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TREAT TOWN — It can be pretty easy to fool a dog when it trusts you.
Growing up, my family had a dog named Rufus who would chase things we didn’t throw and bark and run to the door if we knocked on a tabletop.
But what would happen if you exposed a dog to a little sleight of hand?
Finnish magician and mentalist Jose Ahonen tried, and the results vacillate between hilarious and heartbreaking.
He shows each dog a treat, and right before the dog can eat it, the treat disappears.
Some dogs look to the ground then look imploringly at Ahonen; some frantically look everywhere for their treats, and one dog tries giving some love to Ahonen in hopes of a reward.
As far as I’m concerned, Sälli is the smartest dog in the bunch. She develops trust issues right before our eyes, jumping away and barking at the “bad man,” which is exactly how I would react if someone took my treats away.
Before you get too sad for the tricked and treat-less dogs, be reassured that the dogs received a treat both before and after they were tricked.
