A video showcasing a dog’s pre-meal grooming ritual has captured the hearts of millions on TikTok.
Shared by user @ellaatighe on September 19, the video has racked up 1.6 million views and thousands of adoring comments. In a previous video, the poster said: “We’re house sitting” in Perth, Australia.
In the brief clip, a curly-haired dog being looked after while her owners are away is shown waiting patiently as her ears are gently tied back with a scrunchie before dinner.
“The owners said to tie her ears up before dinner so she doesn’t get her hair messy,” reads the on-screen text in the video.
The dog, believed to be a poodle, sits calmly on the floor, tail wagging with excitement as a pair of hands secures her ears using a pastel-colored scrunchie.
A caption alongside the post reads: “sophisticated princess (yes that is her scrunchie),” emphasizing the pampered pet’s personalized accessory.
The deep emotional bond between humans and their dogs may explain the widespread affection for the video.
A 2013 study published in PLOS One examined this connection, noting: “This unique relationship between adult dogs and their human owners bears a remarkable resemblance to an infant attachment bond: dogs are dependent on human care and their behavior seems specifically geared to engage their owners’ care-giving system.”
‘Icon’
Viewers on TikTok quickly fell in love with the pooch’s polished routine in the viral clip.
“She’s an ’80s icon,” wrote one user, CrunchyPickles, while @_ciarasjourney said: “She’s set and ready for any ’80s sitcom.”
Ashton Claire added: “All she needs now is some sweat bands on her ankles and the look is complete.”
User @bryn_arolyn said: “Omg stoppppp she is the prettiest princess in all the land.”
Andy noted: “She is much more sophisticated than I ever will be and I’m okay with that.”
Others were equally charmed by the dog’s apparent anticipation of her pre-dinner routine.
“I’m crying at the fact that she has her own scrunchie,” said one user named victoria.
Another viewer, catseyequartz, commented: “The tail wagging as soon as she saw the scrunchie. So precious.”
Meanwhile, nicola observed: “She KNOWS what’s about to go down.”
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok. This video has not been independently verified.
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.