Dogs aren’t inherently skilled at obeying commands; they must be trained over time. While some dogs catch on quickly, others may take longer to learn.
Dogs naturally communicate by barking, which is perfectly normal. However, some dogs may bark excessively, and their owners may struggle to curb this behavior. In such cases, creativity and resourcefulness are often required.
Dog owners in Mendham Borough, New Jersey, displayed remarkable creativity when they placed a sign outside their home, aimed at reducing their Golden Retriever, Scout’s, barking.
Only Well-Deserved Treats
One day, Meghan Kuhles was strolling through Mendham Borough, New Jersey, when a sign on a yard fence caught her eye.
In a TikTok video she shared, Meghan recorded how the owners placed a cup of treats alongside a sign instructing passers-by to only give their dog treats if he didn’t bark.
The sign clearly indicated the owners’ intentions to train their dog to reduce barking: “My pawrents want me to stop barking.”
While Meghan was tempted to reach into the treat-filled cup, she refrained from doing so to adhere to the owners’ rules. In the comments, she shared that unfortunately, Scout barked.
Just two days later, another TikTok video emerged from the same neighborhood, but this time with a slightly different aim. The owners had placed a new sign intended to teach Scout to sit, encouraging people to command him to sit and reward him with a treat if he complied.
It remains uncertain if this change was due to Scout successfully learning to bark less, prompting them to tackle a new task.
However, it’s likely they simply decided to change their focus since sitting is generally an easier command for this Golden Retriever.
Many Reactions
The TikTok video shared by Meghan generated a lot of engagement. While some users backed Scout’s owners in their creative training approach, many others supported giving him treats regardless of his barking.
“I’d still give him a treat even if he did bork,” one commenter shared.
“Aww I hope he got a treat 🥰,” another added.
And a third remarked: “I’m sorry but I’d give Scout the treats anyway for being a good boy & alerting 😂”
We believe Scout is a wonderful dog who will eventually excel at mastering all the tasks his owners set for him.
Once he does, he’ll be rewarded with countless treats from all those who find him irresistible.
