Hysterics Over Dog's Reaction to Cousin Coming for Sleepover: 'Arch Enemy'

Newsweek

5 days ago

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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A stare-down between a mini goldendoodle and her "archenemy," a long-haired Chihuahua, has left internet viewers in stitches.
Logan Makenzee Benonis (@loganmakenzee), 24, from St. Augustine, Florida, posted the now-viral clip to her account, showing Piper perched in her mini armchair and staring down Trixie, who had just arrived for a short stay. The silent standoff between the two dogs quickly gained traction online, racking up more than 257,000 likes and over 2.3 million views.
"Trixie (the small dog) was just dropped off to stay with us," Benonis told Newsweek. "I was working in my home office where Piper (big dog in the chair) was chilling in her chair like she normally does when I am working.
"Trixie walked over toward my office, and Piper sat up and just gave her the death stare. They had about a two-minute stare-down until Trixie walked away."
The hilarious moment was captioned: "It's giving bratty sister vibes."
Piper, left, and Trixie, right, engage in a standoff at home.
Piper, left, and Trixie, right, engage in a standoff at home.
@loganmakenzee/@loganmakenzee
"When your arch enemy of a cousin comes to stay the night," she wrote as the text overlay of the video.
In follow-up clips, the passive-aggressive rivalry continued. At one point, Trixie managed to claim a spot on the beloved armchair, while Piper was relegated to the dog bed. By part three of the saga, Piper had reclaimed her spot—this time, on top of the couch—while her smaller cousin remained on the floor.
Benonis described Piper as a 2-year-and-8-month-old mini goldendoodle with the energy and volume of a toddler. "We always joke that we didn't get a dog, but we got a kid instead," she said. "She is such a friendly dog and has the funniest personality."
Piper has claimed her signature mini armchair for over two years now—a piece of furniture originally purchased for a friend's child. "As soon as we brought it home, Piper took it over, so we let her keep it and bought another one for our friend's kid," Benonis added.
Trixie, on the other hand, is a nearly 15-year-old long-haired Chihuahua with a bold personality that belies her 8-pound frame. To beat the Florida heat, her fur is kept trimmed short in the summer. "Trixie has always been a bit feisty and very protective toward her people," said Benonis. "She does not act like a standard Chihuahua nor does she look like one."
The tension between the two dogs dates back over two years, when Piper was first introduced to Trixie and immediately intimidated by her. "Trixie would boss Piper around, and Piper would just cave," Benonis said. "As Piper has gotten older, she's gotten more confident with herself and now loves to push Trixie's buttons."
Despite the theatrical standoffs and jealous barking, Benonis said the rivalry never escalates. "They never get super aggressive with each other; they simply growl, bark, and have stare-downs," she added. They both love attention from their humans.
Benonis said that nothing ever really changes between them. "They are cordial with each other; however, you can cut the tension with a knife," she added. "We never have to worry about a real altercation happening."
Ultimately, Benonis said the two pups are more alike than they would like to admit. "Piper and Trixie are just dramatic dogs that cannot stand when the other one gets more attention. I always joke that they are actually best friends when we aren't around—and that it is all just a front LOL [laugh out loud]."
TikTok viewers were quick to weigh in on the hilarious dynamic.
"You'll never convince me poodle aren't people in poodle suits," one user posted.
"That's the craziest looking dog I've ever seen," another said.
A third commented: "That poodle is giving me [singer] Joey Breaux vibes."
"Pls I zoomed in on that little dog, his eyes/eyebrows tripped me out for a solid minute," wrote Ashley Walker.
"I'm tellin you guys I've seen human puppies and none of them looked as human as poodles," added Nia.
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