A dog’s clear answer to a question from the groomer immediately went viral on TikTok as people hailed him the king of setting boundaries.
A TikTok video posted by @pikapupp on March 23 showed a Bernese Mountain dog standing by the door at the groomer. He wanted out of the situation, which dogs commonly experience the same feeling as going to the groomer can be overwhelming and scary.
Unsure about the groomer, the dog kept backing away. The groomer tried taking it slow with him by calmly saying hello and asking, “Can I touch you?” He pondered the question for a second, looked at the groomer and gave a stern answer through his gritted teeth. He barked a clear “no.”
Respecting the canine’s answer, the dog groomer called him a “boundary setting king” in the video’s caption. The groomer doesn’t fault the dog for his reaction, noting in the comments section that he is a new client and likely felt unsure about the new environment.
“Luckily, the owner stuck around due to his behavior, I was trying to get hold of his leash to get him out and back to his owner,” the comment reads. “I thought I had made progress here.”
Newsweek reached out to @pikapupp via TikTok for additional information.
TikTok Users React
Shocked by the dog’s clear answer, TikTok users flooded the video’s comments section and as of Friday afternoon, the clip amassed over 32.9 million views and 7.2 million likes.
One TikTok user wrote: “Loud and clear. He ain’t playing.”
Another added: “The way he locked in before doing that.”
A third commented: “Bro so traumatised he started speaking English.”
And a fourth posted: “his body language beforehand is so clearly overstimulated and uncomfortable. The gentle approach was sweet but he understood your words and gave a stern no.”
Screenshots from a March 23 viral TikTok of a Bernese Mountain dog giving the groomer a stern “no” when asked if he could be touched.
@pikapupp/TikTok
Helping a Dog’s Grooming Anxiety
Many dogs feel nervous while getting groomed. They’re in an unfamiliar setting with scary tools and, sometimes, a stranger. Previous bad experiences or general separation anxiety might heighten their fears. If this is the case for your dog, try using these tips from Vet Street to help lessen a dog’s anxiety at the groomer.
Some dogs might start feeling anxious during the car ride, which adds an extra challenge for groomers once they arrive. Owners should consider counter-conditioning their dogs to help ease the fear and increase the joy of riding in the car. If your dog’s discomfort is related to motion sickness, talk to your veterinarian about antinausea medication.
Owners also should work with their dogs to become used to being touched, especially in sensitive areas such as the eyes, ears, paws or tail. Ask your groomer if you could do a training visit to get your dog familiar with the location, sights and sounds. Pair it with treats and praise, which will help your dog realize it is a happy place to visit.
Some pet parents might turn to muzzles, which will make it easier and safer for the dog and groomer. You can train your dog to willingly put on a muzzle.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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