Dachshund Mix Is So Excited for Walks, He Jumps Just Like a Kangaroo
Some dogs get excited and wag their tails when it's time for a walk. Some spin in circles or get the zoomies. Rupert? Rupert bounces like a caffeinated kangaroo and you don't want to miss it.
The ABC News TikTok shows exactly what happens when Rupert the Dachshund mix realizes he's going for a walk with dad in Exeter, England. His human clips on the leash. Rupert's brain processes this information. And then gravity becomes optional. Full Tigger mode is activated. He's literally jumping for joy.
Rupert doesn't merely jump. He springs. Straight up. Over and over. His vertical is insane. Each single bounce looks like he's got a tiny, ultra bouncy trampoline hidden in his paws. His little Dachshund body goes airborne with such commitment, such pure enthusiasm, you can't help but smile watching it. Or in my case, watching it over and over again.
@abcnews Rupert the dog gets so excited about going for a walk that it's like taking a kangaroo out, his owner said, after he was seen springing up and down while being led down the street in Exeter, England. #dogs#pets#animals
original sound - ABC News - ABC News
"Rupert the dog gets so excited about going for a walk that it's like taking a kangaroo out," his human explained via the surprising caption.
The comparison is actually spot-on. Rupert's vertical leaps have serious marsupial energy. If you told me that he'd been studying kangaroo videos on YouTube all week, I'd believe you.
The comments captured the audience's overall vibe:
"Get this guy a trampoline."
"Maybe the kangaroos are emulating him."
"Dog frog." If you know, you absolutely know.
"Actually Airbud."
Related: A German Shepherd Is Being Hailed a Hero After Jumping Between His Mom and a Rabid Bobcat
Rupert appears to be happier than most of us. When's the last time anything made you bounce three feet in the air repeatedly? Rupert achieves that level of joy from a leash and the promise of going outside.
The text overlay sums it up: "Excited dog emulates kangaroo as he jumps for joy on walk."
Joy-that's the entire story. Rupert isn't misbehaving or doing anything wrong. He's not out of control. He's just so overwhelmingly happy about walks that his body can't contain it. I get it, I get that way about coffee sometimes. So he bounces just like Tigger. Like he's got pogo sticks for legs. These jumps are pure happiness in physical form.
Why Dogs Jump or Bounce on Walks
Here's what's really happening inside Rupert's brain when that leash comes out: excitement overload. He knows what's coming next. He's beyond excited and he refuses to hide it. He's about to lose control and I think he likes it.
According to dog behavior experts at Dog Gone Problems, energetic jumping happens when dogs experience more excitement than their little bodies can contain. Their energy levels spike, and their bodies need an outlet for all that enthusiasm.
Puppies especially struggle to regulate their excitement and emotions. When something awesome is about to happen-like a walk, or dinner, or their favorite human coming home-their natural response is to do something physical with all that excitment. For Rupert, that something is launching himself skyward repeatedly.
It's not aggression. They're not anxious. In fact, it's practically the exact opposite. Rupert jumps because his happiness literally can't be contained.
Think about little kids when they get exciting news. They jump. They squeal. And, they even bounce around unable to sit still. Dogs do the same thing, just with more impressive vertical leap capabilities.
Dog behavior specialists note that excited jumping stems from an instinctual need to express overwhelming joy. When puppies and young dogs experience that intense joy, their bodies seek ways to channel that energy. For Rupert, kangaroo mode is his chosen method.
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The beautiful part? Rupert's enthusiasm is 100% contagious. Watch him bounce down that sidewalk and try not to feel pure joy yourself. His human described it perfectly-it's like taking a kangaroo for a walk. That sounds absolutely delightful if not a little exhausting.
Some dogs tip-tap their paws when excited. Some zoom in circles to show joy. Rupert? He launches himself toward the clouds. And the world is better for it.
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This story was originally published May 7, 2026 at 10:14 AM.