16 Not-So-Sneaky Dogs Who Were Caught Stealing
Stopping real thieves requires reliable locks and strong situational awareness. The four-legged thief padding across your living room is much harder to outsmart. A dog can learn that an item is off limits, steal it anyway, and still remain firmly in your good graces. In fact, the 16 canine culprits we found somehow become even more lovable during the commission of their crimes.
Dogs don't steal out of malice or a desire to make someone angry; they often don't even fully understand what they've grabbed. They just know it smells interesting and therefore belongs to them now. That unstoppable mix of curiosity and pure opportunism leads to some pretty ridiculous heists β think Barbies snatched mid-game and pacifiers vanishing from cribs. A wannabe-sneaky dog is one of life's great comedies. The guilt lasts about four seconds before the tail starts wagging again, and they're ready to steal something else. It's a fun show for everyone, except maybe the person about to realize they're missing a shoe.
1. The pacifier never stood a chance
Babies and puppies have a lot in common. They're ridiculously cute, they love to nap, and they're both obsessed with pacifiers! A hilarious TikTok video shows what happens when a cuddly brown cavapoo spots an unattended pacifier in a crib. With no baby or parent stepping up to defend the comfort item, the dog moves in for the steal. Furry paws slide through one of the gaps between the crib's wooden slats and scrabble at the plastic.
@lyddy_lu Not the puppy leg stretch π #baby #puppy #firsttimemom #mom #momtok #puppytiktok #pacifier #babygirl
It takes a few tries, but the pup eventually maneuvers the pacifier into biting distance and latches onto it to complete the theft. The entire adventure is over in about 15 seconds. Where does the dog and its newly commandeered binky go next? We don't know, but there's a good chance that the baby is never seeing that pacifier again.
2. Mochi hauled away some oversized loot
Mochi's the tiniest pooch on this list, yet he doesn't let that get in the way of his thievery. He knows exactly what he wants: a towel that's bigger than he is! The adorable theft was filmed for TikTok, and the clip has so far amassed more than 500,000 likes. You can see Mochi walking backward as he drags the giant towel away.
@mochithemaltipoop This tiny thief π₯΄ . . . #maltipoo #maltipoosoftiktok #dogsoftiktok #puppy #pet #petsoftiktok #fyp #fypγ·
Commenters were arrested by Mochi's good looks, with many providing pictures to prove that the maltipoo resembles their own furballs. He has classic doodle charms like fluffy, soft hair and bright, friendly eyes. Mochi's spunky energy also gets a lot of love in the comments. His little body practically shakes with excitement and joy every time he takes a step. It's like he can't believe how lucky he is to have found such a thick, nice towel to steal.
3. This dachshund led a high-speed chase through the kitchen
Meri's brazen crime was committed right in front of the victim β she ran off with one of her human's shoes and refused to give it back! All of the silliness was captured for TikTok, so you can watch Meri's wild sprint around the kitchen. She runs around the island again and again, a giant black sandal hanging from her mouth. The video ends with Meri still triumphant. The person filming chased her every step of the way, but couldn't successfully nab the shoe.
@meri.dachshund Stealing π©΄ #doggy #puppy #dachshund #dachshundsoftiktok #perros
Nothing's safe when Meri's around. A commenter on Meri's video joked that the dog's thieving urge must be genetic, so the dachshund might be channeling her ancient hunting instincts into going after a shoe. At least a Croc makes for easy prey. The video's creator admitted in a comment that Meri "steals everything."
4. Goose cannot leave the laundry alone
Goose has a bad habit β he can't stop stealing laundry! A greatest hits collection of his laundry thefts was posted on TikTok. You can see him holding a shirt in his mouth and tussling with a stolen sock. He's less excited when he sees that he's being watched. He seems to recognize that laundry is off limits, and the fun is over when the humans catch on. The text overlay on the video reads, "When I get caught stealing laundry."
@goose_the_golden1 A1 laundry stealer ππΆπΎ #goldendoodle #puppylife #dog #puppytok #puppy
Sometimes, Goose seems to freeze in response to being caught, standing stock still with a yellow shirt in between his teeth or a pile of clothes at his feet. He's the picture of doggy guiltΒ for at least few seconds. According to the American Kennel Club, dogs sometimes steal because they want to be near objects that smell like their humans. Goose rifling through the laundry could be a sign of love.
5. Shila snatched sock during living room zoomies
For most dogs, getting the zoomies means a bout of exuberant sprinting and high-energy play. Shila likes to combine her zoomies with a little stealing. You can see her at work in this popular Instagram video. She steals a black sock directly off the foot of someone sitting on a couch and immediately takes a few victory laps. She runs so fast that she drops the sock a few times, only to pick it up again seconds later.
