A short video from mid-March 2026 captured the hearts of millions: seven dogs of different breeds walking calmly together along a busy highway near Changchun, Jilin province.

In the clip, a small Corgi (affectionately called “Dapang” or “Big Fatty” by his owners) leads the way, occasionally glancing back as if checking on the group. The pack includes a female German Shepherd (“Sibao”), a Golden Retriever, a Labrador-type dog, and other village dogs. They move as a loose unit along the roadside, staying close despite the traffic nearby.

The footage quickly went viral on Chinese platforms like Douyin, eventually reaching hundreds of millions of views worldwide. Many people were touched by the apparent teamwork and loyalty — especially the little Corgi seeming to take responsibility for keeping everyone together.

The Real Story (According to Local Media and Owners)

After the video spread, Chinese provincial media visited the village and spoke directly with the dogs’ owners. Here’s what actually happened:

The seven dogs lived in the same rural village near Changchun, mostly from two or three neighboring households. In this area, many dogs are semi-free-roaming and often play together.

A few days earlier, the female German Shepherd had gone into heat (her estrus cycle). Her scent naturally attracted several male dogs from the village, who were already familiar with one another as regular playmates. The group simply wandered off together — a fairly common occurrence in the village during heat cycles.

They didn’t travel 17 kilometers in a dramatic escape. The spot where they were filmed was only about 4–5 km from their village. The Corgi, known to be quite smart and familiar with the local area, ended up at the front. The German Shepherd’s occasional slower pace wasn’t due to a serious injury — she was just a bit tired from the outing.

By March 16–18, the dogs started returning home on their own. The Corgi came back first and was spotted by his owner, who then helped locate the others. All seven were safely reunited with their families within a few days. They were mostly just tired and a bit thirsty, but otherwise fine.

Local volunteers had begun searching with drones after the video blew up, but the dogs had already made their way back by then.

Why the Dramatic Version Spread

The person who first filmed the video guessed they might have fallen from a truck, and some early comments added dramatic details like theft for the dog meat trade, a dangerous escape, and a protective formation around an “injured” friend. These guesses turned into widespread stories online. However, on-the-ground reporting by Chinese media found no evidence of theft or any truck involvement. The German Shepherd was not injured — she was simply in heat, which explained why the others were following her.

A Simple but Still Heartwarming Tale

While the full “heroic escape” story turned out to be exaggerated, the core moment in the video is real and genuinely sweet. Seven dogs of different sizes and breeds chose to stick together on the road, with one small Corgi naturally taking the lead.

In the end, all seven made it home safely to their owners. No dramatic rescue was needed — they just went for a group adventure and came back as a pack.

Owners were relieved and a little amused by the global attention. One simply noted that similar short wanderings had happened before.

It’s a nice reminder of how social and bonded dogs can be — even unrelated village dogs who know each other well. Sometimes the simplest stories are the best ones.

All seven are back where they belong, safe and sound. 🐾