Alyssa Greene struck internet gold when she posted a cute video of herself doing squats and carrying her dog. Colonel happens to be a 70-lb golden retriever, which is some legit extra weight! Instagram viewers were inspired to try to lift their own dogs, and soon the #squatyourdogchallenge got started.
Now the hashtag is flooded with folks getting in on the silliness. From Yorkies to bulldogs, all dog breeds are represented as people show off their skills. Check out some of our favorites below.
If you want to try this fun trend, make sure you can safely lift your dog and that your dog is comfortable with the situation.
Trend starter Alyssa Greene and her dog Colonel
Rover staff got in on the action
This puggle is loving it
Squatting a single Yorkie is about as easy as it gets
Doberman pistol squat
Triple trouble!
King size Frenchie squat
Military precision
As a Rover sitter, rescue worker, and dog owner I kindly ask that you rethink having this on your website or immediately following up with an internal opinion piece about why this is a terrible idea.
I would be open to Rover’s official stance on why this is a good idea… seems like in almost all the videos you can point out the anxiety in the dog…
Hi Barclay,
Thanks for your comment. As fellow dog lovers, we’d never want to see any dog harmed or afraid. Certainly not all dogs respond well to being held or lifted, and it’s important, as the article notes, not to attempt this if that’s the case. A dog’s safety and comfort are paramount. Our office dogs enjoyed the exercise, but we were careful not to involve any dog that would have been uncomfortable.
I’m currently reviewing the article with your concern in mind. (Note that it is a human interest story rather than an official endorsement of any kind.)