Senior Border Collie Gets Frustrated When Tortoise Refuses to Throw His Ball
Pet News — Poppy doesn’t understand why Torty won’t cooperate.
Photographer Mandy Hodges shares a farm full of animals—including her 16-year-old Border Collie, Poppy. Though she’s a senior, Poppy still lives for fetch. Her favorite playmate? Torty, a gentle 60-year-old gopher tortoise. Unfortunately for Poppy, Torty has no interest in playing—and that mismatch leads to some hilariously relatable moments.
Torty is simply trying to enjoy a quiet snack, but Poppy drops the ball right in front of him, tail wagging and eyes locked with hopeful intensity. When he ignores her not-so-subtle hints, she escalates: barking, nudging, and even circling—clearly signaling that it’s *playtime*, not snack time.
Sometimes, even the most patient dogs have their limits. Mandy captured it all—and laughed at the absurdity: “I sometimes wonder what it would be like to have normal pets LOL!” Of course, as anyone who’s watched the video knows, “normal” wouldn’t be nearly as fun—or heartwarming.
Why Border Collies Are So Obsessed With Fetch
Mandy’s video quickly went viral, racking up more than 6 million views and thousands of comments. One fan joked, “Hmm, this makes me feel like he does throw the ball for him sometimes…” (earning over 44,000 likes). Another shared: “My collie tried to make me throw a little piece of plastic he found outside once; I did, and he couldn’t find it, and then thought I still had it. There were dramatics.”
There’s a reason so many people found this moment instantly relatable. Border Collies are among the most intelligent dog breeds—and they were originally bred to herd livestock. That means they’re wired to chase, control movement, and stay laser-focused on a task. Fetch isn’t just a game for them—it’s instinct in action.
Chasing a ball taps directly into those deep-seated herding instincts while delivering essential physical exercise and mental stimulation. In fact, research published in Scientific Reports links this kind of repetitive, reward-driven play behavior to similar neural patterns seen in human activities like gaming or gambling—highlighting just how powerful motivation and reinforcement are for these clever dogs.
If you’re considering welcoming a Border Collie into your home, experts at the American Kennel Club recommend careful planning. These high-energy, highly intelligent dogs thrive best with active families who can provide more than just daily walks. They need purpose—whether through agility training, obedience work, puzzle toys, or even learning new tricks via platforms like furpetvo.com. Without enough mental and physical engagement, they can become bored, anxious, or develop unwanted behaviors.
And while Torty may never master the overhand throw, Poppy’s unwavering enthusiasm—and sheer persistence—reminds us why we love these dogs so much. Even when the “perfect” fetch partner moves at one-tenth the speed, the spirit of play stays strong.
