Woman Adopts Dog, Then Realizes She Doesn’t Know ‘Release Command’ for Food

A woman filled her adopted dog’s food bowl, expecting the canine to devour its contents, but the owner realized a crucial part of the routine was missing: the release command.

A popular command that owners teach their dogs is “stay,” and quickly after, they’ll train them for a release command, signaling to them that they are allowed to move. Common release words include “OK,” “break” and “free,” an article from the American Kennel Club said.

However, owner Liv, known on TikTok as @livlaughlobster, never learned her adopted dog’s release command after welcoming her home about a month ago. Her dog, Indy, is a beagle and blue heeler mix, but without knowing more details on the dog’s background, she cannot confirm, she told Newsweek via TikTok.

This left Liv with learning and guessing what her dog already knows, including getting Indy to eat. In her July 27 TikTok video, which amassed over 2 million views, Liv placed the food in the bowl and told Indy she could eat, but instead, Indy sat and waited. She looked up at Liv, intently listening and ready for the “release command” to be said at any moment.

Indy kept wagging her tail in anticipation, but the word never came. That’s when Liv took to social media, hoping people could help her find the correct release command.

“I am not sure if we figured out THE command, but we did figure out our own routine that works for us,” Liv said. “We just pet her head and say ‘good girl,’ and she will eat.”

Liv also learned that Indy, like many dogs, cannot stand baths. The dog loves peanut butter, and despite being part beagle, she has not barked once since being adopted.

Viewer Reactions

TikTok viewers instantly became intrigued by the situation, flooding the comment section and offering suggestions for Liv to try.

“I sing my dog a little song. I never thought about this repercussion,” a viewer said.

Knowing the possibilities are endless, one person said: “Good luck. My husband is a Marine, and we taught our dog, ‘Attack the chow hall.'”

Another joked: “Maybe he speaks Spanish.”

Others couldn’t get over how he waited so patiently. Someone pointed out: “Those ears are LISTENING.”

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.