Emma Green, the owner of Happy Hounds Coventry in the U.K., took to TikTok to share footage of the heartwarming scene, featuring a selection of cute canines dressed up as all the familiar characters present during the birth of Jesus.
Green told Newsweek: “Our doggy actors in this Nativity scene were a mix of Doodles, Spaniels and the Terrier who is playing baby Jesus. They all enjoy the interaction, and they get rewarded very well throughout the shoot.”
In the U.S., Christmas is as much a time for dogs as it is for humans and it’s the same in the U.K., with research by Mars Petcare UK and Battersea Dogs & Cats Home showing that 80 percent of dog owners plan on buying their four-legged friend a gift.
Green is no stranger to pampering our canine companions either. An avid dog lover who turned her passion for canines into a business, she said Happy Hounds Coventry prides itself on “offering a unique experience for dogs,” including adventure weekends and beach holidays.
Viral Video
However, it’s the center’s eye-catching photo shoots that have been attracting the most attention online and this latest nativity effort is no different.
At the time of writing, the video showing the dogs decked out in all their adorable nativity costumes had been watched over 400,000 times on social media—and viewers are liking what they see.
One commented: “This is the most adorable Nativity I’ve ever seen” with another simply writing: “The BEST nativity ever!!!” A third called it “absolutely delightful” while a fourth simply declared: “my heart is totally melting.”
Green said the shoots started out of a desire to show clients “how much fun their dogs are having” and have evolved over time to incorporate any number of themes, much to the delight of their followers online.
“We celebrate doggy birthdays but also special times of year, such as Easter and Christmas,” she said. “We did this Nativity shoot to celebrate the dogs’ last week of term before we break up for Christmas. It’s a fun but festive way to end the year, and we’re delighted that it makes people smile.”
Happy Hounds Coventry
Green added that the dogs featured in the clip were chosen for very special reasons.
“All the dogs that take part in our photo shoots are picked for their confidence, so they are familiar with getting dressed up and don’t get stressed during the shooting,” she explained. “The hardest part was sourcing doggy sized costumes, in the end we just went for children’s outfits, which worked very well!”
While she’s no stranger to garnering attention with these dog-led recreations, Green is still blown away when the videos she creates do generate such a big response. “It’s amazing that people from around the world also like our content,” she said.
The dog trainer notes how many of the people commenting on the clips are often surprised and impressed at how she is able to get the dogs to sit still for so long. “I see a lot of comments saying they wish their dog could do the same and asking how to do it,” she said. “I always say that positive reinforcement, repetition, and high value rewards are the key.”
The success of this latest nativity shoot could inspire even more elaborate videos in the future too. “The recent success has certainly got me thinking about more ideas and scenes,” Green admits. “Perhaps something from The Godfather (Dog Father) or Jaws (Paws) films.”
Watch this space.
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