Internet Sobs as 'Old Man' Dog Climbs Into Dryer to Be With His Blanket

The Internet has fallen head over paws for a senior dog who was determined to find a blanket after one wasn't left out for him.

Swazie's owner typically leaves out a blanket for her nearly 16-year-old dog, but when she forgot and left it in the dryer, he came up with the perfect solution: climbing in with it.

In the viral video, which has gained over 10.5 million views since being posted to TikTok on Monday, viewers can hear the dog owner cracking up once she realizes where her dog is lying down. She won't make the mistake of leaving the dryer door open again.

Swazie's owner, known on TikTok as @mandypierce32, told Newsweek that her pup loves blankets. Whether a blanket is on the couch or on the ground, he's always snuggling up with one.

"A lot of times when I'm doing laundry, I have all the blankets on the ground in front of the washer and dryer to be washed, and he lays on them," she said.

The incident in the video was slightly different as it was her son's comforter getting washed. She left the dryer door open for him to get it, and when he did, he immediately called her over because of Swazie's antics. When she came over to look, Swazie was lying on a hot, fresh blanket like it was nothing out of the ordinary.

Swazie's mom captioned the TikTok video: "The old man loves his blankets even when you forget to shut the dryer door." And TikTokers certainly loved the old man himself.

"Well it's clean...he's just been waiting," one commenter, @justwatchingtiktokkara joked. "What a sweet old man face! Such a cutie!" another person commented on the adorable video. "What a sweet soul!" a third person wrote.

Why Do Dogs Love Blankets?

Dog owners might notice their fur babies gravitate toward blankets. According to pet care company Wag, this trait can be linked back to a dog's behavior in the wild. Dogs use dens as shelter from the weather and predators. Crates, dog beds, and even blankets can provide the same feeling of protection that a den gives those in the wild.

Dogs will also seek safe spaces—beds, blankets, separate rooms—when they're feeling stressed or anxious. They might go to these safe havens during thunderstorms, fireworks, or if there is a new crying baby in the house. The Preventive Vet stresses the importance of providing these special areas for your dog in order for them to self-soothe and become confident when put in stressful situations.

Dog-Proofing Your Home

Preparing to bring home a dog is similar to child-proofing your home. Dogs, especially puppies, love getting into areas of the house they aren't supposed to be in. Owners should dog-proof their homes as early as possible to avoid any items getting broken, ripped apart, and hazards, according to Purina. Plus, you want to keep your fur baby safe.

Purina suggests installing child locks on cabinets and baby gates at the top of stairs so both puppies and elderly dogs do not accidentally fall down. Owners should also remove toxic household items like plants and cleaners, hide electronics, and never leave food unattended. In the case of this video, it's important to double check washers, dryers, refrigerators, and microwave doors are all closed.

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.