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Genius Dog Pretends To Be Lost To Trick People Into Petting Her

Sophia
by Sophia
3 Nov 2021

Harper is the kind of dog who can turn a quiet neighborhood walk into a full-on petting operation. She is cute, clever, and apparently very committed to getting attention from anyone who passes by.

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In this story, Harper’s owner has even put up signs to warn neighbors about her little routine, because the dog likes to act lost just long enough to win some sympathy and a few extra pats. It is a harmless scam, but it has clearly made Harper a local favorite.

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Now the only question is how many neighbors she has managed to fool today.

This is Harper. Harper is, well, obviously super cute, but she has a cheeky personality to match.

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Over in California, Alyson Aguerrebere was enjoying her run when she noticed a tiny white dog on the footpath. At first, she didn't think anything of it, but soon realized that the dog was not on a leash, and then she started to worry.

Aguerrebere told The Dodo:

“She just looked lost. She was staring at me from about 40 feet away as I approached her, and it wasn't until I reached her that I saw the sign.”
Harper the cute dog with a cheeky expression, looking at the camera
Alyson Aguerrebere (via The Dodo)

The dog wandered up to Aguerrebere, and it was then that she noticed the sign placed on a nearby lawn, warning of Harper's tricks! There was a board with a photo of the dog, an Instagram handle, and the text reading: "I'm Harper. I live here. I pretend to be lost so you'll stop and pet me."

Aguerrebere then realized that the cute dog she had spied was running a scam to get attention from strangers, and she was the latest person to fall for it!

Harper waiting by the doorway, ready to trick people into petting her
Alyson Aguerrebere (via The Dodo)
"The sign was hilarious, and I realized she does this to everyone. So I sat down and was just petting her and rubbing her belly for probably 25 minutes.”

The mischievous creature, Harper, is a three-year-old rescue dog who loves attention. As such, she is allowed to hang out in the front yard so she can receive pets from neighbors and strangers, but her owners are always nearby.

Harper relaxing after a long day, appearing playful and mischievous with pats
Alyson Aguerrebere (via The Dodo)

Here she is waiting for her next victim!

Aguerrebere said:

“Her owner came out 25 minutes into it and was like, ‘Oh, did she trick you into giving her love? She said she does it constantly, several times a day, and that she never wants to go inside because she gets so much attention.”

Running a neighborhood scam, something of a pyramid scheme of pats, is a perfect embodiment of suburbia, and Harper is perfect at exploiting the system. Harper is a prime example of a dog who knows what she wants and will go to any lengths to get it.

That is one very effective act.

It echoes the ownership fight when a man refused to return a support dog to its original owner, and the dispute got legal.

Here Harper is after a long, hard day of scamming all the neighbors for pats.

Harper also loves the beach and checking out awesome views.

Harper is a beautiful dog with a lovely personality. From a rough start as a rescue dog, she has settled beautifully into her new life. According to Dr. Ian Kerner, a renowned sex therapist, "Animals, especially dogs, can provide emotional support and companionship that significantly enhances our well-being." To learn more about the positive impact pets can have on our lives, visit Dr. Ian Kerner's website.

Isn’t this dog just one of the cheekiest dogs you have ever seen? The sheer nerve of an animal pretending to be lost to gain the sympathy of strangers, only to exploit them for pats.

It is actually a genius plan if you think about it. But imagine if this were your dog and you had to put up a massive sign warning your neighbors of the scam that your pet was running!

It has certainly brightened up their neighborhood, and it makes the day of everyone who goes past-but no one benefits from this more than Harper herself! If you have ever seen anything like this before, tell us in the comments!

Harper clearly knows exactly what she is doing.

Wait until you see how this couple used a smart plan to find their lost dog after it ran off in fear, right here.

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