Chihuahua Goes Viral Refusing to Nap After Seeing a Suitcase-He's Not Being Left Behind
There's a special little Chihuahua, named Franklin, who refuses to sleep when the suitcases come out. His mom just wants her little guy to know that he was never going to be left behind. Ever. Period.
The TikTok from @stacychermol comes with a caption that says everything: "Rare footage of Franklin being this quiet "
Rare because Franklin, Frankles to his people, is not typically a quiet dog. He is typically a very vocal dog. In fact, he's famously loud. A dog whose volume settings appear to start at medium-high and go up from there.
But then the suitcase appeared and Franklin's entire demeanor changed.
@stacychermol Rare footage of Franklin being this quiet #sleepybaby#wherewegoing#chihuahua#dogsoftiktok#tinydog
original sound - Stacy&Franklin
The video shows Frankles sitting on his small shell pillow watching his mom pack. He is tiny. Long-haired. Black and brown and white with his head hanging low and his tongue slightly out. He looks like he just came off anesthesia.
He is also absolutely not sleeping.
Eyes wide open. Body tense. He will not be tricked into sleeping when there is a suitcase situation unfolding right in front of him. He will not be left behind.
His mom spots him watching with that look and knows exactly what her little guy is thinking.
"Thinking we'd ever leave you," she says softly in the most perfect dog mom voice.
The answer, warm and unmistakable, is that they'd never dream of it.
Then comes the offer that seals everything: would Frankles like to go to Popeyes for a chicken dinner?
He would. He absolutely would. Let's go!
The suitcase was never a threat to Frankles. It was an invitation. He just needed someone to let him know.
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The comments immediately got the vibe of the situation:
"That's not a seashell... that's his charger lol"
"My face after doomscrolling until 3AM."
"He's seriously the cutest most interesting little thing."
"The only parasocial relationships I have seem to be with little dogs." Frankles has that effect on people.
But his vigil around that suitcase and mama aren't just adorable. There's a real reason Franklin could not close his eyes.
Why Dogs Know You're Leaving Before You Even Pack
Dogs can read environmental cues with extraordinary precision. Long before you ever zip a bag or say a word, they've already noticed things: a different routine, unfamiliar smells, objects appearing in unexpected places.
Suitcases specifically trigger what's known as pre-departure anxiety in dogs. Unlike a regular everyday bag, a suitcase holds the scent memory of previous trips and extended absences from home. Dogs connect those memories to getting left behind. The result is exactly what Frankles demonstrated: hypervigilance. Staying guard. Refusing to sleep. Staying on high alert because he knows something important might happen and someone needs to be watching.
This kind of anxious monitoring is a dog's way of regaining control when they feel powerless. They can't help pack. They can't check the departure times. The only thing they can do is stay awake and watch.
Keeping the suitcase visible in the house for days before a trip so the novelty wears off can help alleviate some of the anxiety. Keeping normal calm routines while packing can help, so does tucking in a favorite familiar comfort item. But the best solution of all is the simplest: take those fur babies on trips with you.
Popeyes counts.
Franklin was doing everything to keep that suitcase in his sight because he loves his people so much and couldn't bear the thought of being separated from them. That's not anxiety. That's love and devotion.
His mama knew that all along. She just wanted to make sure he knew it too.
There was no chance he was ever being left behind.
He was going for chicken.
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This story was originally published June 3, 2026 at 9:30 AM.