The Christmas spirit doesn’t just affect children—our pets can get playful too. At a recent Christmas grotto event, a five-month-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier named Nova gave Santa Claus a surprise he didn’t expect.
During a photo session on December 17, Nova suddenly lunged at Santa’s long, white beard, attempting to tug it off as if to reveal the man behind the mask. The amusing moment was caught on camera by Robyn Ellis, a local pet business owner from Sunderland who shared the video online.
In the footage, Santa can be heard laughing and pleading, “Get off my beard,” as Nova enjoys her playful game. Robyn shared, “Nova was having a photo with Santa when she noticed his beard and decided it was the perfect toy for tug of war.”
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Known for her cheeky behavior, Nova often keeps the staff entertained by stealing treats and toys. Robyn added, “People have compared this moment to the famous ‘you’re not Santa’ scene from the movie Elf. Santa found it hilarious—the first time anything like this happened to him.”
The video quickly went viral, amassing 1.8 million likes on TikTok. Viewers responded with laughter and shared comments including, “The side eye as if to say ‘I know this isn’t the real Santa paws’,” and “Nova is a typical staffie—she knows an imposter when she sees one.”
Despite her mischief, Santa managed to save his beard, and Nova was treated to a festive puppucchino and a goodie bag before leaving the event. It was a heartwarming and hilarious experience that brought smiles to everyone involved.