A family dog has been taking a different approach to going up and down the stairs ever since an unfortunate incident at a relative’s home.
Gabby Horne, from New York City, posted footage to her TikTok, @gabbyyyhorne, showcasing the unique way her parents’ dog, Baggio, named in honor of Italian soccer icon Roberto Baggio, uses the stairs. “It must’ve started at least six years ago,” Horne told Newsweek. “He does it every time he goes up the stairs, even in other places. His brother, Totti, just goes up normally.”
As the video shows, Baggio likes to go up and down the stairs backwards and does so “every time” according to Horne. “It makes us laugh every time,” she said. “I love telling new people about this weird quirk and they always think it’s hilarious.”
It was only recently that Horne had the idea of sharing a video of Baggio’s unusual stairs habit to social media. “I originally took this video just to send to my boyfriend because he thinks it’s funny too, then I thought why not post it on TikTok and see if other people get a laugh too,” she said. They certainly did, with the video racking up over 500,000 views and counting.
Dog videos can make us laugh, but having a dog in the home can have an even bigger effect on an individual’s wellbeing. One study published in the journal PLoS One back in 2021 even indicated dog owners were less prone to depression and had significantly more social support than those who do not.
Baggio and his canine sibling Totti (named after fellow soccer legend Francesco Totti) have certainly been a source of light in Horne’s family. “We got Baggio and his brother Totti 12 years ago and they are the first dogs I ever had,” she said. “They are very close and never leave each other’s side. Baggio loves to cuddle on the couch and sleep in bed with my parents every night.”
Seeing them whenever she comes home is a source of considerable comfort to Horne. “When I’m in town, Baggio comes and sleeps in my bed,” she said. “They love going for walks and spending the rest of their time being lazy on the couch and enjoying love from our family.”
Baggio’s stairs habit is just one more example of how he adds a little levity to family life. As for why he does it, Horne reckons she knows the precise moment it started.
“At my grandparents’ house, they have a split level with wood stairs going up, and I think Baggio slipped on them once or twice,” she said. “After that he was a little scared to go upstairs and it would take some encouragement, and eventually he decided going backwards was the safest way! Since then he has just kept doing it.”
Horne hopes people enjoyed the video she shared and that they take away an important message. “I hope people give their dogs lots of love and enjoy the funny moments,” she said. “We don’t deserve dogs!”
