Internet Confused by Happy Greyhound's Unusual Habit: 'Chatter Man'

Greyhounds are considered among the most majestic dog breeds, but the Internet has recently been left amazed by one of their peculiar habits.

After Instagram user @bernard_blue_boy posted a clip of a rescue greyhound tightly chattering his teeth, the video went viral, leaving millions of social media users baffled. But fear not, as Bernard the dog's owners insist that "nothing is wrong with him" and he wasn't in any discomfort, but rather, "this is something that greyhounds do when they are happy and excited."

Alongside the adorable clip, the pooch's owners joked that the "chatter man" wanted to "spread a bit of weekend cheer" by showing off his quirky habit. He certainly appears to have done just that as the Instagram post has been viewed more than 15.6 million times and received over 756,000 likes at the time of writing.

By sharing the video online, Bernard's owners wanted to show the world that teeth chattering isn't always a bad sign when it comes to greyhounds, and it can be a positive sign.

Newsweek spoke to veterinarian Dr. Raymond Spragley, who explained that it's a totally "normal and positive behavior."

He said: "Teeth chattering in greyhounds is a unique trait which is typically seen when they are anticipating or excited about a meal, a treat, or doing something they enjoy. Many people equate Greyhound chattering to purring in cats."

Although many greyhound owners will be accustomed to this unusual trait, Spragley, from the New York-based Zen Dog Veterinary Care, said that if any other breed starts doing this with their teeth, then it can be more of a cause for concern. He said that's "usually associated with anxiety, discomfort, or even neurological issues" in other breeds, so seeking veterinary assistance is recommended.

According to PetMD, teeth chattering may be a sign of dental pain, gastrointestinal complications, anxiety, seizures, or ear infections. If dogs have any of these conditions, the pet resource site suggests that they may also have bad breath, mouth swelling, drooling, bleeding, less appetite, or weight loss, so owners should be vigilant.

Any concerns should be addressed by a veterinarian who can examine the dog and provide any necessary recommendations.

Fortunately for Bernard, his chattering was merely a sign of contentment, even leaving his owners wondering whether he is "a greyhound or woodpecker." Since his rescue in 2017, they have regularly shared videos of his daily antics to show just how happy his life is now, and his Instagram followers can't get enough of his silliness.

After sharing the video of Bernard doing "the most adorable thing ever," his owners have been inundated with more than 2,500 comments on the post so far. Many of the responses were from fellow greyhound owners who confirmed that their pets also do this, and it's nothing they are worried about.

One comment reads: "As a greyhound mom, there is no better feeling than coming home and seeing the chatter engine start up because they are happy to see you."

Another Instagram user responded: "so they're like purring with [their] teeth."

While another person commented: "My dachshund does this! I was a little confused at first but she would always do it when I was cuddling her, so it makes sense now."

Newsweek reached out to @bernard_blue_boy via Instagram for comment. We could not verify the details of the case.

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