Puppy classes and social events are supposed to help young dogs learn how to behave around each other and expel their pent-up energy. But that wasn’t how one “socially awkward” corgi viewed it, as she looked like she wanted to be anywhere else.
Nicole Saulino, 29, and her husband Pat Saulino, 30, have been taking their 3-month-old corgi, named Cannoli, to training sessions and started attending puppy social events, too. The couple were told that the weekly puppy socials are a great way for dogs to learn from one another, burn off energy, and get to know body language cues. Unfortunately, Cannoli didn’t quite get the memo that she needed to get involved during the event.
During the first session, Nicole Saulino, of New Jersey, told Newsweek that her pup sat in her lap and “watched from above” for most of it. But that wasn’t going to deter her owners, who took Cannoli to the event the following week, in the hopes that she might be more engaged.
@rollinwithcannoli / TikTok
“During the second session, she stayed on the ground the whole time but mostly sat at the feet of us or other humans,” Saulino said. “She also sat behind the human circle. Toward the end of the session, she decided to venture out into the middle. She looked the most nervous when she did that and was very timid with the other puppies.”
Her owners remain hopeful, however, as Cannoli has started to build the early foundations of friendships. She even “booped snoots” with a Shih Tzu and allowed a Labradoodle to sniff her.
Cannoli certainly seemed to be timid around dogs who bark a lot, leading Saulino to believe she felt intimidated by them. The pup is growing more confident around canines that are a similar size to her and don’t make too much noise.
Saulino said: “Since corgis are a herding breed and most of the dogs were larger than her, we think she was assessing the situation and perhaps planning how she could herd them. The trainer said corgis usually warm up after a few sessions and become the life of the party. We think she wants to get the lay of the land before she fully dives in.”
Footage of Cannoli’s failed attempts to socialize was shared on her dedicated TikTok account (@rollinwithcannoli) and the clip went viral. In just a matter of days, it has amassed over 1.2 million views and more than 205,000 likes.
The video shows the moment she ventured into the middle, only to regret her decision immediately. The poor corgi hid behind a small table and tried to avoid eye contact.
The reaction to the clip has been hilarious for her owners to see. Saulino told Newsweek that “it’s comforting to know” that others have gone through similar experiences with their pups. She also assured them that Cannoli gets plenty of fuss and snuggles when she is back home.
@rollinwithcannoli / TikTok
Saulino continued: “It’s been funny to see all the comments feeling bad for her or saying that’s how they are in a social situation. Besides feeling bad for her, the other most-popular comment on her video was about the heart on her bootie, which continues to grow as she does.
“She’s had another puppy social since the video and she actually ran around with the other puppies and really enjoyed herself. She did mostly stick to interacting with the smaller breeds, but was zooming around just like the rest of them,” Saulino said.
Cannoli is making slow but steady progress around other dogs. Her owner said that her pet “just needed a little more time” to truly come out of her shell.
The adorable TikTok clip has amassed over 1,000 comments so far, as many social-media users lauded Cannoli’s social awkwardness.
One comment reads: “She even had 2 friends at the end try to get her to play with them lol [laugh out loud]. I think your girl is an introverted Virgo.”
Another TikTok user wrote: “I feel like she’s internally screaming, ‘stranger danger!'”
“Me at any party … just hang out by the snack table bubs,” posted one commenter.
Another added: “She’s appalled by all this roughness.”
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