With selfies dominating social media, even our pets are getting in on the action. In a viral video, Django, an adorable dog with a big personality, tries his best to flash a picture-perfect smile for the camera — though the result is more awkward than effortless.
Video shows dog trying to break into an awkward smile for the camera
The short clip features Django sitting patiently next to his owner, who sweetly coaxes him into a selfie with the promise of a treat. “Um, I was wondering if you wanted to, well, we can take a picture or we can get a treat,” the owner gently prompts. “Do you wanna take a picture first and then get a treat? So, one… two… three… cheese?”
In response, Django does his best to curl his lips into what can only be described as an endearing, if slightly awkward, canine grin. After capturing the moment, his owner rewards him with the much-anticipated treat, exclaiming, “Okay, now we can go get a treat.”
Django — who is a German Shepherd with Akita and Collie in his mix — has become quite the social media darling. During a Q&A session on Instagram, fans were curious to know how Django learned this trick. His owner explained that Django’s signature grin is a mix of natural instinct and positive reinforcement. “He started doing it at about 2 years old and we’ve just encouraged it,” she shared. “Now he has trigger words he’ll smile for.” Over time, Django became more responsive to certain trigger words, especially when treats were involved.
It is not every day you see a dog trying to master the art of posing for the camera, but Django’s earnest attempt at a toothy grin has garnered significant attention and love online. As of Monday, the video has received nearly 3 million views and 54K likes. Many viewers expressed their adoration in the comments section, with one user saying, “So cute. He has such an expressive face.” Another added, “You two are so lovely. Thank you for sharing Django’s talents with us.“
