A video of a black Labrador retriever named Bear sitting beside a fireplace surrounded by Christmas decorations and, most importantly, his stocking has gone viral on TikTok.
Since being posted on December 4, the clip, shared by his owner Angela Amato (@angelalala1313), has racked up nearly 2 million views and delighted viewers across the platform. Text layered over the wholesome footage explains why Bear is staring intently and sniffing at the stocking: “Santa left chewy sticks in his stocking last year.”
Amato captioned the post: “My sweet baby remembers!” It has already earned more than 353,000 likes.
Bear’s reaction has struck a chord because dogs really can remember more than we often assume.
Researchers at the MTA-ELTE Comparative Ethology Research Group in Budapest found that canines rely more on “episodic memory” than “semantic memory.”
The authors describe episodic memory as the ability to recall personal events or specific moments from one’s life. In dogs, this suggests they can revisit past experiences—even ones that didn’t seem especially important at the time—and connect those memories to emotions tied to certain places or periods in their lives.
Episodic memory is also linked to self-awareness, or the ability to recognize oneself as a distinct individual—something the researchers say has not previously been studied in canines. By contrast, semantic memory refers to knowledge built from learned facts and rules that help an animal survive and navigate the world.
Bear also isn’t the only canine getting into the festive spirit. A total.vet survey of 1,000 dog owners found that about 89 percent of American dog owners plan to buy their dog a Christmas gift this year. Most are planning multiple presents: 37 percent expect to buy at least two gifts, and 26 percent are aiming for three.
Spending is moderate but varied, with 27 percent anticipate spending $25 to $50, while roughly 1 in 4 plan to spend from $75 to more than $100. Notably, enthusiasm (and budgets) are rising, with 31 percent saying they will spend more on their dog’s presents this year than they did last year.
In true TikTok fashion, dog lovers were quick to weigh in, with many insisting Bear deserves treats well before December 25.
“He needs an advent calendar, or just 22 chew sticks for every day. He’s so cute!!!” one user wrote, while another added, “You better make sure he gets them again this year.”
And it seems Christmas did come early for Bear. Two days later, Amato shared another video of him wagging his tail as he opened his red stocking to find treats inside. “And this is what Christmas is all about,” one commenter said.
Bear’s viral moment is a reminder of how emotionally attuned and memory-driven dogs can be. Whether they are waiting for last year’s chewy sticks or unwrapping new gifts, their excitement shows that the traditions we create with them really do stick.
Newsweek reached out to @angelalala1313 for comment via TikTok. We could not verify the details of the case.