Internet Obsessed With How Failed Service Dog Insists on Going for a Walk
This pup may have failed service dog training, but he's delighted the Internet by showing that all his hard work didn't go to waste because he loves to show his owner how smart he can be.
In an adorable clip posted on TikTok by @rimrockranchco, Leo is seen delivering all the necessary items his owner needs for a walk, starting off with some gloves, shoes, and even a hat for added warmth. Leo may not be all that subtle with his demands, but he's certainly helpful when he wants something.
In just a matter of days, the viral video has generated more than 10.1 million views and over 2 million likes on TikTok, as social media users can't get enough of how eager Leo is to help his owner out.
Layered over the clip, Leo's owner wrote that the pooch "flunked out of service dog school," but that doesn't mean he doesn't still like to be of use and help his owner "get ready" for a walk. After delivering each item and dropping it in front of his owner, Leo looked awfully pleased with his hard work and was ready to be rewarded for his efforts.
Service dogs are trained to cover a number of tasks and responsibilities for their owner, which may include navigation, alerting their handler to a medical issue, listening out for vital sounds that their owner cannot hear, or reminding them to take medication.
While a variety of breeds are suitable candidates to be service dogs, the American Kennel Club says that Labradors, golden retrievers, and German Shepherds are most commonly trained as guide dogs. In order to make a good service dog, the AKC suggests that dogs should be calm even in unfamiliar settings, be alert, willing to please, able to retain information easily, and capable of performing tasks repeatedly.
The work of a service dog is to improve a person's life and help give them independence which may not be possible otherwise. But the training can be rigorous so not every dog gets through. Leo may be one of those who didn't pass the test, but he still loves to prove how devoted he is to work.
Since he became a viral sensation, Leo's owner has been flooded with comments from fellow TikTok users who wanted to know more about why he failed, and many praised his incredible work nonetheless.
Among the 4,900 comments on the post already, one person wrote: "Please I need to know why he flunked out."
Another TikTok user responded: "Service dog school flunk outs are terrifying [because] usually they know all the tricks, and just [a] have mind of their own."
"How did he fail? Looks like he deserves a raise actually," joked another TikTok user.
Newsweek reached out to @rimrockranchco via TikTok and Instagram for comment. We could not verify the details of the case.
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.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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