We all know dogs are smart, with the average intelligence of a canine companion being the equivalent of a 2-year-old child — and there are some pretty smart cookies out there at that age. Still, sometimes the things dogs learn are truly amazing. Just look at this mini goldendoodle, who is pursuing the art of playing the piano!
Titled “a star is born,” the captivating TikTok video shows Whiskey the mini doodle eagerly running over to a piano, jumping up on the bench, and pressing a few bars with his paw after being told, “Go play the piano.” From the handful of notes played, commenters guessed it was either supposed to be the “Jaws” theme or the “Peanuts” song.
Most everyone was utterly impressed in the comments section, with several joking about how they were now disappointed with their own dog’s skills, with one saying, “My dogs have some explaining to do.” Now, just imagine what this mini doodle could do if he had lessons!
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The secret to teaching your dog tricks
A cute dog gives its paw to a human in the grass. – Wavetop/Getty Images
Want to know the secret to teaching your dog a trick? The answer is simple: treats. Yup, treats. And, well, a whole lot of patience and consistency. Most dogs are very motivated by food and positive interactions, so when you want to teach them something new, be ready to hand both those things out during the learning process. Start out with simple, straightforward commands like “sit” or “shake,” and then once those skills are mastered, you can slowly move up to more complicated requests, like “play the piano.”
Steady, rewards-based interaction and positive reinforcement training will yield the best results, so stock up on your pup’s favorite treats when training to immediately give them when they accomplish the goal, or at least give it their best try. Short, daily practice and using consistent commands are key, as is having patience with your pup. But most of all, you and your dog should be having fun, bonding and learning new things together. In the end, you might just have a pooch who can play the piano — or at least shake.
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