Laughter as Golden Retriever Finally Masters Skill After ‘Some Convincing’

A couple have taken their dog’s skill set to the next level by teaching her how to participate in a hand stack.

The gesture is usually carried out by a group of people before they enthusiastically engage in some sort of teamwork activity. In this case, a couple sat on the sofa eagerly waiting for their golden retriever to join in.

The footage, shared by @dill_pickle_chips on TikTok, shows Sofia the golden retriever sitting in the corner on the couch and refusing to look at the hands piled on top of each other.

After about 10 seconds, Sofia decides to participate, and the couple scream with excitement. The video has amassed 1.6 million views since it was shared Tuesday. The comical clip has also racked up over 315,000 likes and almost 1,000 comments.

One user said: “Had to really think if he wanted to be part of the team.”

“Took some convincing but I think he’s in,” said another.

It isn’t just the trick they were talking about but the dog’s posture and build too.

A third commenter, with 13,900 likes, said: “Why does your dog sit like an eagle?”

“That dog is a UNIT,” pointed out another.

The video may not surprise other golden retriever owners, as they are a breed known for being intelligent. Stanley Coren, author of The Intelligence of Dogs and professor emeritus at the University of British Columbia’s Department of Psychology, has done research on the smartest dogs.

“The seven dog breeds with the highest working and obedience intelligence, starting with the brightest, are border collie, poodle, German shepherd, golden retriever, Doberman pinscher, Shetland sheepdog and Labrador retriever,” he previously told Newsweek.

Newsweek has also shared stories that demonstrate how goldens can pick up new skills other than the classic “sit, paw and roll over.” Among them is a dog that understands that after playing in the mud she must make sure she is clean before going inside her house.

Goldens may be among the smartest, but every breed is capable of learning new tricks if their owners are willing to put in the work. Some canines have even been taught how to communicate with their owners using speech buttons.

However, this can lead to poor habits, as demonstrated by Waffles, a Yorkshire terrier who has become a social media sensation because of his tendency to use bad language.

Newsweek reached out to @dill_pickle_chips for comment via TikTok and could not verify the details of the case.

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