Silly Shih-Tzu Decides Upside Down Is the Only Acceptable Way To Be Carried
Some dogs like to be carried. Some tolerate it. And then there's Harlie, who has very specific requirements and will absolutely enforce them.
If she's not upside down, she's not interested. Just check out this sillyShih-Tzu below.
@harlie.rae8 we get a lot of "is she real??"
Oogum Boogum Song - Brenton Wood
TikTok user @harlie.rae8 shared the clip with the caption, "Explaining to people in public why my dog is the way she is," and honestly, you can see why that explanation would come up a lot. Every time her mom tries to carry her normally, Harlie immediately flops over until she's hanging upside down again, like that's the only acceptable position.
It's not subtle. It's not occasional. It's a full commitment to the bit.
Related: Exhausted Shih-Tzu Looks Like He's Fighting for His Life To Stay Awake
Her mom even mentions that people ask if she's real, which feels fair because Harlie genuinely looks like a tiny stuffed animal with those soft teddy bear ears and that completely relaxed, unbothered energy.
The comments fully embraced the chaos. "She's just hanging around," one person wrote, which is both accurate and a perfect use of language.
"She said I love the upside of the view," feels like something Harlie would absolutely say if given the chance, while another added, "In my next life I wanna come back as her just to feel that unbothered," which… same.
"Omg, I thought my dog was the only one," suggests there may be more upside-down specialists out there than we realized, and "Adorable. Those teddy bear ears!" is just a fact.
And then there's this: "She's a bat baby," which, once you see it, you can't unsee. The pose, the dangling, the complete comfort with being upside down… it all tracks.
Why Some Dogs Enjoy Being Upside Down
@harlie.rae8 somethings a little off…
Upside Down Jaden Bojsen Remix - Jaden Bojsen
Dogs can have all kinds of weird preferences, and for some, being upside down is surprisingly comfortable.
Pups who feel safe and secure with their person are more likely to relax into unusual positions, including being held on their backs. It exposes their belly, which is a vulnerable area, so choosing that position can actually be a sign of trust.
For some dogs, it may also just feel physically good. Certain positions can relieve pressure on joints or simply be more comfortable depending on their body type.
And then there are pups like this Shih-Tzu, who seem to decide on a preference and stick with it no matter what anyone else thinks.
Fun fact: When dogs roll onto their backs during play or cuddling, it's often a sign of relaxation and comfort rather than submission. It means they feel safe enough to fully let go.
So while it might look unusual, Harlie's upside-down lifestyle is really just another example of a dog being completely comfortable, completely trusting, and completely committed to doing things her own way.
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This story was originally published April 17, 2026 at 7:20 PM.