A hilarious video of a Maltese Poodle mix that looks decidedly human has amused viewers on TikTok.
In the footage, Ben the dog can be seen sitting in a reclined position on a sofa cushion on his back. It looks like he’s watching TV. Ben yawns and turns to face the camera with an annoyed look on his face as owner Lauren Waldron calls his name.
The caption reads: “An 80-year-old man trapped in the body of my 15-pound Maltese Poodle mix.”
One user commented: “Really makes me believe in reincarnation. I swear there’s an old soul in there,” to which the poster replied, “YES, we say that all the time.”
Stock image of a dog in a robe relaxing with popcorn. An owner caught her dog acting like an “80-year-old man” on the sofa in a video that went viral on TikTok. Damedeeso/Getty Images
According to a 2021 study titled Anthropomorphism and Its Adverse Effects on the Distress and Welfare of Companion Animals, “Anthropomorphism refers to the practices whereby humans ascribe human emotional and behavioral characteristics to nonhuman animals and objects.”
The study added, “For some people, this represents a means of strengthening the human-animal bond, showing empathy towards their pets, and showing concern for and interest in their well-being.”
There are many reported incidents of pet owners who think their dogs look or act in a decidedly human way. However, according to research from Business Insider, there is science behind the claims.
Many of us are very close to our dogs, and it can be easy to attribute human traits to them. This phenomenon is known as the “baby schema”. This is when people claim to recognize certain human traits in their dog, like baby eyes, round cheeks, or a human-like smile.
@laurenwaldron7
An 80 year old male trapped in the body of my 15lb Maltese poodle mix #fyp #dogsoftiktok #maltipoo
♬ Original sound – Lauren Waldron @laurenwaldron7
Continue reading
A 2022 entry in the Scholarly Community Encyclopedia entitled “Anthropomorphism on Dog Emotions and Behavior” reports: “Often anthropomorphic behavior is not supported by scientific evidence but by the inherent human need to connect with someone , which is easy to understand and that understands us easily.
“This can lead to interpretive distortions of the animal’s actual state, often aimed at satisfying the human need for a particular type of relationship, rather than attempting to acknowledge, recognize, and placate the animal’s actual emotions, motivations, and intentions.” .”
TikTok viewers loved the video, with one writing, “Give that man a beer, he’s had a long day.”
User churleyhorse commented, “He already looks like he doesn’t have time for what you’re going to tell him.” And hutUpCris wrote, “I imagined he was wearing glasses and lowered them to hear you properly .”
Newsweek reached out to Lauren Waldron on TikTok for comment.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet that you want to share? We want to see the best! Send them to [email protected] and they may appear on our website.
