Shy German Shepherd's First Day Of Daycare Doesn't Go As Planned — But Social Media Cheers Him On

We've all experienced first-day jitters at some point in our lives — at school, at work, or at any new social setting, really. So, this German shepherd's reaction to his first day at doggy daycare should strike a chord, as the poor pup decides to hide in a supply closet at first while other pups run by in the middle of play. Can you relate? 

@giselle_louise

Poor guy 😭#germanshepherd #rescuedog #gsdoftiktok #cutedogs #GSD

♬ Funny Song – Sounds Reel

Set to a silly song, the TikTok video shows the shy GSD hiding in a closet, peeking his head out to see what's going on before slowly backing up into the room. When another dog moseys on over to stick its head in and say hi with a little tail wag, the German shepherd pokes back out. When a second dog comes over for a sniff, the GSD finally exits the supply closet and runs off.

Viewers left lots of encouragement in the comments. "It was too peopley for him," quipped, while another said, "I've never seen a more German shepherd thing in my *life* than this 😂." A third pointed out, "As you can tell, the white dog was probably the oldest here and told him, 'It's okay, nobody will hurt you. I'm here to protect all!'"

Doggy daycare can be a blast (just ask these backpack-wearing dogs on a bus), but your pup will have a much better time if you do a little homework first to reduce any first-day frights. Start by checking the facility's requirements and making sure your dog is up to date on vaccinations and paperwork. Then, take a tour of the facility to check out how clean and secure it is, how attentive the staff is, and the overall vibe of the place and other animals.

Next, help your dog get comfortable with spending time away from home, practicing with short periods apart beforehand. If they're new to group play, arrange calm introductions with friendly dogs instead of just throwing them into a daycare crowd. Many daycares offer temperament evaluations or trial visits, so staff can see how your dog handles the new surroundings before you commit. 

On the first day of daycare, pack things your pup may need — like a leash, food and treats, and medications. Keep drop-off upbeat and brief, as an emotional goodbye could backfire on you. After the first day jitters wear off, hopefully daycare will become your dog's favorite new field trip. You may even find your dog escaping from home to go head to doggy daycare all alone!