In the age of deepfakes and AI-generated content, skepticism about what’s real online has never been higher — but sometimes the most astonishing videos are genuine. That’s exactly what happened when a TikTok clip of a dog named Nola scaling a backyard fence effortlessly went viral, drawing not admiration alone but outright disbelief from internet viewers who assumed the footage must have been created by artificial intelligence.
Fortunately, her owner stepped forward with the full story and the truth behind the impressive canine feat.
Nola’s owner, Vanessa (known online as @noseynola), saw her dog become a viral sensation for reasons few expected. Videos of Nola jumping and climbing fences with remarkable agility quickly spread, racking up millions of views — but they also sparked comments from people convinced the clips were AI-generated or edited because the movements looked “too unrealistic” for a real dog.
That comparison isn’t surprising in a time when AI content can look eerily lifelike and trick even savvy viewers.
Rather than getting defensive, Vanessa embraced the skepticism as an opportunity to share context and clarity. She explained that the climbing behavior didn’t emerge overnight or through video tricks — it was documented consistently over years on Nola’s social media accounts, long before the current surge in AI hype.
By encouraging skeptics to explore her TikTok, Instagram, or Facebook archives, Vanessa showed that Nola’s movement skills have been a genuine part of her personality for a long time.
The dog’s abilities began to surface early in her life, according to her owner. When she was young, a dog sitter first noticed Nola attempting to jump over a small fence. After the family moved to a new home, the escapes continued — and eventually, a neighbor reported seeing the dog climb an even taller, chain-link barrier.
Once Nola spotted a tree near the fence, she started using it like a ladder, combining balance, strength, and curiosity to make her way up and over obstacles that would challenge many other dogs.
What makes Nola’s story particularly interesting is not just the physical skill but how it aligns with her background. After people speculated about her breed based on her athleticism, Vanessa shared that a DNA test revealed Nola is about 26 percent Treeing Walker Coonhound, a type of hound known for its agility and ability to navigate challenging terrain.
Her veterinarian also confirmed that her breed mix and body structure could logically contribute to her climbing behavior, making her not some cinematic creation but a remarkably capable real dog.
Nola’s journey began well before the viral videos. She was originally rescued from a kill shelter in North Carolina and transferred to North Country Pet Adoption Services in New York back in 2018.
At the time, she was overlooked — likely because she was blind in one eye — and the couple fostering her initially planned to take in a senior dog instead. But Nola’s energy, curiosity, and personality won them over, and they adopted her permanently.
Now, years later, that same curiosity propels her up fences, around obstacles, and straight into the hearts of viewers around the world. Nola’s online nickname “Nosey Nola” reflects her spirited nature — she patrols the yard, watches wildlife, and explores with independence and enthusiasm.
And while some social media comments doubted the authenticity of her climbing videos, others defended her, noting precise paw placement and natural movement as evidence that AI could not replicate such animal instinct.
Perhaps most importantly, Vanessa hopes that Nola’s story does more than prove a point about internet skepticism — she wants it to highlight the value of animal rescue and adoption.
Nola might have been overlooked in a shelter, but she went on to become a dog with a personality so distinct that millions of people watch her videos just to see what she’ll do next. Her story demonstrates that animals adopted from shelters can surprise and inspire in ways no AI ever could.
In the end, Nola isn’t a digital creation — she’s proof that real life can be just as compelling, mysterious, and incredible as anything artificial.
