They say three’s a crowd, and Ace, an Italian Greyhound with a flair for drama, made that abundantly clear. In a now-viral home surveillance video, Ace proves that independence comes before family loyalty, at least for one cheeky escape artist. Captured on pet cam, the small but strategic pup finds a way to unlatch the baby gate confining him and his two dog siblings. While the others excitedly prepare to follow, Ace flips the script—he slips through, then turns around and locks the gate behind him, leaving his shocked siblings behind.

The video, posted by Kentucky dog mom Heather House (@heatheratkinshouse), has racked up more than 550,000 views since July 10. With the caption, “I did this for me, not us”—Ace (probably), viewers couldn’t get enough of his solo jailbreak.
Newsweek consulted canine behavior expert Dr. Emma Scales-Theobald to unpack the escape. She emphasized that not all dogs who try to flee are simply mischievous—many are reacting to boredom or separation anxiety. She advised dog parents to provide mental stimulation with enrichment toys like puzzle feeders, snuffle mats, or lick mats. Other tips included long walks before being left alone, soothing classical music or TV for background comfort, calming products such as collars or supplements, and even tech gadgets like pet nanny cams or GPS trackers.

Meanwhile, TikTok users have taken to the comments to give voice to Ace’s sassy solo mission:
One viewer quipped, “Since y’all didn’t want to help, STAY here.”
Another wrote, “Sorry pals, I’m on a solo mission.”
Others imagined Ace feeling smug and superior, with lines like “I know how to behave. Y’all don’t” and “Mom said you can’t come in. She wasn’t talking to me though.”

Some commenters were so stunned by his antics that they admitted they wouldn’t have believed it without the camera footage. While Heather hasn’t provided more background on Ace’s Houdini habits, the video alone has secured his status as a breakout star.
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This content was created with AI assistance and edited by the iHeartDogs team.