Service Dog's Hilarious Outfit for Music Class Goes Viral

After seeing how nervous her service dog became during a music class, Kierra Martin took drastic measures to comfort her anxious pup, and the results are hilarious.

When Martin, 19, took on a music class at university in Houston, Texas, she hadn't anticipated how much it would affect her psychiatric service dog, Tia. As soon as the band came in and started playing music, Martin told Newsweek that the German shepherd "freaked out" and it wasn't long before she tried to run away.

Martin left the classroom in an instant and started thinking of a way to make sure Tia felt at ease in the classroom and wouldn't panic at the loud noises again. Martin thought that if people can wear headphones to block out noise, why can't dogs?

On January 20, she posted an adorable clip of Tia wearing her new red headphones on TikTok (@auntie.tia) to show everyone how much better she is doing now. Safe to say, Tia isn't getting out of class that easily.

Tia has now become a viral TikTok sensation, as the clip has amassed more than 1.4 million views and over 351,000 likes in just a matter of days.

"We had to leave immediately because of how much she freaked when the band started playing. I decided I would never let that happen again," Martin said. "University life is very loud, and there's plenty of events and concerts, and I don't want to feel as though I can't do things just because I have a service animal.

"So, I bought headphones for Tia to protect her hearing in all these scenarios. She doesn't really like them, but she tolerates them and now she's OK with the band from a distance."

What Is a Psychiatric Service Dog?

Service dogs can be any breed or size, and they are typically trained to fulfil a role that directly helps their handler through everyday life. The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) says that service animals may be required by people with physical disabilities or mental-health conditions, and they are permitted to enter restaurants, shops, hospitals, schools, and hotels.

Psychiatric service dogs have the same legal rights as service dogs assisting with physical disabilities. They can generally help people who may have clinical depression, anxiety disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, or autism.

Depending on their handler's needs, psychiatric service dogs can perform a variety of useful roles. They may be trained to retrieve medication or remind their owner to take it; they can reorient their owner during an anxiety attack; help navigate through stressful environments; or stabilize their routines and create healthier habits.

How Did Social Media React?

Martin had no idea that her video would go viral so quickly, but she has loved the positive responses to her problem-solving idea. After seeing how much the headphones have helped Tia overcome her fear, Martin said she hopes that other dog owners may be encouraged to try something similar to help their pets out.

She told Newsweek: "I'm surprised that the video blew up like it did, but I hope it may help other owners to realize that dogs have sensitive hearing and may need headphones in certain situations to protect their ears."

However, TikTok users didn't only appreciate how protective the headphones were for Tia, as many people also loved "how they match her service animal vest," too. Well, she has to make sure they're color-coordinated.

With almost 350 comments on the viral video so far, many people lauded Tia's brand-new fashion accessory. One TikTok user wrote: "they match the vest how cute!"

Another person posted: "I laughed entirely too hard at this! What a good dog!"

A third comment read that Tia "needs a pair of sunglasses."

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