June 29, 2026, 12:07 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
Blowing in a dog’s face, pretending to pet it, or deliberately annoying it: Such videos are part of what’s called ragebaiting and are currently garnering millions of views on TikTok and Instagram. But what many users find funny can mean significant stress for the animals. Dog trainer Katharina Marioth explains to PETBOOK why she views the trend critically.
What is behind the term ragebaiting?
More and more often, videos in which dogs are deliberately provoked—such as by pretending to pet them or blowing in their faces—are going viral on social networks.
The trend is known as ragebaiting. The term combines the English words rage and bait and describes content designed to provoke strong emotions. The more users react to it, the greater the reach of the videos often becomes.
“A training session for the opposite of trust”
Dog trainer Katharina Marioth views this trend with great concern. “Honestly, it makes me angry—not in the sense of the trend, but in the real sense,” says the dog trainer.
From her perspective, something is being sold as harmless fun that can have far-reaching consequences for the dog. Dogs learn through repetition. Those who repeatedly push, blow on, or ignore their dog’s boundaries teach them “that their signals are worthless.” Marioth calls it “a training session for the opposite of trust.” This undermines the bond between humans and dogs—”just for clicks.”
It is particularly problematic that dogs have no way to consciously escape such a situation. “The only language they have left is body language—and that is deliberately ignored here because the reaction is the ‘joke,'” explains the expert. For her, this is not a matter of humor but a serious animal welfare issue.
Why dogs shouldn’t be blown in the face
Marioth considers blowing in a dog’s face particularly problematic. A breath directed at the eyes, nose, and mouth is not harmless fun for dogs but an intrusion into the most sensitive area of their bodies. Many animals find it uncomfortable or even threatening.
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Additionally, from a dog’s perspective, such close blowing violates usual distance and courtesy rules. “When we do that, we behave rudely to threateningly from a dog’s perspective—just packaged as human fun.”
When frustration can turn into snapping or biting
According to the dog trainer, the real danger begins when a dog repeatedly signals that a situation is uncomfortable, and the person continues anyway.
She explains that dogs usually communicate with subtle body signals at first. However, if these warnings are repeatedly ignored, the dog may learn that they are ineffective. Then, it might skip the early warning stages and react directly with snapping or even biting the next time. The dog is not aggressive but has learned “that it has no other choice.”
Marioth sees an increased risk, especially with children. On the one hand, they often imitate such trends because they see them on social media and perceive them as harmless. On the other hand, many dogs are already more nervous around children because they often move unpredictably. If a pattern of frustration built up by repeated ragebaiting is added, it can increase the likelihood of a biting reaction.
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These stress signals are often overlooked
According to the expert, the early warning signals of a dog are often overlooked or misinterpreted. These include:
- The dog turns its head away or avoids eye contact.
- It licks its nose or mouth, even though no food is involved.
- The ears are laid back or to the side.
- The dog suddenly freezes and barely moves.
- It pants, even though it is neither hot nor has it exerted itself.
- It turns away or crouches down.
- The tail is carried low or tucked in.
Freezing, in particular, is often misunderstood. Many people consider it a sign of calmness or relaxation, but it can actually be a sign of “maximum stress.”
Why the trend is problematic
From Marioth’s perspective, the real problem is that ragebaiting normalizes overlooking these warning signals. The dog’s body language is made into the punchline instead of being taken seriously.
Those who learn to read their dog’s signals correctly do not see a funny moment in many of these videos. Instead, as the dog trainer notes, they recognize “a dog that is stressed and not being heard.”
About the Expert
Katharina Marioth is the founder of the brand Stadthundetraining and the KEML principle. She is a certified dog trainer and behavioral assessor for dangerous dogs in Berlin. In her daily work, she collaborates closely with veterinarians, scientists, and other specialists on dog-related topics. With her knowledge and skills, she secured the title of Dog Trainer of the Year 2023 in the Sat.1 show “The Dog Trainer Champion.”