A first-time family vacation with the dog was one to be remembered forever, but not for reasons people might expect.
Instagram user @fxck.stew04 said in an August 11 video that the doodle was left in the vacation home for about an hour, and it was thought that he would be fine for the short time apart. Perhaps the dog couldn’t come to where they were going or he was worn out from earlier activities. Whatever the case, the owner left him on his own, believing nothing could go wrong.
But the results proved otherwise. Much to their shock, the vacation home was wrecked. The couch cushions were off, the floors were covered in ripped-up paper, and food was scattered throughout. The dog even pulled down the blinds from the window.
One of the owners held the dog in the video with a look of shock and disappointment. He was likely thinking about what it would cost to fix the mess. Meanwhile, the dog kept wagging his tail, proud of his accomplishments.
Newsweek reached out to @fxck.stew04 via Instagram for additional information.
The Instagram video amassed over 1.3 million views, 27,300 likes and nearly 1,400 comments. While some viewers were laughing and unfazed that it was a doodle that did it, many criticized the owners.
“He thought you abandoned him,” said one user, while a second added: “Baby he was looking for y’all real bad.”
Another viewer commented: “I feel sorry for the dog. Please don’t punish him. It’s not his fault. Chalk it up to lesson learned and do better.”
Screenshots from an Instagram video show what happened after a dog was left alone for an hour in a vacation home.
@fxck.stew04/Instagram
Annie-Mae Levy, a professional dog trainer at dog-focused app Woofz, told Newsweek that she believes the incident was separation anxiety–related behavior, as many viewers suspected in the comments section.
“The main indication for me is the torn-down blinds, likely in an attempt to get a better view out of the window, hoping to see people returning,” she said. “It’s very common for dogs with separation anxiety to compulsively watch at the window or door.”
She added that dogs that might not struggle with separation anxiety at home can still show these behaviors in a new environment.
“Always make sure to gradually get your dog used to their new surroundings, and try short absences while you’re nearby before leaving them alone for longer periods,” Levy said.
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