Shetland pony loves to watch TV and acts like a dog

A Shetland pony who acts like a dog has taught itself to open cupboards for food and even enjoys watching Emmerdale.

Wee Bob the Shetland pony has even managed to learn how to jiggle the latch on the door to let itself in.

Owner Stacey Johnstone, 26, said the 32-inch pony has used the technique to let himself into the family home in Renfrewshire, where he sits by the fire on cold winter nights.

While it appeared odd at first, the neighbours have become fully accustomed to seeing Wee Bob roaming around the house, and the postman even brings him an apple when he’s delivering mail.

Stacey Johnston with her seventeen-year-old Shetland Pony Wee Bob at the family home in Renfrewshire

The cheeky beast used to rummage through cupboards so he could dig into the fruit bowl, but the family have now moved it out of reach from Wee Bob. 

Ms Johnstone said: ‘He keeps you laughing all day, that’s why we keep him around so much.

‘He’s part of the family, there’s no doubt about it. He’ll be here for life.. Everybody loves him.’

Instead, the 17-year-old pony shakes his bum against an apple tree in the grounds of the family’s Sproulstoun Farm, where it then catches the fruit as it falls down.

Ms Johnstone added: ‘He’s pretty much one of the dogs to be honest. We’ve got five dogs and he just thinks he’s one of them.

A 32-inch tall Shetland pony which thinks it's a dog has taught itself to open the cupboards, where he raids them for food

A 32-inch tall Shetland pony which thinks it’s a dog has taught itself to open the cupboards, where he raids them for food

Wee Bob has even taught himself how to open the front door to the family's Sproulstoun Farm home

The clever animal loves watching TV with the family

Wee Bob has even taught himself how to open the front door to the family’s Sproulstoun Farm home

Some of Wee Bob's favourite soaps include Coronation Street and Emmerdale

Some of Wee Bob’s favourite soaps include Coronation Street and Emmerdale

‘He lets two of them out the pen all the time and runs around with them. He picks up their toys and squeaks them.

‘He grooms the dogs and they just stand there and take it. I don’t know what they think.’

The clever pony even lets himself into the house when his favourite soaps are on television, notably Coronation Street and Emmerdale, but he also enjoys watching sports.

Ms Johnstone added: ‘The first time he watched the TV, the Olympic show jumping was on, so he was actually watching another horse.’

Yet living with Wee Bob is not always perfect, as he managed to scare Ms Johnstone’s grandmother when she was alone in the house, leading her to drop all the washing on the floor.

Wee Bob acts like one of the dogs at the family home and even plays around with them

Wee Bob acts like one of the dogs at the family home and even plays around with them

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk