Internet Obsessed With How Border Collie Reacts to Imaginary Fence

The internet has been left amazed by one border collie’s will power to stay behind a fence—even if it is imaginary.

Dog owner Timothy Petterson shared a video on his TikTok account (@timothypetterson3) that appeared to either display his dog’s incredible restraint and impeccable training, or her complete lack of intelligence—depending how you want to view it.

As Petterson repeatedly tells his collie to stay “inside the fence that’s not there,” he watches as she dances across the grass within the confines of the invisible barricade.

Even Petterson was impressed by the impressive behavior, as he can be heard saying: “look at her, how good is she.” At one point, as a car drives along the street, the collie chases after it but stops abruptly at the point where she believes the fence should be. Whether the fence is real or imaginary, it’s certainly enough to keep her in close distance.

Since the video was shared on December 13, it has already been viewed over 2.3 million times and received more than 256,100 likes on TikTok. Many people loved witnessing the dog’s unbelievable restraint, as there are undoubtedly plenty of pet owners who wish their pup would listen to them half as much.

Border collies are renowned for their tireless work ethic and superior intelligence that puts other breeds to shame. While other dogs may get confused by the slightest of things, the border collie is constantly keeping busy and looking for tasks to complete. The American Kennel Club (AKC) points out that they are happiest when they’re serving a purpose and using up all their energy—so tasks involving agility, herding, or obedience are key.

Knowing that the breed thrives whenever they have a task to perform and orders to follow, it may come as no surprise that Petterson’s border collie is so keen to listen to him.

Since the video of her staying within the invisible fence went viral, Petterson has continued sharing more videos of his furry companion, further proving she is well-trained she. Petterson may choose to construct a new fence one day, but he’s certainly in no rush given how well-behaved his pup is.

The viral TikTok post has received more than 1,100 comments so far, as many people found Petterson’s commentary hilarious. One comment read: “It gets funnier the more you watch it.”

Another person responded: “She understands the border part of a border collie.”

While another TikToker wrote: “Love how proud dad sounds.”

Newsweek reached out to @timothypetterson3 via TikTok for comment. We could not verify the details of the case.

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