A dachshund has developed an adorable attachment to one of her toys.
Dogs have a unique relationship with the toys they play with every day. A study published in the scientific journal Animal Cognition found that canines are capable of remembering the key sensory features of their toys in much the same way they remember people.
These include what they look like, how they feel and how they smell. Dogs are then able to recall these features when looking for a particular toy.
However, Zara Burfitt's dachshund Mocha appears to have a much-stronger connection than that when it comes to the cuddly wiener-dog soft toy recently gifted to her. Burfitt said Mocha thinks of the soft teddy as "her baby" and spends her days showering it with affection in the form of licks and cuddles.
Footage of Mocha showing off her motherly instincts was published to TikTok by Burfitt on February 29 under the handle @zaraburfitt_. The video has proven popular, amassing over 2.7 million views and counting.
@zaraburfitt_ The cutest thing I’ve ever seen 🤍 should Jelly Cat gift Mocha more babies? @Jellycat #sausagedog #dachshund #minidachshundsoftiktok #mocha #fyp #babydachshund
♬ What Was I Made For - Andrea Vanzo
Much of the focus appears to be on the adorable nature of the six-second clip. "The most adorable baby in the word," one viewer wrote, with another commenting: "No stop, this is just too cute. Cuteness overload."
Several fellow dachshund owners also weighed in to express their surprise at how gentle Mocha was with the soft toy. "My dachshund would murder the stuffed animal," one posted, while another agreed: "my dachshund pulled the eye out of hers."
A third added: "Ours thought it was real and tried to savage it, and was then horrified when we got the giant one."
One poor pet owner appeared to have been put through the wringer, thanks to their dog's toxic relationship with their cuddly toy. "My dachshund has the BIGGEST beef with mine...he gets super jealous and looks for ways to take it out," they wrote.
Even so, there were some who had witnessed their canine develop a similar bond. "My frenchie has a sausage dog teddy and protects it like her baby so cute," one such dog owner commented.
A small minority expressed concern that Mocha might be getting a little too attached to the toy. "My dog also did this but after advice from the vet we discovered she had had a phantom pregnancy, be careful she doesn't get too attached," one viewer posted.
One TikTok user even thought Mocha might be trying to tell Burfitt something. "She's telling you she needs a friend," they wrote.
All theories aside, most were simply happy watching a heartmelting moment between a super-cute pup and his new favorite toy.
As one emotional viewer put it, "I'm actually crying hysterically."
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Jack Beresford is a Newsweek Senior Internet Culture & Trends Reporter, based in London, UK. His focus is reporting on ... Read more
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