Rocky has become the kind of pet celebrity the internet can’t resist, not because he can do tricks, but because he runs his household on a strict sleep schedule. The five-year-old Shih Tzu is the star of a TikTok clip where he makes it very clear that bedtime is non-negotiable. In the video, he plants himself by the bedroom door and barks like an outraged manager who’s just found someone clocking in late.
His owner, 25-year-old Makena Kramli, says the routine is serious, especially on weeknights. Every evening, they head to bed at 9 p.m., and Rocky’s favorite thing is simply being there with her. She explains that if they are not in bed by then, Rocky takes up his position at her bedroom door and starts “complaining” until she finally follows his instructions. The joke is that he is not asking for a walk or dinner, he just wants the cozy part of the night to start.
The short video was posted on December 11, and it is only seven seconds long, which makes Rocky’s fury even funnier. Text on the clip reads, “God forbid it’s 9:02 and I’m not in bed with him,” capturing the exact kind of dramatic overreaction pet owners recognize instantly. Rocky’s barking sounds less like noise and more like an official announcement that a rule has been broken. It is the pet version of someone tapping their watch and making eye contact.
@makenak726 He’s very demanding #shihtzu #boydog #shihtzusoftiktok #needydog ♬ original sound – makenaaa
That tiny burst of canine indignation quickly turned into a viral hit, pulling in more than 3.4 million views and over 629,000 likes. The comments section turned into a support group for people who live with animals that treat routines like law. Viewers joked that Rocky runs a strict program, that he should not have to ask twice, and that it is “his house” and everyone else is just living in it. Even Microsoft jumped in from its official account to note that Rocky does not approve of the delay.
Kramli, who lives in New York, said she was surprised by just how big the clip became. She also loved seeing how many people shared stories about pets who do the same thing, whether it is bedtime, breakfast, or a daily walk at a precise minute. Some viewers even posted photos of dogs who look like Rocky, which she found especially sweet. Kramli calls Rocky her “love bug,” and the whole situation does feel less like discipline and more like a determined little dog who knows exactly when it is time to cuddle.
Have you ever had a pet enforce a routine like Rocky does, and if so, what’s the funniest rule they’ve ever made you follow? Share your stories in the comments.
