German Shepherd Puppy Learning How To 'Play Dead' Deserves An Oscar
The Academy Awards have categories for everything from acting and cinematography to costume design and visual effects. But what the Oscars clearly lack is a category for cute animals doing the most adorable tricks. In a TikTok video that's been viewed more than 3.6 million times, Willow the long-haired German shepherd puppy is seen dramatically falling to the floor after getting the "play dead" cue from her owner.
@gsd_willow
"And the Oscar goes to..." one viewer wrote. "Acting like that could get [her] onto the original Star Trek!" another joked, alluding to William Shatner's infamous overacting in the 1960s TV series. Everyone agreed that Willow is a sweet, gorgeous, charming, and clever ball of floof, stealing hearts left and right.
In a separate TikTok video, Willow's owner breaks down the individual steps involved in teaching the precious little pup how to do the trick. First, Willow has to learn to respond to the hand signal by going down, then she has to learn to roll onto her side, and finally she has to put the two steps together when cued.
Teaching your dog new tricks
Are you feeling inspired to teach your own dog amusing tricks such as playing dead (even a cat can learn to play dead!), picking up items off the floor, or the "peek-a-boo" trick? Patience and consistency are the keys. As with humans, some dogs learn quickly, while others take much repetition before a lesson sticks. Be sure to use the same verbal and physical cues during each training session, and keep the sessions short and enjoyable. Training is a good opportunity for bonding, and it should never feel like a chore for you or your dog.
It's no surprise that Willow is skilled at learning tricks. After all, she's a German shepherd, which is one of the smartest dog breeds in the world. The intelligence and strength of these dogs make them popular choices to work with the police, the military, and search-and-rescue teams. They're also excellent guard dogs and service animals.
Perhaps the ultimate sign of intelligence is when a dog tries to fool its owner. One viewer commented on the original TikTok video, "Whenever I try teaching [my] German Shepherd something he learns that instantly and then he pretends to not know what you're talking about a day later because he doesn't want to do it."