A puppy has captured the hearts of nearly 22 million people online.
A tiny, 15-week-old miniature schnauzer melted hearts across the internet after her owner captured the very first time the puppy let out a bark, revealing a surprisingly high-pitched and adorable sound.
The owner shared the footage on TikTok with the caption: “The first time I heard my 15-week-old puppy bark and it’s the cutest thing ever … Why is she so cute?” The video shows the small dog scampering around excitedly before letting out the squeaky, first-ever vocalization.
The Beginning of the Opera
The brief, cute sound left many commenters laughing, though several seasoned schnauzer owners were quick to offer a hilarious warning about the vocal life ahead for the owner.
The new owner clarified in the comments that the dog is a mini schnauzer. This identification prompted several humorous predictions about the noisy future: “Since she’s a schnauzer, get ready for the absolute opera that you’re about to hear daily,” one person wrote. “They’re singers.”
“I’m pretty sure that was the last bit of peace you’ve had with a schnauzer,” another added.
“Don’t worry, it’s a schnauzer,” a third commenter wrote. “You’ll hear it uncontrollably for the next decade at least.”
Despite the puppy’s future as a potential soprano, viewers were captivated by the puppy’s charming movement, with one person noting that the pup “moves like a “Disney animated puppy.”
The Question of Tails
The video also sparked a common discussion among viewers regarding the miniature schnauzer’s appearance, specifically the practice of docking the tail.
One user from outside the U.S. asked: “Genuine question, why do people cut the tail? Sorry, I don’t know the correct term. We have a miniature schnauzer, but she has her tail and it’s illegal to cut the tail off in Finland.”
Another commenter jumped in with an explanation of the practice in the U.S.: “Docking is the breed standard in America,” they wrote. “Schnauzers were originally used as rat catching dogs and therefore it was safer to remove their tails to prevent them getting caught and breaking. Now it’s just how we expect them to look, so that’s why it’s done, but docking is not required.”
The video served as a charming introduction to the demanding personality of the young dog, who is now expected to provide the owner with a decade of adorable—and loud—companionship.
Newsweek reached out to @minnieandme11 for comment via TikTok.