Farms often have guard dogs to help protect the livestock from potential predators and alert owners of dangers, but one farmer who rushed outside when she heard her dogs barking was left speechless at what she discovered.
When her guard dogs started barking, Rebekah Horner was nervous that they were fighting with the neighbor’s pit bull who would sometimes run away. However, as she stepped outside, there was no pit bull in sight. Instead, two of the three guard dogs were staring at the ground, barking.
They took her to show what had infiltrated the property and upon further investigation, Horner realized it was another animal that triggered their barking. However, the animal was quite the opposite of what she expected. It was a snapping turtle that made its way into the fenced-in area.
In a TikTok video that was posted earlier this week by user @horner.acre.farms, the caption reads: “In their defense, snapping turtles are very scary.”
@horner.acre.farms/TikTok
The two guard dogs, Ghost and Riley, were barking while Muffin seemed to be whining about the situation. That’s because Muffin is still in training, Horner said. Ghost is teaching Riley and Muffin how to protect the herd. Muffin’s effort was still appreciated as she went to get Horner.
“At first I was relieved it wasn’t something worse!” Horner told Newsweek via TikTok. “But then I just thought it was so funny they were going crazy over a snapping turtle…I was proud of them for doing their jobs!”
Snapping turtles are considered docile creatures who want very little to do with people and are not typically dangerous unless they are disturbed. If provoked, they can bite.
Horner said that her husband safely relocated the turtle to the pond on their property.
TikTok Users React
The TikTok video had over 1.3 million views, 126,700 likes, and 844 comments after being posted to the social media platform. Viewers applauded the dogs for doing their job, even if the snapping turtle wasn’t a threat to the herd.
“They were right to alert you to the presence of the tactical attack rock,” commented one TikTok user.
Another user wrote: “In their defense, that is a dinosaur.”
A third user commented: “But will happily take on coyotes and wolves and all sorts but the line is drawn at the rock with legs.”
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Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.