Dog Tells Owners With Words When It's Time To Change Baby's Diaper

Tired of juggling childcare duties alone? One family in San Diego has enlisted the help of an unlikely but adorable assistant, their 3-year-old pomsky named Sapphie.

In a heartwarming video Sapphie showcases her unique talent: alerting her family to the need for a diaper change with the press of a button.

Sheena Shah and her husband, Sunit, discovered this remarkable skill in Sapphie through a set of buttons designed for dog training. These buttons play back recorded messages when pressed by Sapphie, allowing her to effectively communicate her needs.

When Sapphie detects a dirty diaper, she approaches the series of buttons, and with great enthusiasm presses the two that say: "poop" and "change diaper." These actions serve as a clear signal for Sunit to spring into action.

Adding a new level of convenience and cuteness to their daily routine, the Shah family found the interactive training buttons when looking for toys to keep Sapphie busy.

"We were actually just browsing online and looking for interactive toys for Sapphie and happened to stumble upon the dog-training buttons," Sheena Shah told Newsweek.

But what started as an experiment soon turned into an impressive display of Sapphie's cognitive ability. They began with the basics, teaching her commands like "walk," "treat," "play," and "attention." But Sapphie's keen understanding and determination led them to introduce more complex words such as "mommy," "daddy," and "I love you."

"Over time, we realized it wasn't more so about what she was pressing, but the way she was pressing them—with such sass, attitude, and umph," Shah said.

The Shahs equipped Sapphie with numerous buttons that activate their own recorded voices when pressed by the pup. It's an ingenious way for Sapphie to communicate her needs and desires effectively.

Sapphie's "poop detector" skills have delighted the internet after a video of her in action was shared on TikTok.

With more than 29 million views, people have been amazed by the unusual canine skill.

"Every man needs one of these dogs when they get a baby," joked sarahgreen878, while TikToker Alex said: "That dog is really smart."

"I swear Sapphie is a human in a dog body," said another viewe, while one TikToker wrote: "Sapphie is a great helper."

While the diaper video has gained particular attention, the Shahs emphasize the broader impact they hope to make on people's lives. Sheena Shah, a physician assistant specializing in psychiatry, and Sunit Shah, a doctor, find great joy in knowing that their videos have helped others laugh.

One of their most cherished video series is "Sapphie Speaks" that aims to raise awareness about mental health and remind viewers they are not alone.

"We feel immense joy knowing that our videos have helped others laugh or cope," Shah said.

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.