'Reactive' Rescue Dog Picking Out His New Emotional Support Stuffie Is Too Pure
Pretty much every child knows that the right stuffed toy can help when it comes to coping with unpleasant feelings. Sometimes, animals can also benefit emotionally from cuddly toys. In a charming TikTok video that's been watched more than 7.7 million times and racked up over 1.4 million likes, Kevin the rescue dog goes to the pet store and grabs a comically large stuffed dinosaur for himself. "We discovered Kevin isn't reactive if he gets to pick a toy," is written across the video.
@katieandtatesfostermates Who's training who at this point... 😆 @PetSmart
Kevin tries to walk right out the door with his new toy, but his owners don't let him get away with this larceny. After they pay for the turquoise dinosaur, Kevin proudly carries it out to the vehicle and leaps into the backseat with it in his mouth.
Viewers were enamored with adorable Kevin and his giant toy. "He's got an emotional support dinosaur 😭😭😭," one commented, while another noted, "Him trying to leave the store as soon as he got it is so real. We love a king that knows what they want." One person pondered if Kevin was trying to mimic the caring behavior of his rescuers, writing, "What if...he thinks he rescued it like y'all rescued him?"
Dealing with a nervous dog
Border collies, Jack Russell terriers, and Chihuahuas are among the dog breeds with the highest likelihood of having anxiety issues, but in truth, any dog can experience stress, fear, and frustration at times. Some dogs wear anxiety vests to cope with stressful events like fireworks and storms.
In the TikTok video, Kevin's harness is attached to a leash with a bright yellow sign saying "NERVOUS RESCUE Do Not Pet." Reactive dogs may have specific triggers, such as bicycles or people wearing hats, or they may react to almost every person and animal they encounter. A comfort object, such as a stuffed toy, may help to stop a dog from running and barking at people or displaying other reactive behaviors, including lunging, jumping, whining, and growling. Dogs like Kevin may discover that the comfort and tactile stimulation provided by a stuffie is enough to keep their negative emotions in check.
"My dog gets a toy when she has 'big feelings'. Typically when she growls or gets a little snippy my family will tell her to grab a toy for her big feelings," one person commented on the TikTok video, while another shared, "My dog learned I don't like the continual barking at people walking by so she grabs a squeaky ball and squeaks it at people now 😂." One viewer joked, "I too am not reactive if Kevin gets a giant dinosaur."