Sad Rescue Dog Whose Face Looks Like A 'Human' Is Catching Everyone's Attention
Meet Lil' Max, the self-proclaimed "hawt dawg" with an expressively human-like face that's drawing attention on TikTok. According to his bio, Max was once a stray dog living in the woods, but now he's turning heads and raising eyebrows on the internet with his unique facial features that leave people pondering whether he's a dog or a human. In this particular video, the brown, curly-haired mutt looks seriously sad as his owner questions why he didn't come with her to bed.
@max.hawt.dawg max didn't even come upstairs to go to bed tonight and now i'm worried, i swear he looked like he was gonna cry? is it just me? he is seriously pouting right now. #doghelp #saddog #fypdog
As he's asked "what's wrong" and "are you OK," Max's expressive face and particularly human-like eyes tell a story of a sad dog with something to say. In the caption, Max's pet parent expresses concern over why her dog looks "like he was gonna cry" as he mopes on the couch. It's both heartbreaking and adorable.
Of the nearly 80,000 comments on the clip, many of them pertain to Max looking more like a person than a dog. "That is NOT a dog," insists one commenter. While another asks, "Why does your dog look like Ron Perlman," referencing the unique-looking character actor, with others mentioning comedic actor Will Ferrell as a lookalike. Meanwhile, one simple shared photo of a humanoid Ewok from "Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi" has close to 90,000 likes. But through it all, Max's owner insists he is a real-life dog and that no AI was used.
Do dogs get sad?
While we never learn why Lil' Max might be glum in that particular heart-tugging TikTok video, dogs can indeed experience sadness. Just like people, dogs — and other animals — have a wide range of feelings and emotions, including happiness, fear, and even depression.
Assuming your pet isn't sick, which can cause sadness and requires medical attention, morose dogs are sometimes dealing with big changes in their home life, including the death of a family member or fellow pet, moving homes, or even the addition of a new baby or another animal. Additionally, sometimes it's just a matter of the pup being bored from not getting enough physical or mental stimulation. But this is just a quick rundown and doesn't include all the reasons why an animal can be sad.
Taking your pet to a veterinarian is always advised when there are serious symptoms that can't be ignored, including major or ongoing changes in behavior. While it's hard to diagnose a dog with depression, a trained professional can potentially offer help with the situation, including but not limited to diagnosing an underlying medical condition or offering insight and advice on how to perk up your pet's mood.
Always consult your veterinarian before making changes to your pet's diet, exercise, or care. To find an accredited veterinarian in your area, you can search the American Animal Hospital Association's online database.