Puppy on CCTV While Home Alone To Ease 'Pawrent Anxiety' Melts Hearts

A new dog owner's anxiety has been put at ease as pet camera footage shows her golden retriever puppy does nothing but sleep when left alone.

Over 117,800 people have watched the viral TikTok video of Chicago-based dog Barney, posted by @barneymccarthyy. The video, captioned "Gotta love the new dog pawrent anxiety," has racked up over 14,600 likes since being posted on November 8.

In the video, the pup's owner writes that she is worried about Barney whilst out. But the video shows Barney is content in his crate and captures him sleeping in different positions.

Newsweek spoke to Barney's owner who stated he is "never left in his crate all day," and attends doggy daycare if his humans need to "leave him for more than an hour or two."

According to the Humane Society, "crate training your puppy takes advantage of the dog's natural instincts to seek out a comfortable, quiet and safe place when the environment around them becomes too loud or overwhelming."

The worldwide animal welfare organization refers to a crate as an "important tool" that helps prevent dogs from chewing items and is a "safe way" to transport them in the car.

The Humane Society offers advice for dog owners who are crate training their furry friends, highlighting that "a crate is not a magical solution to common canine behavior." The organization notes that if used incorrectly, "a dog can feel trapped and frustrated. And for some dogs, crates will not be an option."

Though crates can be used to manage behavior, the animal welfare organization states that "they should never be used for punishment" and notes that dogs shouldn't be left in a crate for too long.

"A dog who's crated all day and night doesn't get enough exercise or human interaction and can become depressed or anxious," the Humane Society says on its website, noting that puppies under 6 months old "shouldn't stay in a crate for more than three or four hours at a time" as "they can't control their bladders or bowels for that long."

The organization says owners can crate train their dogs until they are "able to be alone in the house without accidents or destructive habits." The Humane Society advises the crate "should always have a comfortable bed" and the door should remain open "when you're home so your dog can enter it when they need a safe space."

"A crate may be your dog's den, but just as you would not spend your entire life in one room of your home, your dog should not spend most of their time in a crate," the organization said.

While it isn't clear how long Barney was left in the cage, many TikTok users had something to say about the crate.

One said: "A bigger crate wouldn't hurt. Or no crate would be better."

Another wrote: "Couldn't leave my dog in a crate all day."

"Everyone saying they couldn't leave their dog in a crate, dogs love their crates. It keeps them safe while no one is home from their own boredom," wrote one user.

Update 11/15/22 3:25 a.m. ET: This article was updated to add the original video, photos and comment from the contributor.