Shila's Instagram fans adore her cute sock theft and endless energy. "So funny, Shila," one viewer commented. Another wrote, "You can't stop running, and I can't stop laughing ..." That's probably why the sock's owner didn't put up much of a fight. No one can say no to that cute, floofy face. She looks like a moving blonde cloud. A few commenters suggested that she's overweight, but Pomeranians are supposed to have that puffball look when they have all of their fur.
6. Kobe tried to take a flying doll
Kobe's big theft was hardly his fault. Who can resist a Barbie flying through the air? The Facebook video featuring the relatable robbery starts with a giggling girl and her mom playing with the doll. But, instead of dressing it in fancy clothes or toying with its hair, mom attaches the Barbie to a pop-up launcher toy that sends it airborne. The leotard-clad doll does a full mid-air backflip before landing.
The little girl loves the spectacle so much that mom does it again. However, another pair of eyes has been watching the show. After Barbie's second backflip, Kobe the golden retriever swoops in and tries to yank the doll away. He's stopped immediately by the mother and the child, neither of whom seems surprised. He just wanted to be part of the game, too. The video's caption explains that the girl is used to Kobe's antics by now.
7. Duke just wanted something to rest his head on
Duke has the honor of being a famous thief. He has over 250,000 followers on Instagram, and many were enamored by clips of the golden retriever stealing. His owner adopted him as a senior pup, and one of his comfort methods is to steal random household objects and cuddle with them on his bed. In this video, Duke spots a backpack that he likes and immediately makes his move.
He sidles up to the bag, gently grabs it, and carries it away to his own bed. It turns out that the large backpack makes the perfect pillow. Duke looks like he's going to fall asleep when he lies on it. An amused commenter wrote, "Duke doesn't steal things... he acquires them instead." Others pointed out how useful his new backpack will be for holding the rest of his stolen goods.
8. Peter systematically cleared the bathroom floor
You know that movie prank when one character steals another's clothes while they're bathing? Peter decided to mimic that in real life. He loves snatching clothes from the bathroom while his human is in the shower. A fun TikTok video shows his systematic approach. He enters the bathroom, grabs a piece of clothing from the floor, and runs out. When his loot is stashed to his satisfaction, he re-enters the bathroom to swipe even more clothes.
@kirstenaurbina Thief on the loose π¨ #dogsoftiktok #funnydog #fyp
After there's nothing left to take, Peter plops down in front of the open bathroom door as though he's waiting to see his owner's reaction to his mayhem. Peter's obviously another dog that makes a habit of taking what isn't his. A text overlay on the video reveals that his owner has been trying to catch him in the act, which explains why the camera was positioned to film the bathroom episode.
9. Moose bolted rather than give up his unexpected toy
Living with a furry robber means getting used to finding everyday household items in strange places. The glove that's supposed to live in the kitchen might end up in a random spot upstairs. That's what happens in this TikTok video depicting Moose's theft. The curly-haired doodle snatches a blue glove off a counter when he thinks he's unobserved. The second he realizes that someone is coming to take his prize, he bolts upstairs, ignoring the cry of, "Moosey, give it back!"
@mooseteddydoodlecousins This sneaky pup π #dogmomlife #minigoldendoodle #dogsofttiktok #sneaky #cute
The person filming Moose doesn't give chase, so the dog has plenty of time to hide the prize. It belongs to him now by the laws of canine ownership. It's actually a bad idea to forcefully take items from your pup if you catch them pilfering things, as that can reinforce the idea that anything might be taken from them and create insecurity.
10. This rescued girl enjoyed what she discovered in the bin
There are pups that take laundry, pups that go after toys, and pups like Bailey that prefer to dig through the trash for their treasures. In a TikTok video, you can see Bailey confidently walking from the backyard to an enclosed patio with a crushed red soda can in her mouth. She's getting ready to lie down and enjoy her new toy when she looks up and realizes she's being watched.
@baileysjourney2024 She has been stealing things and finally got caught. ππ #dogs #breeder #followme #fyp #funny
Dogs that love stealing share a mindset with teenagers: the fun stops when an adult's looking! One of Bailey's fans commented, "Haha, she stopped in her tracks with that look, so adorable!" Bailey's owner knew the dog was a regular burglar, but this video marked the first time that the sweet pooch was caught. Bailey was adopted after a living many years as a breeder, so it's extra satisfying to know that she has a real home and toys she can call her own β although an aluminum can probably isn't the best choice, Bailey.
