Chiweenie’s Silent Howl Melts Hearts Worldwide

Quick Smiles:

• A Chiweenie named Woolfie captures hearts with his silent howl.
• The dog’s unique vocalization story has gained over 1.7 million views.
• Viewers are touched by Woolfie’s persistent attempts to “bark.”

Imagine a world where a dog’s howl is not a sound but a heartfelt gesture. Woolfie, the Chiweenie, has become a sensation on TikTok, not for his bark, but for his lack thereof. In a video shared by his owner, Ashley Woolfenden, Woolfie appears to be howling, though the sound actually belongs to a distant siren.

The video, with its text overlay, reads: “POV: You haven’t been able to bark or howl your whole life, but you still try.” At the end, Woolfie does manage to produce a sound, though it resembles more of a squeak than a typical canine bark.

“He really does try so hard,” Woolfenden shared in the caption, clarifying, “[P. S.] No, I didn’t take out his voice box; he came like this.”

Woolfenden has also posted a clip of Woolfie as a puppy, where his squeaky attempts at barking began. She explained, “He has always been like this,” noting that his bark has “been broken for [nine] years.”

Veterinarian Dr. Anna Foreman provided insight into this phenomenon, stating, “It is rare for a dog to ‘lose’ their bark or voice, however, changes to phonation (their pitch) can occur with disease processes of the larynx (voice box), and so should always be checked by a vet.”

Dr. Foreman added that while some dogs bark excessively, others, due to breed or personality, may be less vocal. “Some dogs do not bark or howl, or do so silently (they move their mouth but don’t make a sound). This is usually a learned behavior,” she explained.

The TikTok post has been warmly received, amassing over 424,000 likes and nearly 3,400 comments. Users expressed their empathy and admiration for Woolfie, with one saying, “We hear you, little buddy,” and another commenting, “The best lip-syncer I know.”

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