Many people assume dogs are so mischievous that leaving them alone will inevitably cause a mess. Michael Brown, a first-time dog owner from Santa Monica, California, once held that same view.
In the past, Michael had no experience caring for a dog. Then he adopted a puppy almost by accident, and from that moment he began gaining “canine experience” as he learned the routines of life with a young pet.
After several months together, Michael still wondered how his puppy would behave when left home alone. To answer the question, he set up a simple experiment to observe Cactus without supervision.
The result of that test left him both surprised and delighted.
Crate Loyalty That Surprised A New Owner
A few months after bringing Cactus home from Pups Without Borders, a Los Angeles rescue, Michael decided to test the pup’s behaviour when left alone. He had started crate training in August and chose to leave the crate doors open to see what Cactus would do.
This man knew that Cactus was a good boy but that was during the time when he was with him. Michael was convinced that Cactus would not behave nearly as well when he wasn’t around.
Although Cactus behaved well while Michael was present, the owner suspected the puppy might act differently when unsupervised.
Since the crate sat beside Michael’s bed, he braced for the worst: a gnawed mattress, scattered items, or a general mess.
When Michael returned to the room, he felt astonishment and relief. Despite complete freedom to roam, Cactus had chosen to remain inside the crate, patiently waiting for his owner’s return.
The quiet, faithful scene moved Michael to record it and share the moment with his TikTok followers at @cactustherescue.
Not content to accept a single observation, Michael tried a few more temptations to see if Cactus would change his mind.
First, he turned up the television in the next room, hoping noise might lure the pup out. Cactus did not move.
Then Michael placed a comfortable bed right next to the crate; still, Cactus remained in his spot.
Finally, he opened his laptop and placed it in front of the crate so the puppy could watch moving images. Even with that stimulation, Cactus stayed put.
Cactus’s consistent choice to remain in the crate under a variety of tempting conditions demonstrated remarkable restraint and comfort with his space.
It showed that when a dog feels secure in its crate, it may prefer that familiar refuge over exploring or creating mischief.
Praise From TikTok Followers
When Michael posted the clip, the video quickly gained attention and left him impressed by the reaction. Viewers applauded Cactus’s calm demeanor and Michael’s approach to crate training.
“He is a polite boy,” one user wrote.
“It’s his safe place❤️,” another added.
And the third elaborated: “That’s good behavior! You want them to feel safe in their crate so that whenever they have to be in there, they don’t see it as a punishment and feel anxious”
If Michael’s description is accurate, he has done a fine job helping Cactus see the crate as a safe spot. Even if a dog occasionally makes a small mess, this kind of reliable, calm behavior is worth celebrating.
After all, what dog has never made at least a minor mess? 🙂