A border collie named Floss has become the internet’s newest DIY assistant after a viral video showed her helping her owner inside a barn.
The sheep‑herding dog looks proud as punch as she places her paw on the end of a measuring tape so owner Becca Clark (@beccaclarke9) can measure wooden panels.
The TikTok clip captioned “Floss, a dog of many talents,” quickly took off and has now earned 1 million views on the platform.
But for anyone familiar with the breed, Floss’s initiative may not come as a surprise.
A Breed Built for Work
Known as “workaholics” by the American Kennel Club, border collies are famously energetic and driven, sometimes almost too clever for owners who can’t keep up with their mental and physical needs. Even so, they’re affectionate companions who happily settle down for cuddles once the day’s jobs are done.
Athletic and medium‑sized, border collies typically stand 18 to 22 inches tall with a lean, muscular build ideal for speed and agility. Their classic appearance reflects what they’ve always been: focused, nimble workers shaped more by function than fashion.
Why Border Collies Excel at Tasks Like This
Border collies continue to stand out as one of the most intelligent dog breeds, with research showing they can understand more than 150 words, solve complex problems and even deceive other dogs and people to get what they want.
Psychologist Stanley Coren’s review of decades of canine research places border collies at the very top of the rankings for working and obedience intelligence, above poodles, German shepherds and golden retrievers.
Studies show that dogs’ mental abilities are like those of a 2‑ to 2.5‑year‑old child, but border collies often exceed even those expectations.
Some “super dogs” can learn up to 250 words, and a famous border collie named Rico demonstrated knowledge of 200 spoken words and the ability to learn new ones quickly.
Research also suggests dogs can count up to four or five, notice simple math errors, and learn by watching humans or other dogs. During play, they’re even capable of intentional trickery to gain treats or rewards—showing just how advanced and adaptable their thinking can be.
TikTok Reacts
Viewers couldn’t get enough of Floss’s DIY skills, with the video racking up 186,000 likes and 427 comments so far.
“[He] looks so proud of himself too,” said one user.
Another joked: “he’s on his second year of his apprenticeship.”
A third pointed out: “It’s the way he looks like he’s smiling like yeah I’m doing a good job.”
A fourth added: “He deserves a raise think an extra [three] treats an hour would be sufficient.”
Newsweek reached out to @beccaclarke9 for comment via TikTok. We could not verify the details of the case.