Hilarious Moment Sassy Puppy Argues During Crate Training: 'Barking Back'

One dog's hilarious act of defiance during a crate training session has left the internet in stitches.

Herbert's owner Aisling Doyle captured the moment her spirited pup refused to get into his crate.

"He started barking back I just thought it was funny," Doyle, who lives in Adelaide, South Australia, told Newsweek. "So I kept saying it to see how long he would 'argue' with me for."

In the video, Doyle asks Herbert to go into his crate—but he has other ideas—barking and seemingly answering back every time he is asked.

With 1.3 million views on TikTok, the exchange between the pet and owner has gained viral attention since being shared on Monday.

"There's a lot of fellow spaniel owners who understand the sass, and then there's a bunch of people with unwarranted advice or who think crate training is putting your dog in jail," Doyle said.

Crate training can be a valuable tool for dog owners, often used to provide dogs with a safe and secure space.

It can provide a safe space for a dog, help with potty training, reduce destruction and make travel easier.

But some people aren't keen on the practice as there is the potential for dogs to become over-reliant on a crate, the possibility of exacerbating anxiety issues and the risk of incorrect sizing causing physical and emotional distress.

Not every dog gets the hang of it quickly, while sometimes it's the owner who gives up on the training with often hilarious consequences.

In hundreds of comments people on TikTok were split, with some disagreeing with the idea of crate training altogether.

But others were in stitches at the video and shared their reactions.

"Cocker spaniels always have to tell you their opinion," wrote Christina, while viewer Denise said: "Omg mine is the exact same thing."

"Mine were sassholes too," added Danielle.

"I do find it interesting that people relate a crate to a jail but are fine with a baby's crib when they seem to have a lot of the same purposes to me, such as safety," Doyle said. "Our dogs love their crate, and given the option of our bed, a bed on the floor, or the crate, they choose the crate. Especially our dog with anxiety, this has been really great for her."

"But I do think a lot of it is a cultural thing with there being some countries that ban crating dogs," she explained.

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