In a heartwarming role reversal, the moment a service dog asked his owner for help has been caught on camera.
Owner Adrian, known as Happy online, shared how his medical alert and service dog, a 3-year-old Doberman Pinscher named Tobias, turned to him for help.
In the TikTok video, which was posted last week and currently has 5.6 million views, Tobias approached his owner clearly asking him to follow him. When he did, Tobias led his owner to a shelf in the warehouse where he had accidentally lodged his beloved ball. "Have you ever seen a service dog ask for help from his owner?" Happy wrote on the video.
"Tobias is a medical alert and mobility service dog," Happy told Newsweek. "He alerts to oncoming syncope episodes which are triggered by low blood pressure. He also alerts me to migraines, as well as offering me mobility support such as helping me walk steady, bracing me when I have an episode to prevent concussions."
@thatkidwiththedog Hes such a clever dog hes taught himself to get help when he cant do something himself #servicedog #servicedogs #dogswithjobs #doberman #dobermanpinscher #medicalalertdog #servicedoglife #funnydog #dogsoftiktok
♬ Monkeyshine-JP - Lt FitzGibbons Men
Beyond his vital duties, Tobias also helps his owner with other tasks, and is a beloved pet. "He picks things up for me, he can even throw things in the trash, turn lights on and off, and help with laundry," Happy said.
Service dogs are trained to perform various tasks to assist people with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. These include guiding the blind, alerting the deaf, retrieving objects, opening doors, and providing stability for those with mobility issues. The most common service dog breeds are Labrador Retrievers, golden retrievers, and German Shepherds, though any breed can potentially be trained as a service dog.
Service dogs are legally recognized as working animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), granting them access rights to public places. In the Unite States, vest or identification is not legally required and there is no formal training needed for a dog to become a service animal.
Before long, Tobias had his ball back, and his owner was impressed at how the clever dog had taught himself to get help when he needed it.
TikTok Users React
In the comments section, TikTok users shared their reactions to Tobias' adorable request for help.
"My mom's poodle does this. She'll just face my mother and silently stare her down like she's trying to communicate telepathically," wrote user mollylarsonseely.
While Makayla posted: "I was expecting another person on the ground or something—I'm glad it was just that! Too cute."
"My sister's dog is the same when she purposefully loses her ball," added Abby.
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
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Alice Gibbs is a Newsweek Senior Internet Trends & Culture Reporter based in the U.K. For the last two years ... Read more
