Dog owners know everything about their pups—their habits, routines, quirks and all—and when they need someone to watch or walk their beloved canines, they usually leave a set of instructions.
TikTok user @extrapintobeans did precisely that for her dog walker. She explained as a heads up that her pit bull and Staffordshire bull terrier mix, Pinto Bean, tends to fixate on trees during his walk. She wrote in the February 20 TikTok video caption that this is one of Pinto Bean’s “many quirks.”
Confused about the owner’s explanation of what Pinto Bean does, the dog walker replied to the owner: “What do you mean he’s weird around trees?”
The TikTok clip then went through a montage of videos with Pinto Bean doing the same thing every time he passes a tree with low branches or leaves. He carefully walks below the tree, stops right as the leaves hit his back and then stomps his two back paws. He’s pushing his behind up as much as possible to the leaves to get a proper scratch.
Newsweek reached out to @extrapintobeans via TikTok for additional comment.
Screenshots from a February 20 TikTok video of a pit bull mix’s strange habit of rubbing up against trees while on a walk.
@extrapintobeans/TikTok
Last week’s TikTok video left viewers in stitches, bringing in over 264,100 views, 29,100 likes and 434 comments as of Monday.
“He’s giving himself scritches! He says he’s an independent doggo and he don’t need no man!” wrote a viewer.
A second person commented: “As a dog walker I am cackling what even.”
Others said they’ve witnessed their dogs do the same: “We call it slothing! Our dog does it to bushes, curtains, clothes in the closet,” said one viewer.
Several viewers theorized this dog’s behavior is called “trancing.”
Also known as a trance-like syndrome, ghost-walking or weed-walking, this behavior shows dogs appearing to enter a frozen state, according to a vet-approved article from Dogster. Dogs usually walk very slowly, passing through narrow spaces or under low objects like plants, curtains or tables.
While walking under these objects, dogs seem relaxed and sometimes zoned out, although they are still aware of their surroundings. Some call it a meditative state. All dog breeds can experience trancing, but bull terriers are prone to the behavior. Greyhounds and Basset hounds are also more predisposed to trancing.
Trancing is considered generally harmless. However, owners should monitor their dogs for signs of discomfort, pain, distress or unusual behaviors and talk with their veterinarian if any arise.
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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