A dog owner has shared a now-viral video showcasing the emotional impact that human breakups can have on our furry friends.
Sonia, 31, from the U.K. shared a video of her beloved four-year-old dog, Wayne, sitting in front of the door as if waiting for someone.
The heartbreaking caption read: “Nobody talks about the grief dogs experience when we go through a breakup. How do we explain to them that the person they’re waiting for isn’t coming back?” She added in the post: “It’s not just the people who feel the heartbreak.”
After her breakup, Sonia, who didn’t give her surname, noticed that it wasn’t just her feeling down, but her pet too.
@sonia_gie/TikTok
“I was in a relationship for a year, and during that time, we lived together. My ex and Wayne naturally bonded. But a few months ago, we broke up,” Sonia told Newsweek. “It wasn’t an easy breakup, and because of how things ended, there’s no way for us to stay in contact, which also means Wayne doesn’t see him anymore.”
On TikTok, the video has gained more than 300,000 views, sparking an outpouring of empathy from fellow pet owners.
Viewer Danielle said: “Mine was horrible to my dog and hated her but she still sits and waits for him. So sad,” while Jennyh86 wrote: “Worst part of my breakup.”
“Sometimes, Wayne sits by the door as if he’s waiting for someone. It’s not an everyday thing, but when it happens, it’s heartbreaking to watch,” Sonia said. “One evening, I saw him doing it again, and I decided to record the moment and share it on TikTok.”
Typically, Sonia’s social media content is filled with happy and playful moments with Wayne, but she felt compelled to show a more emotional and raw reality.
“I honestly didn’t expect much, but the response was overwhelming,” she said. “So many people related to it, shared their own experiences, and expressed how much they understood what Wayne was going through. It really showed me how important this topic is and how many people—and their pets—go through the same thing.”
The video struck a chord with viewers on TikTok, with many sharing their own experiences of pets grieving post-breakup. One commenter, Aimèe Denvir, wrote: “My sausage did this for months—it was heartbreaking.” While Léa said: “I cried more about my dog missing him than me missing him.”
Sonia hopes that Wayne’s story raises awareness of how deeply pets feel the loss when their owners experience life changes.
“We often think about breakups as something that only affects us, but the truth is, our pets go through it too. They don’t understand why someone is suddenly gone, but they feel the loss just as deeply,” she said. “Seeing how many people connected with Wayne’s story just proves that dogs have emotions, and when our lives change, their lives change too. And just like us, they need time to adjust and heal.”
This isn’t the first time a dog reaction to a breakup has gained viral attention. Last year, hearts broke at the story of Larry and Russell who were separated when their owners’ relationship ended.
Do you have funny or 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.
