Veterinarians are warning against a new TikTok trend in which dog owners bark at dogs and record their reaction. This is known as the challenge. #barkatyourdog, and videos with that hashtag have nearly 160 million views. But what is the danger?
Some of the cubs respond by staring dumbfounded at their owner, but others can be seen growling fiercely, warning them to stop. Although it might seem like a fun challenge, it can have dangerous consequences. Barking at your dog could easily annoy our pet, making him feel confused, scared, or shocked. A dog will not receive benefits or positive feelings from this challenge; instead, they may worry and experience feelings of mistrust, which can affect bonding.
In the worst case, it could have dangerous consequences for the pet owner. If we are familiar with the body language of pets, we can begin to notice that they are not comfortable and may show signs of distress. Dogs that are less tolerant, because warning signs have been ignored, may understandably react out of fear, which is a completely natural reaction for a dog when he feels frightened.
Loss of confidence
The trend seems to have started in 2021, with the most popular video, with almost 25 million views. likeswhich shows a puppy headbutting its owner in response. Many of these videos show dogs in a state of stress: yawning, licking their lips, holding their ears back, their bodies tense, or showing the whites of their eyes; These are all ways a dog tells us that he is uncomfortable with a situation.
The challenge of barking at your dog involves being in very close contact with your dog and having prolonged eye contact. Invading your dogs’ space can make them feel uncomfortable and worried, while direct eye contact can make them feel threatened, a dangerous combination that could trigger a severe reaction on your pet. Catching your dog barking in your face will be shocking, they will not expect this behavior from an owner they trust and generally feel safe with.
Something similar happens with videos that show the owners mentioning a keyword for them. There are many who record the reaction when they tell their pet «we go to the park or to the street«. This generates a stimulus in the dog that can confuse it if the action is not carried out later.