It was barely 7 a.m. when a dog owner walked into the pantry and stumbled upon a scene that looked more like a toddler’s secret clubhouse than a storage space. Huddled together were three dogs—two golden retrievers and one mini Australian shepherd—caught mid-meeting, all eyes fixed on a tiny, unsuspecting guest: a frog.
In a now-viral TikTok video captioned “not them having a secret meeting in the pantry,” the dogs sit close together, the retrievers visibly uneasy while the mini Aussie seems utterly captivated.
The clip shared to @tate_and_ellie has racked up over 256,000 views and more than 38,600 likes, with hundreds of viewers weighing in on the comical situation.
“Whoever says ‘dogs aren’t kids’ explain why I’m dealing with this before 7AM,” reads the overlaid text on the video—a sentiment that seems perfectly fitting.
As it turns out, science agrees. Canine intelligence expert Stanley Coren says that dogs have mental abilities similar to a 2- to 2.5-year-old child. Their intelligence varies by breed and falls into three types: instinctive, adaptive, and working/obedience. Border collies rank highest in working intelligence, followed by poodles and German shepherds.
Most dogs can learn around 165 words, while top performers can learn up to 250. Some, like a Border collie named Rico, show advanced learning once thought unique to humans and apes.
The research published in American Psychological Association (APA) states dogs can count up to five; understand basic math errors; and solve problems by observing people or other dogs. They are also capable of deliberate deception during play to get rewards.
Stock image: A dog is peeking out from behind a home door.
Felix Andres Montana Otalora/iStock / Getty Images Plus
While the dogs can’t verbally communicate, their body language speaks volumes. The woman’s voice can be heard behind the camera asking, “Who brought in the frog?”
The golden retrievers’ wide-eyed expressions suggest fear, while the mini Aussie leans in closer, fascinated by the tiny amphibian. It is clear who led the charge into the pantry—and the owner confirmed it.
“The black hair all over it was a dead giveaway of the culprit,” she wrote in the comments, pointing the finger at the curious shepherd.
The clip’s charm lies in its relatability—dogs behaving like mischievous toddlers caught in the act. And TikTok users are loving it.
“God forbid the dogs want a pet of their own,” posted one commenter. Another wrote, “Who brought in the frog?” followed by: “Made me cackle. I feel like this is a very common occurrence.”
A third viewer summed up the toddler comparison perfectly: “Me watching this in the bathroom and my dog paws at the door to let them in. Exactly like toddlers.”
‘Newsweek reached out to @tate_and_ellie for comment. We could not verify the details of the case.
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