Everyone loves the holiday season!
From family time to party time, it is indeed the most wonderful time of the year!
In fact, Bear, the Black Labrador Retriever, has such fond memories from last year that he can’t help but sniff around his Christmas stocking to find out if Santa has made an early drop-off.
“Santa left chewy sticks in his stocking last year,” Bear’s mamma notes in an adorable TikTok clip. “My sweet baby remembers.”
This is too cute for words!
Now, what I’d like to know is whether Bear has picked up on a meaty scent in his stocking, or is he anticipating a jolly gentleman in red to come down the fireplace?
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Regardless, fans can’t get enough of Bear!
“He probably smells the leftover scent from last year,” noted an astute viewer.
“Oh, he’s been such a good boy. I bet Santa Paws brings him double this year,” said another.
“Labs have gut memories, I swear,” stated another fan.
Dogs Have Scent Memory
Labradors, like all dogs, can remember a scent because smell is their dominant sense. They can retain unique scent memories for days, months, or even years, and can combine this with visual and auditory cues to recognize people (including Santa) and other dogs. This allows them to form strong, long-lasting associations, such as recognizing a loved one after a long separation.
With that, was Bear picking up the scent of Santa? Maybe he caught a whiff of some treats? Perhaps he smells reindeer?
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I don’t know, but my guess is that he’s picking up on the scent of whatever was stuffed into last year’s stocking!
I wonder what Bear will get for Christmas this year. By the looks of it, I’m sure he’s been a good boy!
Now, I’m not sure if Santa or Bear’s mamma is responsible for stuffing those stockings above the fireplace, but there are so many treat options for dog families these days that no doggie should be left out of this year’s festivities!
In fact, the global pet snacks and treats market size was valued at $40.52 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to $79.23 billion by 2030. That’s certainly going to weigh down Santa’s sleigh!
With all this in mind, we hope Bear has a great Christmas!
This story was originally published by Parade Pets on Dec 6, 2025, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add Parade Pets as a Preferred Source by clicking here.