German Shepherd's Sweet Way Of Greeting Mom In The Morning Is Making Hearts Happy
Everyone knows that the best way to start the day is with a yawn and a stretch. Need proof? Look no further than Chester the German shepherd. In a heartwarming TikTok video with "POV: your dog greets you every morning" — which has been watched more than 1.2 million times and garnered over 193,000 likes — Chester does a very satisfying yawn and a big stretch. The video is captioned, "He's so precious."
@chesterthegermanshepherd He's so precious 🥹 #dogsoftiktok #germanshepherd #germanshepherds #germanshepherdsoftiktok #dogs
Viewers couldn't agree more. "He's beautiful, ours does the same big stretch then kisses 🥰," wrote one, and another commented, "The best feeling ever. Good morning ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️." But several people cheekily chastised the owner for omitting a key component of the canine-human morning ritual. "Why didn't you say "BIGGG STRETCH!!"... are you a real dog owner if you don't say it??" one quipped. Another joked, "Oh, excuse me, ma'am — did you just forget to whisper 'big stretch' like it's some sacred incantation? That poor German shepherd's clearly traumatized, probably filing for emotional damages right now. I'm dialing Dog Protective Services — expect a SWAT team of golden retrievers in vests to bust down your door any second."
Why does your dog stretch to greet you?
One viewer of the TikTok video wrote, "Yup, the big yawn and slinky-stretch 'good morning' never gets old, does it? ☺️" When your pet stretches and yawns in the morning, the biological process is called pandiculation. It's a natural, automatic process that many animals do, including humans, and it helps to ease tense muscles and engage the body's connective tissues after a period of inactivity.
If your dog consistently greets you with a stretch that looks similar to a play bow — one of the funniest dog behaviors — and is accompanied by relaxed-looking ears and loose movements, then your pooch is conveying a friendly and affectionate "hello" that also indicates a high degree of comfort with you. If you always respond to your doggo's stretches with petting and words of praise, then your pet is likely to enjoy the attention and make the stretches part of a daily routine.
Want to see more videos of utterly adorable GSDs like Chester? Check out these German shepherds who reunite with their mom at the airport and nearly climb out of the car window, and this German shepherd and his stuffie who guard the house as a "two-man team."