Deaf Dog's Reaction to Owner Signing 'Dad Treats Go' Delights Internet

A deaf bull terrier's reaction to his owner signing "treats" has TikTok users in hysterics.

In a clip shared on October 25, PeeWee and his foster sister Faith—who is also hearing-impaired—are staring at owner Nikki (@deafdogofmn) expectedly.

Nikki then signs the words for "treat," "dad" and "go," before pointing up the stairs. Understanding the three-word combo, PeeWee immediately dashes up to the second floor, with Faith following close behind him.

TikTokers couldn't get enough of the pair's love of treats, with the video receiving over 536,000 likes and 5.8 million views in just 24 hours.

Hereditary Deafness Is Common in White Bull Terriers

A 2016 study published in BMC Veterinary Research found that hereditary deafness is common in white English bull terriers. Known as congenital sensorineural deafness or CSD, the condition is the most common cause of deafness in dogs and can be detected as early as three weeks after birth.

For the study, researchers assessed the hearing of 1,060 bull terrier puppies using "brainstem auditory evoked response" (BAER). Commonly used to detect hearing impairments, BAER tests check the brain's response to sounds.

Foam headphones are inserted into the patient's ears, while needle electrodes are placed under the skin on the scalp. Click sounds are played through the headphones, with the brain's electrical response tracked to analyze the dog's hearing in both ears.

The results showed that 10.19 percent of the puppies were unilaterally deaf (completely deaf in one ear), while 1.98 percent were bilaterally deaf (no hearing in either ear). However, 96 percent of the hearing-impaired puppies had a white coat, or a white coat with a colored patch, suggesting a hereditary component.

'That's incredible'

Nikki shares many videos of 10-year-old PeeWee and his adventures on TikTok, many showcasing his ability to understand sign language.

Along with understanding the signs for tricks such as "sit," "stay" and "come," the bull terrier mix knows "ball," "walk" and "potty."

Nikki is also teaching her foster puppy Faith to understand sign language, with her already having learned the signs for "kennel," "spot" and "down."

Still, with almost 6 million views, the "treat dad go" video might just be their 164,400 followers' favorite.

"That's incredible that he's learned ASL!" commented Ms. Frizzle.

"He knows!!!! See that tail wagging," said Elaine Peterson.

"What a smart boy!!" wrote Michele Dolgae. "I bet he learned treat pretty quickly though."

"'Don't know what she is saying, but Imma follow my sibling here'" said Veni Vidi Vidi, putting herself in Faith's shoes.

While user6560705691760 commented: "That's the cutest thing to watch! Such sweet babies."

Newsweek has reached out to @deafdogofmn for comment.