Credits: Social Media
TikToks dog paw trick is the ultimate test of friendship – but I cant do it
My dog and I are no longer on speaking terms after we failed numerous times to complete a paw trick that is going viral on social media apps like TikTok and Instagram.
Despite each owner-dog relationship being inherently unique, social media has made it near enough impossible to raise your pup without comparing your techniques and methods to other people. Don’t get me wrong, tips like the right spot to rub your dog on can be helpful, but fun trends and tricks have a habit of ending in heartbreak – can you tell I’m bitter?
How to get your dog to do the paw trick from TikTok
Though you might wonder why you’d ask me for advice given that I can’t do the trick, I’ve watched enough videos to be informed on the topic and feel as though it’s my dog, not me, that’s the issue.
To do the trick, or at least attempt it, you’re going to need your dog, two people, and a lot of patience. From there, sit on either side of your dog and then individually place your hands on top of one another. If your dog is paying attention, they should then copy you both and put their paw on your stacked hands.
The dog paw trick has only breached the internet this month, meaning there is still time to jump on it before Gen Z designates you as old for taking part in a dated trend.
After attempt number 30 I gave up
As I have established before in articles about keeping your dog occupied and transitioning them into becoming teenagers, my 10-month-old Cocker Spaniel, Maggie, is a certified genius. Admittedly, my faith in her dog cognitive skills has declined slightly since attempting the paw trick from TikTok.
The first attempt at the trick seemed hopeful after she stared at our hands with a tilted head, which usually means she is processing what she’s seeing. Unfortunately, that tilted head disappeared from attempt two onwards, instead replaced by her excitable brand of pacing.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a real attempt unless I took some suggestions from the self-declared experts on social media, with the first putting forward treats as a possible motivator.
While this somewhat worked, her nose was far more interested in the treat than her paw was. Another suggestion came from Twitter as someone said that swapping up the height of the hands could work. Still, no luck.
As I write this following four days of consistent attempts, I am starting to lose motivation almost as fast as Maggie loses her concentration. Maggie also seems to be growing more frustrated, though I would too if a member of my family persistently picked up my hand while shoving a camera in my face.
Perhaps the one silver lining is the fact that social media moves quickly and there will soon be another trend to lose sleep over.
