A woman’s hiking plans took a sudden turn when her dog began growling from the back seat, alerting her that something wasn’t quite right.
Amber Palmer (@firstaidsrt), 40, lives in Washington State and works as a range rider during the summer months. While working in Colville National Forest, she had planned to hike a game trail she hadn’t yet explored. But just as she was getting ready to leave her car, her dog Shona began growling at something through the front window.
The moment was captured on video, which has since gained more than 2.2 million views and over 274,000 likes on TikTok.
“I could not see any movement in the bushes ahead but, given Shona’s tone and fixation on what she was sensing, I decided to leave the area and hike in a different location on the range,” Palmer told Newsweek.
“I am not sure what exactly she was alerting to on this day. We do have a number of wild animals in the area, ranging from bears, cougars, and wolves, to name a few. She has smelled all of these critters in the past while out working the range with me, although we have never had direct contact with them.
“She is very used to seeing and smelling cattle, deer, moose, etc., so I don’t believe that she was picking up on prey animals,” Palmer added.
In the video, Shona—a Rhodesian ridgeback—sits in the back seat, letting out an intense yowl and staring fixedly out the window at something her owner couldn’t see.
“As a whole, I try to take note of her temperament changes in these cases. Generally, she is a pretty quiet dog, so if she barks or growls at something, I take her seriously,” Palmer said.
Shona has been Palmer’s hiking partner for nine-and-a-half years. The dog is not only a loyal companion, but also a vigilant protector and seasoned adventurer who can keep pace with horses.
As a range rider, Palmer hikes or rides horseback across cattle allotments to monitor herds and track predator activity in the region. She also owns Equi-First Aid USA, a company that teaches horse owners equine first aid.
According to Palmer, Shona is typically calm and composed in the wilderness. She is friendly toward most hikers and keeps a watchful eye over their camping areas.
“There have been a few occasions where she has held off visitors who wandered in to our location while on a pack trip into the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana. She simply growled and barked at them, keeping them out of camp until I could approach and talk with them,” Palmer said.
TikTok users were quick to praise Shona’s instincts—and urge others to trust their dogs in similar situations.
“What is he seeing that you can’t?? Very scary,” posted one user.
“Ridgebacks were bred to hunt lions originally. Definitely listen to her. She isn’t playing around,” added Aubrey McQue.
“I kicked a guy out my house because my dog kept growling at him,” wrote another commenter.
“Plot twist … he didn’t feel like hiking,” read one comment.
“What’s scarier, when they lay at the end of your bed staring at the bedroom door doing this,” said Brandy.
“My girl’s ridgeback is the sweetest, one day some random guy was running across the highway to talk to her. The dog had all of his hair stand up and she stood in a defensive stance. My girl screaming,” another viewer shared.
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