A sweet video of a dog checking on her canine sibling has captivated the hearts of users on TikTok.

The clip posted by @carleyfries1738 shows a dog responding to her sibling, who appears to be barking while asleep. The video has gone viral, garnering more than 2.3 million views since it was shared on July 20.

In the footage, a dog is seen sleeping belly-up on a couch, with his paws in the air, quietly barking as he slumbers. Moments later, another pup, who had been resting next to a man on the couch, gets up and gently places her head over the sleeping dog, as if to comfort him during his dream. A note overlaid on the video reads: "I'm not emotionally stable enough for this."

The caption accompanying the video adds: "She does this every time he starts barking in his sleep."

In a later comment, the poster said: "We actually just adopted Benny (the one sleep barking) a few months ago. They were meant to be together though!!"

Is It Normal for Dogs to Bark in Their Sleep?

The behavior of the barking dog in the video is not unusual. In an April 2022 article for PetMD, veterinarian Sandra C. Mitchell said that dogs, like humans, go through various stages of sleep, including REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, during which dreaming occurs.

"The most-common reason dogs bark in their sleep is simple: they're dreaming," Mitchell said.

Although dogs barking and making noises in their sleep can be startling for pet owners, the veterinarian said that it is quite normal behavior in most cases.

Mitchell added that, during REM sleep, dogs may engage in behaviors like barking, moving their legs as though running, or even twitching, all of which can be part of their dream cycle.

The veterinarian said that a pup's dream could involve various activities they experience in real life. "Your dog may be dreaming about catching a ball in the park, playing with the dog next door, or even taunting the cat," Mitchell said. The behavior observed in the TikTok video, where the dog barks while sleeping, is likely a result of such dream activities.

However, experts advise against waking dogs while they are dreaming, even if the dream appears to be a nightmare. "It is recommended to do nothing at all if your dog is barking in their sleep," Mitchell said.

She added that waking a dog during a dream can be disorienting, and it is best to let them continue dreaming. "Even if the dream seems to be a nightmare, it's probably best to let your dog just work through it in their own way," she said.

'The Sweetest Thing'

The viral video prompted a flood of comments from TikTok users, expressing their delight and amazement at the bond between the dogs.

Dana Pittman wrote: "oh my heart that's the sweetest thing ever."

One user, @heilymiranda, commented, "She is comforting him how cute," while another, @eclecticfarm, posted: "She said, I'm here bestie."

User @jackie_jackson172 added, "Awe she wanted to make sure he was OK," and @missbuky wrote: "How does your heart not melt seeing this?"

Arc captured the sentiment of many in their comment, saying: "Aww she's like I'm here it's ok it's just a dream."

Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok. This video has not been independently verified.

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