A video of an ecstatic dog eagerly greeting his owner after a grooming session has become a sensation on TikTok.
The adorable clip was shared by @i_am_henrythedoodle, the TikTok account belonging to Henry, an adorable goldendoodle—a lovable mix between a golden retriever and a poodle.
According to Henry’s TikTok profile, he is also a certified therapy dog. Since its upload on January 24, the video has amassed an impressive 761,000 views.
Accompanied by a caption that reads, “When I finally realize it’s mama here to pick me up!” the footage captures the heartwarming moment.
In the video, Henry can be seen sitting on a table behind glass doors at the grooming facility, accompanied by a couple of women. His tail wags with excitement, and his gaze follows the camera as it approaches him. The clip concludes with Henry attempting to get off the table, his tail still wagging away.
The dog’s sheer delight upon spotting his owner is understandable, as dogs and humans share a unique and profound bond. A study published in May 2013 in PLOS One revealed that the relationship between adult dogs and their human companions bears a striking resemblance to an attachment bond seen in infants.
Dogs rely on human care and exhibit behaviors specifically designed to engage their owners’ caregiving instincts.
In the viral video, it’s possible that Henry sensed his owner’s presence from a distance due to dogs’ extraordinary sense of smell, which serves as their primary sensory modality. A study published in the International Journal of Comparative Psychology in January 2020 highlighted dogs’ heightened olfactory abilities.
By using a T-shirt capturing the natural body odor of a familiar person, the study demonstrated that dogs become habituated to familiar scents and display an altered response to unfamiliar ones.
Daniel Marston, a licensed psychologist specializing in cognitive-behavioral therapy, commented on the aforementioned study in a Psychology Today article from September 2020.
He found it particularly intriguing how dogs reacted to the smell of a familiar person, even in the absence of that person.
He Sees You
TikTok users were deeply moved by the dog’s endearing reaction to his owner in the viral clip.
One user, Lin, observed, “Look at that tail wag. He sees you!”
Dan Buck expressed, “What a beautiful sweetheart!”
User kathrynlbailor wrote, “So beautiful and sweet!”
The encounter between Henry and his owner continues to captivate viewers and remind us of the incredible bond we share with our furry friends.