A pet owner has shared a heartwarming video of the moment his dog was seen looking pensive as the sun set.
Nora Shartovitis from Melbourne, Australia, shared a magical 25-second clip on TikTok of her pet dog observing the world around her as the sun set on an idyllic beach.
Shertovitis' video is a refreshing change to a social media platform dominated by dogs who are busy barking all day and barking outside and around the house. According to the caption, the dog spent “30 minutes” watching the sunset, remaining motionless and visibly lost in thought.
While the inner workings of a dog's mind remain a mystery, it's clear there's more going on than most people realize. That was evident in a 2012 study published in the online journal PLOS One.
The two dogs were scanned using functional magnetic resonance imaging, which is designed to monitor brain activity. Both subjects were trained to respond to a hand signal that signaled a hot dog treat by pointing their left hand down. His hands were pointing down, meaning he wasn't getting anything.
Researchers found that the “treat” hand signal lights up the caudate region of the dog's brain, which is associated with reward and motivation. There was no response even when I signaled “no snacks.''
Oksana Panova/Getty
In a video posted to TikTok under the handle “govnora,'' regions of Shertovitis' dog's brain may be illuminated. The dog certainly looks like he's having fun while admiring the world around him.
He's not the first dog to be photographed admiring the scenery, but he's definitely one of the most popular. A video of a dog looking dreamily into the distance has been viewed nearly 1 million times.
One viewer theorized what was going on in the dog's head, writing: “He's just thinking what a life this is.” A second person agreed, saying: “He's just sitting in the sand thinking about how beautiful life is.”
A third wrote: “He knows the joy of life is now.” A fourth suggested that the dog is “slowly accepting the fact that life doesn't always go the way you want it to”.
Another TikToker mused, “Do you think dogs wonder about consciousness too?”
Some went even deeper. One user said, “It's possible that he was a human in a previous life.'' Another suggested he was simply “remembering a previous life.”
Do you have a funny or adorable video or photo of your pet you'd like to share? Send it to life@newsweek.com with details about your best friend. You might find it in this week's pet lineup.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom, finding common ground and finding connections.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom, finding common ground and finding connections.
