Dog refuses to leave grandparents’ home—and the reason is heartwarming

A video of a rottweiler refusing to accept that it is time home time has gone viral on TikTok, racking up over 1 million views.

The hilarious footage shared to @rottweilermarley shows 2-year-old Marley protesting about leaving his grandparents’ house with his owners. He does everything in his power to make himself “100 times heavier,” as the owner notes in the comments, as they can be seen struggling to pick him up.

The caption reads: “When your stubborn Rottweiler gets so spoiled at his grandparents’ house that he refuses to leave.”

These days, it isn’t uncommon for pet owners to refer to themselves as mom and dad, so it is only natural for them to refer to their own parents as their dogs’ family members, too.

Research has shown that Gen Z, which consists of those aged 12 to 27, are not starting families in their 20s and are choosing to become pet parents instead. Just 38 percent said they would prioritize starting a family over raising a pet, according to the report from the website Best Ontario Casino Sites.

Another survey conducted by Redfield & Wilton Strategies for Newsweek asked 1,046 participants whether they use the titles “mommy” or “daddy” when talking to their pets.

Overall, 63 percent of respondents said they do embrace these parental titles—a sign of the close bond many owners feel with their pets.

Millennials—those born between 1981 and 1996—were the most likely to use “mommy” or “daddy,” with 69 percent in this age group saying they refer to themselves this way when addressing their pets.

TikTok users seem to agree, with many commenting on the July 8 clip about how pets are truly treated like children.

“No doggo in their right mind would voluntarily leave nana and granddad,” posted one user, and another agreed: “Who wants to leave an upscale all inclusive vacation?”

A third owner shared: “Two whole days my girl Rottweilers have been at their nana’s—toast for breakfast, roast chicken dinners and garden center cheesy treats! No wonder they didn’t want to return!” Marley’s owner responded: “Exactly that. It’s like a dreamland when they go to their nans! What a life.”

“So, this is the breed of dog that is so dangerous that it doesn’t want to leave there,” commented one person, referring to the rottweiler’s reputation.

The American Kennel Club says that the breed is often thought of as attack dogs because of their reputation. However, rottweilers were originally bred to be guard dogs, which means they can be naturally territorial.

With the right training and socialization, though, rottweilers can be incredibly gentle and affectionate companions. Their temperament depends greatly on how well they are raised and trained.

Newsweek reached out to @rottweilermarley for comment via TikTok. We could not verify the details of the case.

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.