Giant Saint Bernard Caught Licking Plates in Sink 'to Help with the Dishes'

A Saint Bernard called Moose has made a name for himself online after getting caught licking the dirty plates left sitting in the kitchen sink.

Dogs have been getting caught in the act doing things they shouldn't for as long as anyone can remember. From chewing furniture to stealing food, the advent of the internet has seen many of these pet-based transgressions translated into social media gold.

Much of that is down to the so-called "guilty look" many dogs adopt in these situations. But while such guilty looks might be the source of much amusement in person and online, science suggests such expressions are not motivated by feelings of guilt at all.

While the evidence is still inconclusive as to whether canines can experience feelings of guilt, a 2009 study into canine expressions concluded that dogs tend to use "guilty" body language as a direct response to being scolded by their owners.

Researchers found these "guilty" expressions were based on owner cues and could be elicited even in situations where the dog had done nothing wrong, suggesting our four-legged friends have little understanding of when they have done a misdeed.

Of course, not every dog reacts in that kind of way when they get caught out, with Moose being a case in point.

When the Saint Bernard's owner caught her noticeably large canine, on his hind legs, giving the pots, pans and plates in the sink a good lick, he reacted as if she had merely interrupted him while he was washing the dishes.

As the caption on the TikTok video, which has been viewed 43 million times, states: "Someone decided to help with the dishes after I made delicious chicken for them." The clip can be viewed here.

At first it appeared as though Moose was planning on continuing with his work even after he is caught in the act. "Excuse me, sir," his owner can be heard stating as she approaches him. Moose, however, appears unmoved in the video, briefly looking up to meet her gaze before getting on with his work.

It took his owner saying "excuse me" a second time before he grudgingly relented, dropping back down to the floor. Moose's human companion may not have been especially happy with his efforts to help out, but plenty of others on TikTok were— including actor Kevin Bacon.

Commenting on the video, the Footloose star jokingly wrote: "always appreciate a helper." Other TikTokers like Josh Henry were similarly impressed. "My dog just lays there like an unemployed teenager," he commented. "Yours does the dishes."

Elsewhere McKermy loved the way Moose showed "no remorse" after being caught while Scarlett Crypt insisted: "It wasn't him." MykoMushroom was in love, writing: "Oh my goodness gracious I just want to hug him" with Ed_h_870 insisting: "HE IS DOING HIS CHORES!! Leave him alone!!"

Newsweek has contacted Moose's owners for comment.

This isn't the first time a dog has gone viral after trying to steal a little food off the kitchen counter.

One golden retriever won an army of new fans after trying and failing to break into a tupperware box of food left on the kitchen work surface by its owner.

Another dog, meanwhile, tried to casually leave the scene of the crime on its two hind legs after getting busted licking dirty plates.