RALEIGH, North Carolina — Patrons of West Street, a popular off-leash dog bar and daycare in downtown Raleigh, often witness a canine spectacle that sets one resident apart from the playful pack: Pogo, the American bulldog-boxer mix, who is profoundly unimpressed by her peers. While other pups frolic in chaotic bliss, Pogo maintains a regal distance, opting instead for a human vantage point—a barstool.
From her elevated perch, the four-year-old rescue dog meticulously observes and, apparently, judges her fellow canine companions. And the verdict is clear: she is absolutely not amused.
This week, a video of Pogo in her characteristic pose went viral across social media platforms, sparking endless theories among viewers. Some speculate she is merely an extreme introvert, while others jokingly suggest she might not even be “a dog person.” Whatever the reason, the video’s poster accurately declared that “This pup is a whole mood.”
@davidfromnc1 This pup is a whole mood. #yfp #dog #dogs #puppy ♬ original sound – davidfromnc
The Little Judgmental Queen
Pogo’s owner, Grace Wheeler, who works at West Street and brings Pogo in daily, offers her own perspective on the dog’s haughty attitude.
“When she gets up on the chairs, we think that’s her way of trying to let the other dogs know that she thinks she’s better than them,” Wheeler shared with The Dodo. This behavior is consistent, regardless of the location. “I’ve worked in a few kennels, and she has always jumped up on the stools or anything that’s meant for a human. She is our little judgmental queen!”
Pogo’s human-like mannerisms extend far beyond her preferred seating arrangements. Wheeler notes that Pogo loves snuggling in bed “like a human,” and will sit on top of anything designed for people, including benches, the bar, and occasionally, actual people. Perhaps most tellingly, “She likes riding in the car and will hang her elbow out the window like a human (which seems to be a theme with her). She loves people more than dogs.”
A Star is Born
Pogo’s unique and sophisticated presence naturally earns her significant attention at the dog bar, attention she happily accepts. “She has lots of fans,” Wheeler confirmed. “We post her on the West Street’s Instagram, and people come looking for her all the time.”
While Pogo might perpetually look down her nose at the other dogs, her owner loves her precisely for her unique and expressive personality. “She has brought nothing but love and joy to us and everyone she interacts with,” Wheeler stated.
And Pogo, ever loyal, will follow her mother anywhere—as long as there is a strategically placed barstool to ensure she remains safely away from the ‘riffraff.’
