A Staffordshire terrier’s polite but persistent behavior has sent TikTok users into hysterics, racking up almost 5 million views.
The footage shows nine-year-old Chloe, a black dog, sitting directly in front of her owner Mo, who is about to tuck into a Chinese meal, holding a paper plate carefully in her mouth.
Text layered over the video (@mo_andchlo) reads: “how am I supposed to explain to my dog that she can’t have Chinese food when she literally brings me her plate to put food on it,” a moment that has resonated with viewers and helped the clip amass more than 804,000 likes, at the time of writing.
According to a Pew Research Center survey, Chinese establishments are by far the most common type of Asian restaurant in the U.S., with nearly four‑in‑10 Asian restaurants (39 percent) serving Chinese food.
A 2015 survey by the National Restaurant Association of 1,000 adults found that more than one‑third of respondents, 36 percent, ate Chinese food at least once a month, while another 42 percent said they ate it a few times a year. However, more recent data from the National Restaurant Association suggests that Southeast Asian food has grown more popular in recent years.
While Chinese food may be a firm favorite among people—and tempting for dogs watching from below the table—experts warn that many takeaway ingredients can be harmful to pets.
Can Dogs Eat Chinese Food?
Newsweek has previously reported on human foods dogs shouldn’t eat, including ingredients commonly found in Chinese food, such as garlic, which is about five times more potent than onion and can be especially harmful to Japanese breeds like the akita and shiba inu.
Symptoms of ingestion can include pale gums, elevated heart rate, weakness and collapse. “Poisoning from garlic and onions may have delayed symptoms, so if you think your dog may have eaten some, monitor him or her for a few days, not just right after consumption,” the American Kennel Club (AKC) notes.
Veterinarians generally recommend all mushrooms should be treated as poisonous for dogs due to it being difficult to decipher which ones are toxic, the AKC notes.
Salt is another major concern. “Large amounts of salt can produce excessive thirst and urination, or even sodium ion poisoning,” the ASPCA warns, adding that salty snacks such as potato chips, pretzels and salted popcorn should be avoided.
Signs of excessive salt consumption in dogs can include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, elevated body temperature, seizures and even death, the ASPCA notes.
TikTok Reacts
Viewers flooded the comments with suggestions on how to fill Chloe’s plate.
“Start buying plain white rice as a side and give that to her when you order Chinese,” suggested one user.
Another agreed: “I give mine the plain white rice that comes with my meal—always check with the restaurant that’s nothing is added and I add his salmon food topper so we eat ‘takeout’ together.”
A third added: “She’s so polite.”
Newsweek reached out to @mo_andchlo for comment via TikTok. We could not verify the details of the case.