Owner Excited To Take Basset Hound Pup for a Walk but There's a Problem

Newsweek

01-05-2025

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Many owners have got their work cut out when they become puppy parents—apart from Norma's, a basset hound who recently left internet viewers in hysterics.
Racking up more than 14.5 million views on TikTok (@normathebasset), owner Bailey, 26, can be heard initiating a walk. However, 4-month-old Norma has other plans. She can be seen sitting in a dog pen with a leash attached to her collar.
"Norma is incredibly expressive," Bailey, from Philadelphia, told Newsweek. "I feel like I can tell when she's judging me.
"She wants what she wants, when she wants it. This includes spending time outside (or inside)," Bailey added.
From left: Norma sits on the floor in a dog pen with a lead attached to her collar; and sits on the floor.
From left: Norma sits on the floor in a dog pen with a lead attached to her collar; and sits on the floor.
TikTok/@normathebasset
In this instance, Norma does make it out of the pen, but it is clear she has no desire to go out.
Bailey said: "Puppies are very active, regardless of breed. She has lots of zoomies, plays fetch, and loves to go on long walks. However, it's all on her terms.
"She recently graduated from her playpen, and we no longer use it. She's loving her new freedom, especially lounging on the couch!"
From left: Owner Bailey smiles for the camera while in the car and Norma is in the backseat; and pouts for a selfie with her puppy.
From left: Owner Bailey smiles for the camera while in the car and Norma is in the backseat; and pouts for a selfie with her puppy.
Bailey/@normathebasset
Newsweek discussed the hilarious clip that has over 1.7 million likes with Kennel Club-accredited dog trainer Joe Nutkins.
She told Newsweek: "Basset hounds have the body of a scent tracker; lower to the ground than sight hounds and long ears that help channel scent toward their nose to help them find and follow a track. This means, when they are slowly walking a few steps, their olfactory senses are being hit with hundreds of different types of scent, and that takes a lot of cognitive processing."
Nutkins added: "This means that a regular walk, say, 20 mins round the block, might be easy work for a terrier, German shepherd or Labrador but for a bassett hound, this could be exhausting and for a puppy even more so, as they are also learning and discovering sights, sounds etc."
Nutkins also said that Norma may be easily tired due to her physique.
"With a longer back, they can find growing as puppies tiring very quickly as their supporting joints, muscles etc. are working hard to help the overall body.
"Once they are adults, they can have muscle fatigue from keeping the back supported and strengthened, too. When your body needs additional backup while growing or to do day-to-day activities, it is understandable that you will pick and chose your activities and types of exercise!"
TikTok Reacts
So far, the clip captioned: "Stubborn is an understatement," has over 14,000 comments.
"First mistake was calling her Norma. That's an indoor name. She's a librarian," said one user. Another posted: "She putting the NO in NORMA."
A third commenter added, "Norma is 99 years old," and a fourth commented: "She's looking at her cage like 'I am out.'"
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