A dog owner's trick for playing video games uninterrupted is making the internet giggle.
So he could play The Legend of Zelda Game: Tears of the Kingdom in peace, TikTok user Siddharth treated his dog, Raya, to an early dinner, followed by a nice long walk and "some scratchos." However, the golden retriever saw through his scheme and spent the evening staring down the 31-year-old while he played.
"When I ignore Raya to play Zelda, she'll sometimes try to get my attention by bringing me a bone to hold or by running between my legs," Siddharth, from Ontario, Canada, told Newsweek.
"She's recently resorted to booping the control to get my attention and even going on her back for belly rubs."
Although Raya is usually an independent dog, the 2-year-old is used to being the center of attention and finds being ignored for a video game unacceptable. As a Zelda devotee, Siddharth concocted a plan to play Tears of the Kingdom undisturbed.
"I've been a fan of Zelda for as long as I've owned a Nintendo console," Siddharth said. "I got the game on release day and waited two hours for the midnight pickup. Raya was there super confused at what we were waiting for."
The sequel to 2017's The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the latest installment in the Nintendo franchise was released on May 12, 2023. The action-adventure game sold 10 million copies worldwide in just three days, with fans booking a day off work and calling in sick to play.
Siddharth shared a video of him ignoring Raya's pleas for attention to TikTok, hilariously captioned: "He planned it all."
The cute clip shows the retriever staring at Siddharth while he plays on his Nintendo Switch before she accepts defeat and watches the game on the TV. The funny footage went viral, receiving more than 500,000 views.
"Sometimes I give in. Others I don't," said Siddharth, a product manager. "When I don't, she usually ends up just watching me play to see what the big deal is. It's super cute."
Raya's usual routine consists of two long "breaks" a day—once in the morning and once in the evening. These breaks include a 30-minute walk, a tasty meal, some training and plenty of playtime.
However, when the weather is nice, Siddharth takes Raya for longer walks, so she didn't suspect his plan on the game's release day.
"I make it up to Raya by giving her extra long and fun breaks and giving her my utmost attention when I'm spending time with her," he said. "But unfortunately that memory is short-lived."
Dog lovers and Zelda fans found the footage relatable, with Micro Ondes Argenté writing: "This is me."
"Legit did this last night with my Golden! It does not work," said Natstv.
"My girl sits in my lap and grumbles the whole time I play," wrote Nikki-Lee Cassibo.
"My dog loves to watch when i ride the horse," said Ziegenmama.
"While ball and food are life. Right now the hoomans have TOTK to play," joked Shawn from CA.
"I mean it's Zelda," commented wlildveg. "Would not blame him for anything."
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@newsweek.com and they could appear on our site.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Sophie is a Newsweek Pop Culture and Entertainment Reporter based in Lincoln, UK. Her focus is reporting on film and ... Read more
