Dog Tries To Turn the TV On, Throws Tantrum When He Doesn't Get His Way

A Border collie made it clear that he wanted to watch TV, and was prepared to throw a tantrum if he didn't get his way.

A video of the moment shared to TikTok account @thhreemusketeers1232 on April 25 has gone viral as users were left in stitches by the collie, who tried his best to get some TV time.

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In the clip, the intelligent dog used his nose to turn on an Xbox, and while the sound let him know he had successfully pressed a button, it unfortunately wasn't the one to turn on the television.

The pup, named Lenny, then instantly began whimpering loudly, letting his owner know in no uncertain terms that he was upset—but unfortunately for him, she simply laughed and declared: "Aaaww."

Such was the reaction of thousands of TikTok users, who have liked the video over 45,000 times and watched it over a half a million times.

Hundreds commented on the clip, including one who wrote in all-caps: "OH HE BETTER GET THE TV AFTER THAT," to which his owner responded: "He did!"

"Turn the TV on for that beautiful pupper," another demanded, with one calling it "too cute".

One user asked what the dog's favorite TV shows are, with his owner responding: "He loves any kids shows like cartoons. Anything with lots of sound and colour."

In another video shared to his owner's TikTok account, Lenny was seen sniffing and poking at the remote control trying to change the channel, with his owner describing him as having an "unhealthy obsession".

One clip showed Lenny watching his beloved TV, and apparently attempting to eat the cartoon characters on the screen, with his owner once again laughing at his antics behind the camera.

Lenny also rushes into a room if his favorite advert is on, and is capable of opening and closing the Xbox, with one commenter joking Border collies are "too smart for their own good".

The breed is renowned for its intelligence, and are used both as working dogs and family pets across the world thanks to being easily trainable and affectionate towards children.

TV dog
Lenny tried to turn on the TV, and when it didn't work, he began whining loudly. His owner laughed as he then turned to her with ultimate puppy-eyes. TikTok @threemusketeers1232

However, the American Kennel Club (AKC) warns prospective owners that collies are high-energy dogs, and only settle down after a long day's work.

In Lenny's case, other videos on the account show him sprinting around wide-open fields, playing soccer, and leaping over fences, meaning his TV time appears to come at the end of a busy day.

The AKC listed the Border Collie as the 31st most-popular dog breeds in the United States in 2023, with the French bulldog and Labrador retriever coming in first and second respectively.

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.

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About the writer


Rachael O'Connor is a Newsweek Life & Trends reporter based in Leeds, U.K. Her focus is on reporting trends from ... Read more

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