Labrador Mix Only Responds If Mom Sings Like This Late Pop Icon
Pet parents often adopt a certain sound or call to summon their dogs. This form of communication serves as a special bond between parents and their fur babies, where our canine companions know this special word or noise is meant only for them. Sometimes these cues are used so frequently, dogs won't budge until they hear that specific command.
Denver the Labrador mix seems to have a favorite singer and insists on having his name belted out in her iconic pitch.
@lawnadkins when you get a singer for a parent #dogsoftiktok#fyp#whitneyhouston
original sound - Lawn Adkins
In the TikTok from @lawnadkins, Denver was chilling in his mom's office with his fur baby sibling. The two pooches were snuggling and in no hurry to get up from their downtime, but their mom needed to get to work.
Denver's sibling obediently headed out of the room when his mom gently prompted him. When she asked Denver to get up, he acted like he didn't hear her. She gently called his name a few more times to no avail.
Then she realized the one method that always worked with Denver. She channeled one of the greatest voices in history and sang Denver's name.
"My one dog will not respond until I sing his name like Whitney Houston," the onscreen text explained as Denver rose upon hearing his name in song.
Followers got a kick out of the adorable ritual and were perplexed as to how it started.
"So how did you figure this out?" one asked.
"He needs to be serenaded," another noted.
"Imagine explaining this to the dog sitter," a follower pointed out.
"Genuinely, how did you discover this?" someone wanted to know.
Sounds That Annoy Dogs
While certain noises are pleasant or intriguing to pups, there are sounds that can trigger negative feelings.
Vacuum cleaners often prompt barking, growling, retreating, or even aggressive behavior from dogs. The mix of high-decibel noise (typically 70-85 dB) and strong vibrations causes sensory overload for most canines. Dogs may also feel that a vacuum's unpredictable movements invade their territory.
Related: Maltese Reacting to Special Song in Anticipation of a Treat Is Too Cute to Resist
The high decibels and lack of boundaries of lawn equipment have the same effect on dogs as vacuums and often provoke anxiety.
Video games can also be annoying or distressing to dogs, especially if they involve loud beeps, sirens, gunshots, and explosions.
Denver didn't seem to be bothered when his name was simply enunciated, but made it clear he'll only respond when it's sung in tune.
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This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 5:10 AM.