This sound spread online as a TikTok meme, where creators paired the dog's unusual laugh-cry with fails, embarrassing stories and moments that were funny and sad at the same time. Search interest shows people finding it through TikTok clips and short-form videos rather than a film or television show, and it has kept circulating because the noise is so recognisable and easy to reuse. Its appeal lies in that mixed emotion: it lets a creator laugh at a situation without making it feel cruel, which suits reaction videos, memes and light-hearted edits.