With the number of challenges we’ve been facing this year, we all deserve a big thumbs up for not giving up. And like Buddy, the Bichon Frise, we should show the whole world our biggest smile.
Owner Kelly Ellise Lockett and her family were gathered at the garden of their humble abode in Liverpool. And their lovely pooch, robed in a gray coat, joined them in lounging on the outdoor sofa. During that family-bonding, Kelly got to capture the hilarious moment of her six-year-old dog responding to a thumbs up.
As a man called for Buddy’s attention and lifted his two thumbs, the dog could be seen giving a shy little smile. The man did it one more time, and at that moment, Buddy answered with a giant grin. Everyone in the room laughed as the cute little doggo kept showing his teeth after receiving a thumbs up. Behind the camera, Kelly could be heard saying, “Cheese.” Then all the others joined with their encouragement of ‘Smile’.
Usually, a dog will show their teeth as a sign of dominance, aggression, and discomfort. They’re sending a signal for you to back off. However, this is not always the case. Dogs can be trained to do a “smile” just like Buddy. This is possible by teaching the dog with a cue word such as “smile” and rewarding them when they do it.
When the dog gets a positive response while doing “smile,” they’ll understand that it’s a command. Like in the 34-second-long video, they’ll also start doing that trick and “smile,” even if they don’t particularly feel aggressive or happy.
And if you’re wondering about this clip, then the answer is yes. Buddy knows that this is just a command. Kelly posted that her little dog indeed reacts to specific keywords with a ‘smile’. But she also adds that “Buddy smiles all the time.”
Source: Kelly Ellise via TikTok