Often, humans need a few moments to wake up, and perhaps dogs are no different. That certainly seems to be the case in a viral TikTok video showing a goldendoodle waiting outside a sliding door—despite the fact it is wide open.
The clip, shared by owner Liz (@lizisbethh), shows the pup standing calmly on the other side of the threshold, watching his owner from a few feet away. The only issue? He is waiting for her to open a door that isn’t actually closed.
Since being posted on January 7, the video has earned more than 367,000 views and over 80,000 likes. Liz added text over the clip, explaining: “He fully thinks the slider is closed and is patiently waiting.”
Liz also noted that he watched her walk inside moments earlier—but she gives him a pass. After all, it is 4:30 a.m.
Eventually, the owner moves closer and tells him to “come inside.” Instead of walking in, he jumps forward with his front paws raised, as if bracing himself to push open a door that doesn’t exist.
Are Goldendoodles Smart?
Goldendoodles—a mix of a golden retriever and a standard poodle—come from two breeds consistently ranked among the smartest dogs.
The crossbreed is generally known for being bright and eager to learn, but, like all dogs, their intelligence can be selective—especially before sunrise.
However, it seems this behavior is expected by Liz as she refers to it as “typical goldendoodle activity,” in the caption.
Experts at Hill’s Pets say goldendoodles can take after either parent breed in temperament. Most are intelligent, obedient and incredibly affectionate. They thrive on companionship, tend to get along beautifully with other pets, and are usually gentle around young children, making them a popular family choice.
But even smart dogs have their moments. Goldendoodles are also extremely social, which means they can sometimes be distracted, goofy or overly eager—something many owners find endearing.
TikTok Reacts
So far, the video has racked up almost 1,000 comments, and viewers had plenty to say about the early‑morning mix‑up.
“Something tells me he has ran into that door before!!” one user wrote.
Another added: “I thought ‘nah, he is just being awkward’…then I saw the door jump.”
A third viewer summed it up perfectly: “Sometimes they’re unbelievably smart and sometimes.”
A fourth user agreed: “I watched this far too many times. Literally laughing out loud. This is something my doodle would do.”
Newsweek reached out to @lizthewiz227 for comment via TikTok. We could not verify the details of the case.