Footage of the moment a dog joyfully reunites with her owner has gone viral on TikTok, amassing more than 688,000 views.
The video was posted to an account dedicated to Miley, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier (@m1ley_staffy). In the clip, Miley can be seen walking in the distance while her owner approaches. The text overlaid on the video reads: "Surprising my dog after work."
At first, Miley is minding her own business, but then she seems to perk up, holding back her excitement for a few seconds—just in case it isn't her mom. The text on the screen says, "That looks like mum," followed by, "Omg, it's her!," as Miley pulls the male walker and erupts in joyful tail wagging and happy leaps.
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The September 30 clip, captioned "[I] made her walk 10 times better," has garnered over 51,000 likes so far. TikTok users are captivated by the dog's reaction, with many commenting on Miley's body language. Some were even moved to tears. "This made me cry," said one user.
"She totally lost it when she recognized you!!!" a different user commented. Another agreed, saying: "I love how her tail wagged before she even verified it was you, like she thought, 'That looks like mum. I love mum. OMG IT IS MUM!!!'"
"Awww, it's a nice feeling when they get excited after they see you. Priceless," said a fourth commenter. Another added: "Dogs will always give the best welcome home."
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Newsweek previously spoke to two veterinary experts who offered tips on how pet owners can assess their bond with their furry friends.
Nick Horniman, a veterinary surgeon and founder of an online pet pharmacy, said: "Happy, excited greetings are a dead giveaway. A dog that greets you enthusiastically when you come home, with a wagging tail, excited barking, and jumping, is clearly expressing their joy at your return. This behavior shows they've missed you and are glad you're back."
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Another sign of affection for their owner is the desire to be close, as demonstrated by Miley. Horniman explained: "This behavior shows that your dog feels comfortable and secure in your presence and prefers your company over being alone."
Jess Hockaday, a vet at Chewy, added: "You can tell that they love you and feel comfortable with you if they want to be around you all the time, even following you into the bathroom or sharing your bed."
Newsweek reached out to @m1ley_staffy for comment. We could not verify the details of the case.
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About the writer
Lucy Notarantonio is Newsweek's Senior Lifestyle and Trends Reporter, based in Birmingham, UK. Her focus is trending stories and human ... Read more