A video showing friends arriving fashionably late to a dog’s birthday extravaganza has gone viral on TikTok, provoking delight, and no little symapthy, among viewers.
The clip was posted by @walsh.the.blab, a TikTok account charting the adventures of a Labrador called Walsh. The video has amassed 3.5 million views since it was shared on November 16.
A note overlaid on the clip reads, “Walsh told his friends his birthday party started at 5:30 let’s see what time they showed up,” as Walsh is seen wearing a party hat and neckerchief.
The video later shows various canine and humans friends arriving individually and in groups, with some bearing gifts, while others simply brought “the vibes.”
Among the notable guests included Sweetpea—who is “Walsh’s girlfriend”—and Indie, who came “extremely ready to party” as well as Shovel, a tortoise who embarked on a “1 year journey to make it to Walsh’s birthday party,” according to a later video shared by the poster.
As excited as the canines appear to see one another in the viral post, do dogs really form friendships with other pups?
According to a March 2019 study published in Scientific Reports, “dogs can form relationships of comparable qualities with both humans and other dogs, and that these relationships vary along multiple components across different partners.”
Stanley Coren, a professor emeritus in the department of psychology at the University of British Columbia in Canada who is the author of several books about dogs, agreed.
In a February 2013 article for Psychology Today, the professor noted that “although dogs are happiest when they are in a social situation, the species that they are interacting with is less important than the quality of the interactions.”
Coren explained: “Dogs that have been properly socialized will congenially approach virtually anything that is alive, regardless of its species, and, unless they receive hostile signals, they will attempt to establish a good-natured relationship.”
‘Extremely Ready to Party’
Viewers on TikTok were delighted by the party arrivals scene in the viral clip, with several being especially fond of the tortoise’s appearance.
Niko Destefanis wrote, “This dog has more friends than I ever will” and Körnchen commented, “This make me so happy.”
K said, “Indie was extremely READY to party” and Gage Johnson wrote, “I know Indie brought the vibes.”
Jessie wrote, “EXCUSE ME?! Shovel?! I’m obsessed” and alk2664 said, “I was not prepared for Shovel.”
Mary Claire Nolan noted, “It probably took Shovel an hour to walk to the door.”
Heath wrote “I think Shovel was still leaving from last year’s birthday party and it just worked out.”
However, some sympathized with Walsh as his pals swaggered in late.
Twittles wrote, “Poor guy. All his friends were late, I’m just glad they all showed up!”
User @stupid.babey said, “Everyone being late made me feel so bad.”
Mady wrote, “Sweetpea and little Tan enjoyed the party and are sorry they were 6 minutes late!”
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok. This video has not been independently verified.
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