Internet users can’t get enough of a deaf pit bull trying to chase his own tail, but there was just one problem—it was only his shadow.
Chasing their tail is a common habit among dogs, as they spin around in endless circles trying to latch onto it. But for Scotty the deaf pit bull, that task became even harder when he tried to chase after his own tail as it appeared on the wall.
There was just one problem for poor Scotty—it was only a shadow of his tail after all.
In a hilarious video posted on the dog’s dedicated TikTok page (@lifewithscotty), Scott could be seen trying to snap and bite at the shadow of his tail as it moved around on the white wall. He did his best to chase after it and capture the tail, but clearly to no avail.
Since the clip was shared online on August 26, social media users can’t get enough of Scotty’s antics. The video has gone viral on TikTok with more than 405,900 views and over 88,200 likes at the time of writing.
The caption alongside the video reads: “Just a dog trying to bite their shadow…nothing to see here.”
Newsweek has contacted @lifewithscotty via TikTok for comment. We could not verify the details of the video.
When dogs chase their tail, it’s certainly amusing to see, but it can often leave us wondering what they’re thinking (or perhaps, not thinking). As suggested by VCA Animal Hospitals, there are many reasons why dogs do this, ranging from attention seeking because it gets a reaction from their owner, or out of boredom.
For dogs, chasing their own tail is a fun way to amuse themselves and release pent-up energy, so it can help a dog who isn’t getting quite enough stimulation. It could also be a compulsive behavior that manifests in this habit, akin to a human biting their nails when they get nervous.
If the behavior becomes problematic, VCA Animal Hospitals recommends understanding why the dog is doing this and then resolving the issue directly. Do they need more walks or exercise, or do they just need to ignore the dog when they do it so they don’t reinforce the habit.
Scotty’s attempt to chase his tail has certainly delighted the internet, as many TikTok users took to the comments to laud his efforts. This has led to more than 120 comments on the viral TikTok video at the time of writing.
One comment reads: “Shadow 1, Scotty 0.”
Another TikTok user wrote: “Unlimited entertainment, I don’t see a problem.”
Another person joked: “He’s doing his best.”
While one commenter added: “he almost had it!”