A dog has opened his own virtual bakery and started “making biscuits”, displaying a “kneading” habit more often associated with cats.
“I actually never saw another dog doing this,” owner Natascha Keppens told Newsweek, remarking on her German shepherd’s unusual behavior. “Making biscuits” is a phrase referring to animals kneading soft surfaces with their paws, often in order to relax.
“He does it when he is really excited or tired. Then he takes a blanket and starts nibbling on it, and his paws will follow,” Keppens, a police officer in Belgium, said.
The two-and-a-half-year-old named Tchief started his virtual biscuit business when he was just a few months old.
The 27-year-old said she hopes Tchief will be a K9 police dog someday, so they spend much of their day doing “Globalring,” which is “a dog sport where they have to do obedience and bitework,” she said.
“When his switch is on…he is a beast,” she said. Keppens also shares videos of Tchief in full combat mode, alongside clips of his biscuit-making abilities.
Keppens theorized the biscuits could be a way to help him unwind, saying: “He does it every day. Because we train a lot. So we come home and he don’t really have an off button.
“So when we are home he still wants to work or play fetch. So I ignore him and then when he finally starts to relax, he takes his blanky and starts doing it.”
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@tchief_the_black_gsd Another load of biscuits on the way! And PLEASE stop telling I’m doing this cuz I’ve been taken away from my mom too early. IT’S NOT ! Big boy does this for comfort! #fyp #foryoupage #biscuits #germanshepherd #gsd #blackgermanshepherd #bgsd #germanshepherdoftiktok #tchiefthebiscuitmaker ♬ Sleep Baby Sleep – Lullaby
Explaining more about why cats are star bakers, pet food website Purina said: “Cat kneading is a common cat behavior, often displayed as the rhythmic pushing of their paws in and out at alternating times. Many people think that it looks like they’re kneading dough, which is why it’s also adorably known as ‘making biscuits.'”
“Cats often knead to show pleasure. Your cat may also knead on your lap to show their love and contentment.
“A stressed cat may knead to create a soothing, calm mood. Cat kneading is an instinctive trait that they inherit from kitten-hood.”
While not unheard of in dogs, it appears to be less common, though it is motivated by similar factors.
“Kneading can also be a sign of comfort and security for dogs. When a dog kneads, it may be a sign that they are feeling relaxed and content. Dogs may also knead when they are feeling anxious or stressed as a way to self-soothe,” website Petexpertadvice.com said.
Keppens recalled the first time she saw Tchief kneading: “He was around 8 months. He was a terrible teenage puppy, then I noticed that he started doing it in his crate and fell asleep.”
She began sharing Tchief’s biscuit clips to TikTok, under the username @tchief_the_black_gsd. The most popular video, posted in April, amassing nearly 3 million views.
Keppens has never owned a cat, so can’t compare their biscuit efforts, although she said Tchief is “the best” in the business. “He does look really peaceful,” she added.