11. Chili paraded the empty pizza box around the kitchen
You can see another proud trash can raider in this Instagram clip featuring Chili, a fluffy golden retriever. He walks into the kitchen holding an empty box like it's a well-deserved award. He does a mini lap around the tile while a human prepares the actual pizza in the oven. After he shows off a little bit, he walks out with his tail still wagging.
Chili and the pizza box are such a funny pairing that one commenter claimed they had tears in their eyes from laughing. Another said, "This cracks me up every time!" Several people mention that Chili deserves a slice or two, but the dog seems perfectly happy. It would be hard for a cat to have more fun with that empty box. He barely notices when the oven door opens and a blast of fresh pizza smells hits the kitchen.
12. Dorka got into the cookies and kept going
Dorka might have gotten away with her mukbang if she had been a little faster. All she had to do was eat the evidence before she got caught. Instead, an Instagram video shows Dorka perched on top of a coffee table, chowing down on cookies. There are incriminating crumbs all over the table and an open cookie container next to Dorka's paws. The video's creator commented, "She knew she was wrong but didn't even care."
Others argue that Dorka is automatically innocent because she's so cute. "I'm her lawyer, and she's innocent of all crimes," one viewer commented. But, guilty or not, she definitely doesn't care. Unlike some of the remorseful-looking pups that we've mentioned, Dorka is blithely unconcerned when she's caught stealing cookies. She doesn't stop chewing for a moment. There are a few empty plates on the table as well, so she may have consumed more than just the cookies.
13. Getting caught is actually part of Barney's plan
Anything is up for grabs when Barney's in the mood to steal. He's been caught on camera taking a fuzzy slipper, some balled-up paper, shopping bags, and more. He's like a little furry collector. An Instagram video highlighting his larcenies lets you see how happy he looks after every successful capture. One commenter called him a cute rascal.
Stealing is actually the smart thing to do in Barney's case. His owner admits that he gets a treat every time he drops something that he's not supposed to have. He's a serial swiper because he's figured out how to game the system. Another commenter said, "Springer Spaniels are a different type of clever." English springer spaniels were originally bred to help hunters catch birds, and many are now using those same skills in police K-9 departments. Barney's detective work is a lot less arduous. He just has to figure out which objects are on the "do not grab" list.
14. Emma waited for the right moment to strike
Now it's time to look at a case of dog-on-dog theft. Emma and Ellie star in a viral Instagram video that starts with Ellie lying peacefully on the floor, one golden paw wrapped around a dark orange ball. For Emma, it's the perfect opportunity to steal. First, she slowly bats at the ball to gauge her sister's response. Then she jumps around and tries viewing the situation from different vantage points. When she's satisfied, she gets close and drags the ball free. Mission accomplished!
Ellie is the victim in Operation Toy Thief, yet she doesn't seem to mind. She doesn't move at all while Emma is figuring out her attack, nor does she try to hold on to her ball. The gentle reaction doesn't say much for her guard dog capabilities, but it does prove that Ellie's a loving big sister. They're two golden retriever best friends.
15. Bear wanted a toy and got a towel instead
Bear is the only accidental criminal on this list. He's a large, blind dog that sometimes can't tell if he's grabbing a toy or something that belongs to his human adopter. This scenario was depicted in a charming Instagram video showing Bear standing by a couch with a dish towel dangling from his mouth. The video's text overlay explains that Bear ended up with the towel after he failed to find his own plaything.
One smitten commenter wrote, "He's such a darling little thief." Another one added, "You could steal anything I own Bear. Love you." People adore that Bear has such a friendly spirit despite being born with no eyes. His disability isn't preventing him from living a full canine life, with occasional bouts of theft and all. A few longtime Bear fans commented that he usually steals socks when he's in a playful mood.
16. Woody treats every object as a potential prize
Wooy acts like the quintessential lab. He loves to play, and he's always ready to steal. His owner filmed some of his most outlandish thefts for a TikTok video. He grabs socks, stray papers, shoes, a remote control, and scissors. Few things are secure around Woody, though that doesn't make him any less cute. "That adorable face ... hard to get mad at him," one commenter said.
@the.lab.woody Thief of quite literally anything #labrador #chocolatelab #thief #spoileddog #dogmom
Labrador retrievers instinctively nab items for their owners. During a hunting party, they might retrieve waterfowl; If they're house pets, they might grab everything in sight. The caption on Woody's video describes him as the "thief of quite literally anything." Part of the fun of stealing for him comes from making the human chase him whenever he grabs something forbidden. And if he's caught, the human better be prepared to put up a good fight. When Woody chomps on a string-like object that could hurt him, his owner has to physically pry his jaws apart to grab it.
For more pets trying to get away with something, check out this list of sneaky cats and dogs.