A dog owner has taken the internet by storm after sharing the unusual lengths she has to go to in order to get her senior bulldog moving.
The dog’s owner posted the now-viral clip on TikTok under the handle @rolliepolliefrenchie, revealing that a traditional leash walk simply isn’t enough motivation for her aging pup. Instead, she has had to get creative—with a little help from none other than Lightning McQueen from Disney Pixar’s Cars.
The light-hearted video shows the owner steering a remote-controlled Lightning McQueen toy car along the sidewalk, using it as irresistible bait. As the bright red toy rolls ahead, the 11-year-old bulldog trots after it, determined to keep up. The tactic proved successful, allowing the owner to complete a full walk that would otherwise be impossible.
The owner explained in the caption that she has to resort to these measures because her dog “only wants to chase things”, otherwise the bulldog will just “stand completely still.” Thankfully, the Pixar-inspired solution seems to do the trick.
The internet was quick to fall in love with the unconventional approach. At the time of writing, the clip has racked up more than 157,600 views and 38,800 likes, with thousands of users praising the owner’s ingenuity.
Newsweek has contacted @rolliepolliefrenchie via TikTok for comment. We were unable to independently verify the details of the video.
While the scene may be amusing, experts say that keeping senior dogs moving—even with creative motivation—is important for their health. According to PetMD, senior dogs should generally get 30 to 60 minutes of age-appropriate exercise per day, depending on their mobility, breed, and medical history. Exercise helps maintain muscle strength, joint health, and cognitive function, even as dogs age.
Bulldogs, in particular, have unique exercise needs. The American Kennel Club (AKC) notes that bulldogs are a low- to moderate-energy breed that benefits most from short, consistent, low-impact activity, such as leisurely walks. Overexertion can be risky due to their brachycephalic (short-nosed) anatomy, which makes them more prone to breathing difficulties and overheating.
For senior bulldogs, gentle movement is often preferable to complete inactivity. The AKC emphasizes that maintaining an active lifestyle in older dogs can help slow muscle loss and stiffness, even if that exercise looks different than it did in their younger years.
For this senior bulldog, it seems a little Hollywood magic — and a toy race car — is all it takes to keep her happily on the move. Since the video went viral, TikTok users were quick to defend the bulldog’s quirks and applaud the owner’s creativity.
One comment reads: “Senior dogs have earned the right to be weird. Period.”
Another TikTok user wrote: “Omg I love this, I have to walk with a squeaky toy to keep her attention and moving forward.”
Another person replied: “All I see is a queen getting her exercise and excellent mental stimulation with McQueen himself.”
While one commenter joked: “The way you have to outsmart a stubborn dog will never not be be funny.”
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