A video of a dog owner facing a humorous yet relatable dilemma—determining which of their three pups chewed up a TV remote—has captivated millions on TikTok.
The clip posted by @malearhart, which has amassed 1.7 million views since it was shared on October 25, sees a dog owner examine each pooch to pinpoint the guilty party. A voice off-camera says “I can’t decide if it was him or her or him”—the final dog being Cooper.
The camera ultimately lingers on Cooper, a seemingly oblivious but loveable dog, who sits against the couch with his front paws up and a blank stare fixed on the camera.
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“Cooper, you wanna tell me who tore up the remote?” the voice asks, as Cooper maintains his innocent demeanor.
The off-camera voice probes further “Cooper, can you tell me?” But the dog’s unblinking gaze suggests either complete innocence or, perhaps, a perfectly executed poker face.
A caption accompanying the video playfully reads “Still looking for the culprit…” leaving Cooper’s involvement an amusing mystery.
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While Cooper’s seemingly guilt-ridden stare may strike a chord with pet owners, veterinary experts suggest that what humans interpret as “guilty” looks in dogs are likely just a response to their owner’s tone and body language.
As amusing as it is for pet owners to anthropomorphize their animals’ expressions, the experts advise that these canine “guilt” responses are more likely efforts to appease human frustration.
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In an article for animal hospital chain VCA, veterinarians Ellen Lindell and Lynn Buzhardt as well as licensed veterinary technician Monique Feyrecilde said “Your pet’s body posture and attitude do not indicate guilt or remorse but represent a response to your body posture and attitude.”
The VCA article explains that dogs adopt appeasement postures as a way to avoid confrontation rather than express guilt, which is an emotion that may be more nuanced in animals than many pet owners realize.
“When you discover your favorite slippers have been destroyed or your new sofa has been scratched, you naturally respond with a scowl, a sigh, or maybe even a shriek,” the article states.
“Your dog or cat immediately responds with a posture that you interpret as guilt, but instead, the posture that you are observing is an appeasement or submissive posture and does not reflect the emotion of guilt.”
Studies suggest that dogs with a so-called “guilty look” might not even understand that they have committed a wrongdoing,” they noted, adding that “the look your pet gives you when it is reprimanded does not represent guilt but is just your pet’s effort at communicating concern about a potential confrontation.”
‘100 Percent Innocent’ vs. ‘Guilty’
The video has sparked a mix of amused and sympathetic responses from viewers who have weighed in on Cooper’s potential innocence or guilt.
“It definitely was not Cooper!” wrote Jasmin, while TikTok user Erik00 commented “Cooper looks 100 percent innocent.”
Another user, Ashley, defended Cooper, stating “Cooper is just as horrified as you are that someone would have the audacity to do such a thing.” Crystal Zapata chimed in, saying “Cooper has never seen that remote in his life!”
Meanwhile, other TikTok users speculated on Cooper’s guilt. User tawandalucas6 said “Cooper is GUILTY,” while Jrabbit04 observed “Cooper is still chewing.”
Some even suggested that Cooper might need legal representation, with T noting “Cooper definitely needs a lawyer!”
Although the mystery remains unsolved, one commenter, Tim Myers, noted that “Cooper is stresssssed,” and alyssa said the pup is “perplexed,” implying that its stoic expression might reflect his concern over the situation, albeit not necessarily from guilt.
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok. This video has not been independently verified.
A stock image of a dog with its head down on a floor, laying next to some chewed up remote control devices. A hilarious video of a dog owner attempting to figure out which of their three dogs has destroyed a remote control has gone viral on TikTok.
iStock / Getty Images Plus
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