Boxer Ignoring Other Dog at Traffic Lights Has Internet In Stitches

Some dogs want to be friends with anyone, human, cat, duck, while others will tolerate only their owners.

One dog doing his best to avoid interacting with another soul is Buddy the boxer, who recently went viral on TikTok for his antisocial behavior. In the video, which has been viewed over 8.4 million times in two days on the TikTok page @buddylove570, Buddy can be seen sitting in the passenger seat of a car. He is doing his best to keep his gaze straight forward, while another dog leans out of another car window to his right, desperate to get his attention.

Everyone wants an outgoing dog who makes friends easily, but for owners of canine wallflowers, this is a pipe dream.

"To develop a healthy attitude toward socializing, dogs also need the example of an owner who leads the way during the puppy's formative years," reports Pedigree the pet-food manufacturer on its website. "That's why shyness is a common personality trait in dogs that move from owner to owner frequently in their lifetime. Dogs look to their owners to be the 'alpha dog' of their 'pack,' and to guide them safely into new and stimulating situations."

If a dog has had limited exposure to other canines, or has had multiple negative experiences, they may resist socializing with them. "Aggression is a common symptom of a lack of contact with other dogs," adds Pedigree. "To get your dog feeling more comfortable around his canine counterparts, start with dogs that you already know are trustworthy.

"If your dog behaves himself, reward him for his polite behavior in the presence of the other dog," the manufacturer adds. "Gradually work up to rewarding the dog for being close to the other dog, getting closer and closer each time. Of course, the best way to remedy this is to have your leashed dog interact frequently with other leashed dogs."

Successful socialization starts as a puppy. However, if you rescue an older dog, you may have to handle a few behavioral quirks.

"Socialization for an older dog should go slow and steady, based on the severity of their fear of other dogs," reports the American Kennel Club. "One of the ways to do this is to participate in basic dog-obedience classes. Basic obedience classes build up their confidence level, and having them around other dogs in a class while focused on learning helps acclimate them to other canines in a positive environment."

Users on TikTok loved the antisocial dog.

"When you honk at someone a mile back and then end up next to them at the stoplight!" commented one user.

"Dog said 'just pretend like u don't see him. I owe him some money,'" wrote another.

Newsweek has reached out to @buddylove570 via TikTok for comment.

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