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CHICKAMAUGA, Ga. — When in doubt, consult YouTube.
At least that’s the plan 4-year-old Lincoln Ball concocted when his parents informed him he’d be responsible for training his new puppy. But instead of seeking out tutorials to help hone his own training skills, Lincoln decided to skip a step.
And the internet can’t stop laughing at his ingenuity.
Lincoln’s parents, Daniel and Tasha, bought Lincoln a Saint Bernard puppy after their youngest son was found to be allergic to pretty much everything outside, according to ABC News.
“The allergy doctor said half-jokingly… ‘The good news is you’re not allergic to pets. You could get a puppy,’” Daniel Ball told ABC.
Lincoln took the doctor’s orders to heart, so his parents agreed to the plan on one condition: Lincoln had to train the new dog. Being just 4 years old, Lincoln didn’t really know where to start, so his parents suggested he turn to YouTube to find some methods to try.
Lincoln did just that, but executed the idea in a way that surprised and amused his parents.
“He got the video all lined up and then he called the dog over and started playing it directly to the dog,” Ball told ABC.
After all, it was the dog that needed training, not the boy, right?
Lucky for all of us, Tasha Ball watched the scene unfold and grabbed her camera to snap a photo of the antics. Lincoln’s uncle posted the photo to Facebook, and Lincoln’s brilliant training lesson caught the attention of tens of thousands — it’s been shared nearly 200,000 times.
Lincoln doesn’t necessarily understand all the fuss, but his parents told ABC he’s been telling people his puppy is famous.
It’s safe to say there will be plenty of innovation in Lincoln’s future.
