American Bully Dog Doesn't Want To Give Up Mom's Slipper And Her Eyes Have Us Melting
Anyone who's ever spent time with a stubborn toddler knows how challenging it can be to get a child to let go of an item they aren't supposed to have. The same is true of many dogs. In an amusing TikTok video that's been watched more than 516,000 times, an American bully dog named Gemma Lou is shown reluctantly practicing the "drop" command. She spends a full minute holding her mom's slipper in her mouth, clearly hesitant to give up this prized possession, but also wanting to obey her humans, and her soulful eyes speak volumes about the conflicting emotions she's experiencing.
@missgemmalou very demure and mindful delivery💫 #gemmalou #americanbully #bullybreed #dogsoftiktok #dogs
"The internal battle in her eyes 😂," wrote one viewer, to which Gemma Lou's owner responded, "It's the eyebrows for me." A netizen observed, "So there's a universal face they make when they don't listen to drop. Got it," and another exclaimed, "Her expressive eyebrows!!! SHES INNOCENT!!"
Many viewers theorized about the possible thoughts going through the dog's mind. "She was 100000% scanning that room for an exit plan to skedaddle with her new slipper 😭😂💖," one person suggested, while another wrote, "She heard you, she's just thinking of if dropping it aligns with her personal goals."
Training a dog to obey spoken commands
When you're ready to start training your dog to obey oral commands such as "drop," be sure to use only positive reinforcement techniques, rewarding the pooch's good behavior and refraining from punishing any bad behavior. If the dog doesn't respond correctly, it's important not to repeat the cue several times in a row to avoid devaluing the word. One viewer of the TikTok video shared, "From our trainer to us: say it once and let them process and when she finally does she gets a treat. Otherwise repeating the cue is effective as – mom mom mom mom mom mom mom." High-value treats, patience, and consistency are the keys to effective training, along with keeping each session short, fun, and free of distractions.
After a pooch consistently responds to the "drop" cue, you can build upon this foundation by teaching the dog to pick up items off the floor. Though, if your dog is anything like Gemma Lou, you might find yourself the recipient of some epic side-eye. One netizen commented, "The side eye is REEEEEEALLLLL!!!!! Hahaha she knows exactly what y'all are saying!"
Want to see more precious pups practicing new skills? Check out this mini goldendoodle showing off his piano skills on command, and this tiny dachshund puppy nailing all her new tricks.