Hysterics As Dog Demands Perfectly Folded Blanket Before Sitting
A video of a dog with a particular preference for how her bed should be made has gone viral on TikTok.
The clip was shared from @oreothedogbiscuit, the TikTok account for a 2-year-old Labrador called Oreo. The video has garnered 1.1 million views since it was posted on June 10.
A message overlaid on the clip reads: "Making my OCD dog's bed wrong to see what happens."
Oreo's owner, Ashleigh McIntyre, a 35-year-old Australian from Newcastle in the state of New South Wales on Australia's east coast, told Newsweek: "We got her the blanket about a year ago and started folding it in half over her bed so she had a choice whether to lay on the blankie or not. After a few months, we noticed she would wait and look at us if it wasn't folded neatly in half at bed time.
"When I say 'OCD,' I'm obviously joking and I wouldn't want anyone to think I'm making light of a serious disorder. She does have very clear wants and lets us know about them," the dog owner noted.
McIntyre says in the clip: "On your bed please," as Oreo is walking towards a dog bed and stopping in front of it. The pup looks away from the camera to another part of the room and another note reads, "Looks at Dad for help." Oreo later places one paw onto the bed before retreating back, continuing to stare down at the bed.
Can Dogs Have OCD?
"Not really, but they do get compulsive behaviors," veterinarian Lisa Radosta notes in a PetMD article .
Obsessive compulsive disorder entails behaviors that include obsessive thoughts, which doesn't apply to our canine friends since we can't know what the animals are thinking. Therefore for dogs, these disorders are known as compulsive disorders, she explains.
Radosta said: "Compulsive disorders (obsessive compulsive disorder, OCD) occur in dogs, although not with great frequency." These behaviors are exaggerations of normal canine behaviors that are displayed for longer than expected, repeated out of context and exhibited in situations in which they would be considered abnormal.
Some typical dog behaviors that can be classified as compulsive include "spinning, tail chasing, fly biting, light chasing, barking, chewing, staring into space, sucking on a toy or sucking on a part of the body," the veterinarian noted.
Compulsive disorders are caused by conflict, stress and/or frustration and your dog may exhibit compulsive behaviors as a response to relieve this stress.
Radosta warned that at times what may seem like compulsive behavior may actually be attention-seeking behavior. "For example, if an owner says 'no,' the dog may still consider that attention and it "can perpetuate the behavior," Radosta explained.
Those who suspect their dog may have a compulsive disorder should speak to a veterinarian, Radosta advised.
'Very Communicative'
McIntyre told Newsweek that Oreo doesn't seem to care during the day, but before bed the blanket "must be folded neatly in half."
The dog owner said they once had a puppy staying with them and put the blanket away during this time, which Oreo was OK with. "But as soon as the puppy left, she nose- punched her bare bed and looked at me. I went to the back room and got her blankie and she wagged her tail so hard to say, 'Yes, that's what I want.' I couldn't believe it."
In winter, McIntyre puts half the blanket on the bed, while wrapping the other half over Oreo to keep her warm. "This is why I fold the blankie wrong intentionally, so it takes a bit of adjusting for her to accept that I'm trying to help."
Oreo is a "very communicative" dog, she noted. The pup will "nose-punch the window in the car" if she wants it open or "stare intently when it's exactly dinner time at 6pm."
She'll also touch her owner's leg with her nose if she goes too long on a walk without a treat, typically after they cross a road or pass another dog or human. "She's obviously trained us very well," McIntyre noted.
"As she loves to talk to us through body language, we're working on teaching her how to use buttons to speak. So far she knows 'play' and 'outside' so we have a long way to go but I'm excited to see what more she has to tell us."
'So Spoiled'
"Do you want me to fix it?" McIntyre asks Oreo in the latest viral clip, before a hand is shown adjusting the blanket on the bed. Oreo moves onto the bed, laying down with her back towards the camera as a note across the clip reads: "Can't even look at you."
TikTok users were amused by Oreo's antics.
User bustkygidgey said: "Awwww so spoiled & cozy...don't get it wrong again!!"
Made By Teema noted: "When she looks to dad, she's like 'this woman again.'"
Duck wrote: "She gave you the cold shoulder treatment!"
Don said: "Training a hooman is a very important part of a pups life."
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.