Pet owners could spend hours simply observing their pets frolic and play. Our pets often amuse us with their quirky behaviours or endearing nature – and one dog owner recently had people in stitches after discovering his dog’s intense reaction to what he believed was a cat, but the owner quickly revealed the truth.
Morgan recently posted a video on her TikTok account – @belmelly – showing a dog seated in the back of a car, visibly agitated and barking incessantly. The border heeler seemed frightened, signalling a cat was staring at her from the adjacent parked car.
However, when the owner looked over to see what had sparked the intense barking, she discovered the supposed cat was merely a car decoration.
The picture, affixed to the rear seat window, depicted a terrified cat with its head thrown back, eyes wide and mouth open. It’s easy to see why the dog was scared!
In an attempt to soothe her distressed pet, the dog owner repeatedly exclaimed: “It’s not real.” But the dog persisted.
One person commented: “To be fair, I’d be upset too.” Another remarked: “Omg I laughed so hard,” while another wrote: “Girl even I thought it was real.”
“I swear dogs can be so stupid,” added another. Someone else suggested: “I want you to show this to the car owner, they’re going to love it.”
One user shared another amusing anecdote about their dog, writing: “My dog had an absolute fit at a cut out of Flavor Flav in the Raising Canes drive thru once.”
Why do dogs bark at other animals?
Rachel Garbutt, a Registered Veterinary Nurse at Butternut Box, has offered some advice to help dog owners understand why their pets may bark more frequently and what they can do to alleviate the situation.
The expert, who studied at The Royal Veterinary College and spent seven years working in practice, explained: “Barking is completely normal communication. But in late summer, with neighbourhoods busier and family routines changing, it can quickly tip into excess. The aim isn’t to stop dogs from barking, but to ease the triggers that make life stressful for both pets and people.
Discussing why dogs bark at other animals, she said: “In busy neighbourhoods, one bark can easily lead to another – what we call cascade barking. With open windows and lighter evenings, dogs hear each other more clearly.
“Closing windows during peak times or playing gentle background music helps reduce the impact, and specially designed canine playlists can be surprisingly effective. It’s about lowering the overall stimulation so your dog doesn’t feel the need to join in every barking chorus.”