This German Shepherd Is Going Viral for How It Told Its Owner the Harness Was Wrong

A short clip of a German Shepherd refusing to leave the house has gained serious attention online. At first, the video just shows a dog hesitating near the front door while her owner tries to encourage her to start the walk. But the reason behind her reaction turned out to be more thoughtful than expected.

The Dog Gave a Clear Signal Something Was Wrong

@ashleyhermanrealestatePoor baby was trying to tell us the whole time♬ original sound – Ashley Herman

The video begins with the dog already wearing her harness. She sits in front of her owner, who speaks to her in a light, encouraging voice and tries to get her to stand up. This is when the German Shepherd lifts one front leg in a stiff, awkward motion and lowers it again. She repeats the gesture a few times, and at one point, even seems to direct attention toward her harness with her opposite paw.

She also lets out a soft whine, but her owner doesn’t catch on right away. He keeps prompting her by saying things like “go see mom,” but she doesn’t move. Viewers noticed the harness looked slightly off-center from the start, but in the moment, the issue wasn’t obvious. After watching her struggle again, he finally stops and checks.

Image via iStockphoto/Artsiom Petrushenka

One strap had been clipped over her leg, which restricted her range of motion just enough to keep her stuck. As soon as he unclips it and adjusts the fit, she gets up without hesitation, as if nothing happened. The change in her behavior made it clear she had been trying to communicate the whole time.