It’s not uncommon for a dog to unexpectedly wander away from home for a while. This often occurs when the yard or house isn’t securely fenced, and the adventurous dog has a playful spirit and plenty of energy.
In such cases, a worried owner might reach out to the police or experienced rescuers, hoping their dog hasn’t gone far and will be quickly found and brought back home.
It’s quite rare for a dog to find its way back home on its own after a period of absence. Even more unusual is the occurrence of a dog ringing the doorbell to be let back in, but that’s exactly what happened in a home in Minneapolis, Minnesota one day.
A Sweet Surprise
Victor, the homeowner who experienced the doorbell ring from a Bernese Mountain Dog named Buddy, was taken aback, especially since he thought Buddy was safe inside the house.
Later, he shared with PEOPLE magazine that this event transpired after Buddy had figured out how to jump over the 4-foot fence surrounding their yard.
“Initially, we were puzzled as to how he was getting out,” Victor recounted. “But we eventually witnessed him leap over the fence, and that’s when it clicked.”
On that particular day, neither Victor nor his family had any inkling that Buddy had managed to escape from their Minneapolis home. He was away for 15 minutes before ringing the bell and appearing on the door camera.
Beyond their astonishment at seeing Buddy outside, they were even more fascinated by how he expertly utilized the doorbell camera. Thanks to this camera, we can also witness this incredible moment firsthand.
The video opens with Buddy’s tail wagging in excitement, clearly in a joyful mood. Moments later, he stands on his hind legs, rings the doorbell, and then positions his face right in front of the camera.
Shortly thereafter, the door opens, and a cheerful voice exclaims, “Buddy.” It’s Victor’s daughter, brimming with delight at the unexpected reunion with her dog.
“He Is Very Smart”
After the initial excitement of Buddy’s remarkable return, one begins to wonder how he executed such a clever move. Victor has a theory of his own.
“We think he must have observed people ringing the doorbell (our front door is made of see-through glass) and noticed that we would open the door shortly after pressing it. He is incredibly smart,” Victor remarked.
Deeper research reveals that science supports this phenomenon. According to Science, our dogs are capable of effectively imitating human behavior, a skill once thought to be exclusive to humans. This certainly sheds light on the matter.
Nonetheless, while Buddy charmed his family with his antics, it also prompted them to implement stricter measures to prevent him from escaping so easily in the future.
“We’ve extended our fence so he can’t jump over anymore. He stays put now,” Victor mentioned, adding that Buddy is doing “great” after his brief unmonitored adventure outside.
