Shelter Dogs Have Priceless Reaction to Magic Show Put on Just for Them
Dogs, like humans, come in a variety of strengths. Some of them have stellar noses and can catch a whiff of something far away and track things like nobody’s business.
Some are more clever than others and can figure out doggie puzzles and how to get into trouble faster than you can.
Even if your dog isn’t an Einstein, they generally understand how things are supposed to work. They get used to a routine and come to expect that certain things (like mealtimes) will happen at certain times and in a certain way.
If someone offers them a cookie, it’s not unreasonable of them to expect that the next step involves them getting that treat. Even if they have to work for it, a human offering a treat means the dog gets that treat. Pretty standard.
But what happens when that progression is flouted, and when their expectations are turned on their heads? One magician went to a shelter to find out.
John Stessel went to the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter to try out some sleight of hand on the pups there. The video was produced with the intention of highlighting adoptable dogs, but it also gave the magician some time in the spotlight as well.
Stessel starts out by showing the canines a dog treat in his hands, but when he closes and then opens his hands, the bone has disappeared.
The dogs react in various ways — really, in all the different ways people react to magic tricks.
Some look like they’re laughing through the confusion, and decide to snuggle up to him or turn to puppyish antics instead, perhaps hoping that the cookie will reappear and they can still have it.
A few look insistently at his palms, sure that the cookie must still be there somewhere. They even check the ground to see if he dropped it.
Others look perturbed, holding their ears to the sides of their heads and desperately looking around for where the treat could’ve gone.
One was spooked by the whole thing and jumped back when she realized the cookie was really gone. She kept backing away from Stessel, throwing a few unsure barks his way for good measure.
“I’ve always loved the idea of doing magic with dogs. Performing for them was nothing short of incredible,” the magician told The Dodo.
“The reaction from the dogs was just amazing. They were just so cute. It was really special.”
“They just wanted to be loved,” he continued. “Each one of them would be perfect to find their own forever home.”
And don’t worry — they all ended up getting cookies and attention for their good sportsmanship.
“Everyone deserves a little holiday cheer this time of year, so we decided to bring the magic of the holidays to these animal shelter dogs,” TBS wrote on the description of the YouTube video. “Please visit your local animal shelter to help bring the magic of adoption to all animals.”
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