punchline: “He’s tryna take me out.”
The chocolate and tan dog, unfazed by the commotion, appeared perfectly content with his decision to enter the water.
The TikTok account behind the post appears to document the daily life, and frequent mishaps, of the miniature dachshund in the clip. The account’s bio, likely set by the canine’s owner, describes him simply as a “full‑time bad boy.”
The pond incident quickly became the account’s most viewed moment, resonating with viewers on the platform who flooded the comments section with laughter and stories of their own unruly pets.
“But it worked! You’ve not had time to think about anxiety have you?” one viewer said.
“Dachshunds are the wrong to help with anxiety. They are high anxiety dogs themselves,” another added.
“Mine has made me cry at least once every day since we’ve had her,” a third viewer said.
A few other commenters noted the familiar irony of turning to an animal for emotional support, only to end up managing their misadventures in a source of fresh stress. Some viewers praised and poked fun at the dog’s confidence, joking that he was clearly in charge.
Dachshunds, originally bred in Germany to hunt badgers, are known for their independence, determination and stubborn streak. Despite their small size, they were designed to make decisions underground without human guidance, a trait that can translate into selective listening and bold behavior in the present day, at home. Trainers often note that dachshunds are intelligent and affectionate, but also famously headstrong, especially when curiosity takes over.
Newsweek reached out to @thelifeoffen for more information via TikTok.
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