The Internet Is in Love With This Puppy Who Thinks He’s a Turtle
The internet can’t resist a good animal video, and one of the newest favorites is a clip from Reddit that shows a small puppy crawling along the ground next to a turtle. The video, posted on the r/Aww subreddit by a user named yamos-, is only 29 seconds long but has already captured the hearts of thousands. With over 19K upvotes and hundreds of comments, people can’t stop laughing at what looks like the pup trying to act like his slow-moving neighbor.
Can Dogs Tell Species Apart?
The popularity of the video raises a larger question: do dogs recognize when they are interacting with another species? Studies confirm they do. With approximately 220 million scent receptors, smell is their strongest sense, but vision also contributes. A 2015 brain scan study revealed that dogs process faces differently from objects, and the region that responds to faces operates similarly to the human brain’s face-recognition center.
A 2013 experiment added to this knowledge by showing dogs images of animals and humans. The dogs consistently grouped dog faces into one category, despite the wide variation in breed appearances. That means the puppy in the viral video likely knew the turtle wasn’t another dog.
How Dogs Communicate With Other Animals
Image via Getty Images/iphotoworld
Dogs are also skilled at sending and receiving signals across species. They use tail wagging, growling, whining, and bowing down as ways of expressing their emotions or intentions. A lowered stance often conveys that the animal wants to play or is being gentle with a smaller animal. Sniffing is another major tool, as pheromones provide detailed information about mood, health, and even reproductive status.
Over time, canines learn to interpret the unique signals of other animals. A cat’s hiss or a turtle withdrawing into its shell are clear warnings, just as wagging or licking often show friendliness. Studies reveal that dogs process emotional signals using the right side of their brain, the same area activated when humans praise them with phrases like “good boy.” These abilities enable dogs to establish a form of shared communication with other species through repeated interaction.
Fun Facts About Dogs and Turtles
Dogs and turtles highlight some of the sharpest contrasts in the animal world. Dogs are fast, with many breeds able to reach 20 to 30 miles per hour, while most turtles on land move at less than one mile per hour. Yet turtles make up for their slower pace with endurance and long lifespans. While the average dog lives 10 to 13 years, turtles commonly live 30 years or more, and some species can exceed 100 years.
Turtles also bring unique sensory adaptations. Unlike dogs, who excel at smell and hearing, turtles rely heavily on sight. Many can see in color and have excellent underwater vision, which helps them detect food and predators. Their ancient lineage stretches back over 200 million years, making them survivors of multiple mass extinctions. The pairing of a youthful puppy and such a resilient reptile only adds to the humor and charm of the viral clip.