Owner Gives Her Border Collie His Own Performance Review in Viral Video

We'd all love to tell our dog what we really think of them at times, which is why this owner has gone viral for subjecting her border collie to his very own performance review.

When Stout's owner, from Los Angeles County, brought the collie home, she expected an energetic dog who would love to work and be given tasks. But at his recent "performance review," Stout's anxious behavior was a big talking point.

After sharing the clip on Stout's TikTok account (@stoot.la.poot), his owner told Newsweek that her 8-year-old collie is wonderfully sweet, but he hates it when "everyone is chatting and talking because some sounds just give him anxiety."

The viral clip has amassed over 32,200 views and 2,000 likes since it was posted on October 17.

Stout's owner said: "He's very introverted and usually just likes spending time with me, even though he will sometimes socialize. For him, he's usually just focused on fetch and loves his tennis balls and Frisbees.

"But he has anxiety in large groups of people, things like hard consonants when people talk, or unusual sounds like 'shhhh' will send him into a frenzy to go hide."

Just like humans, dogs can experience anxiety caused by a number of different factors and any breed can be affected. The most common factors that lead to dog anxiety are fear, separation and aging, according to the American Kennel Club (AKC).

Each dog will be different in how it shows its emotion, but the usual signs of anxiety include aggression, urination, drooling, panting, destructive behavior, depression, barking and pacing.

For any owner who is concerned about their dog's anxiety, the AKC recommends consulting with a veterinarian to rule out any other potential conditions, to work out what is triggering the dog's emotion, and look at ways to overcome it. It may be through training or by desensitizing them to it.

She told Newsweek: "People have been finding the video relatable as many owners adopt dogs for companionship and anxiety, but they end up finding out that the dog just follows their owner's emotions. If the owner is stressed, the dog gets stressed.

"I have social anxiety myself, so it's like he mimics and amplifies it. So, a lot of people have been relating to this video and Stout."

Since the post went viral on TikTok, social media users have been quick to share their similar experiences after owning a collie.

One comment reads: "They are trying so hard though!"

Another person responded: "My border collie is the same. We had to put her on a set schedule and it's helped so much!"

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.

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.

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