By Jack BeresfordShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberA dog was clearly still feeling the effects of the anesthetic given to her during surgery yet refused to step back from her duties protecting the house.
Michelle, from Washington, D.C., shared adorable footage of Honey, her dog, doing her level best to ward off any unwelcome visitors. Unfortunately, for Honey, the effects of her medication are proving too much. She’s barely able to ward off the sweet surrender sleep, never mind any intruders.
Still, as the video Michelle posted to TikTok under the handle @mlogsss shows, Honey is not in any hurry to relinquish her spot keeping watch and “protecting” the house. Michelle told Newsweek Honey had undergone dental surgery the day before. “She had three teeth out,” she said. “She loves guarding the house and actually sits in that spot all day long looking out that window.”
Honey’s determination to protect, regardless of how she is feeling, is likely rooted in a strong sense of attachment to Michelle.
...Dogs have been known to engage in what’s called “resource guarding.” It’s a term referring to the protection of a prized asset, most often a toy or food but every now and then also a human family member. Dogs have also been known to do the same with couches.
In the case of humans, it’s something that highlights the unique bond dogs feel toward their companions. That bond was highlighted further in a 2015 study published in the journal Behavioral Processes, which saw researchers use MRI scans to look at how dogs respond to familiar smells.
The scientists found their owners’ scent sparked activity in the caudate nucleus area of the brain, which is considered the brain’s reward system. It’s a reaction that points toward the presence of a genuine emotional attachment to their human friends.
Honey’s sleep-eyed attempts at protecting Michelle may not have been all that effective, but they demonstrate her attachment. In the video, Honey can be seen gradually dozing off, before falling asleep. Her rest proves short-lived of course, with Honey jolting back into an upright position before looking around to see if anyone has noticed her sleeping on the job.
The bad news is that her mom has it all on camera. The good news is that Honey’s efforts have proved well received on social media, with the pint-sized pooch earning a raft of new fans as a result.
Commenting on Michelle’s video of Honey, one viewer wrote: “Give her a raise.” Another, meanwhile, joked, “American workplace conditions make me sick.”
A third quipped: “I get it. take PTO when you can enjoy it,” with a fourth adding: “I do the same ‘Who saw that!?’ look when I'm nodding off at work.”
Though she appeared ready for bed when the video was filmed, Michelle is pleased to report Honey has made a complete recovery and is back at work.
“She's all ok now and back to her usual guarding and chasing rabbits and squirrels outside,” she said. As the saying goes: “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” Honey gets it.
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