A Jack Russell terrier has left the internet in hysterics with his genius way to ensure he can always look out of the window and guard his home, even if he can’t reach it alone.
Social media user Meggi Yavorska shared the hilarious clip of her 10-year-old dog, Marvel, doing his best to be a dutiful guard dog by watching what was happening outside. But the small terrier couldn’t quite reach the window by himself, so he had to enlist the help of his other owner, Maxim, who propped him up instead.
Although Marvel might be small, he’s undoubtedly mighty and loves protecting his home (or at least feeling like he is). He’s happiest sitting by the window, as Yavorska, of Ukraine, told Newsweek via email that the dog loves to “control the situation by looking outside.”
Normally, he would use an object as a step-up, but not this time. On this occasion, Maxim held his hand out, and Marvel perched on top of it instead to gain a much better and more comfortable vantage point.
Marvel perched on his owner’s hand to see outside. The dog usually steps on a pillow to see out the window, but he found a better alternative.
@meggnes / TikTok
“Usually, my dog uses a pillow as a step, but in that moment, my husband was lying on the pillow while watching TV,” Yavorska told Newsweek.
“So, Marvel put his paws on the window, hinting that he wanted to look outside, and my husband tried to lift him up with his hand. But Marvel decided to stay on his hand instead. When I saw this cute moment, I laughed and decided to save the video on our family archive.”
Anyone with a Jack Russell terrier will know that they are intelligent and tireless workers. The breed was initially bred for hunting purposes, according to the American Kennel Club. When given a task—such as guarding the house—they will dive into it headfirst and follow it with the utmost dedication.
The breed also has very high energy levels and a strong prey drive, so the AKC encourages owners to keep them well socialized to avoid any behavioral problems arising. They might only measure up to 12 inches tall at the shoulder, but Jack Russell’s are still very protective of their family with notable watchdog instincts.
After the adorable clip was shared online, it went viral on TikTok (@meggnes) with over 1.2 million views and more than 211,300 likes. It also garnered 5.9 million views and 525,000 likes on Instagram.
Like any pet owner, Yavorska loves sharing videos of her pup, but she’s been amazed by the online reaction to this clip. She added that the overwhelming reaction has been “crazy.”
“I posted the video in July, and I’m still receiving comments, reposts, saves, and impressions every day,” she told Newsweek.
Internet users can’t get enough of the guard dog’s savvy new trick, while others hailed Maxim for being such an obliging assistant. This has led to more than 1,500 comments on the TikTok post and 1,400 on the Instagram Reel.
Among the thousands of comments, one TikTok user wrote: “Teamwork makes the dream work.”
Another person joked: “Leveled up from human being to doggo furniture.”
“The dog has trained him well,” wrote one TikToker.
While another comment reads: “His face says he’s done this many times.”
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.
