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Bless little Joey’s heart. The sweet Maltipoo is the victim of a cruel scam involving fake steak, and I admit that I’m here for it.
In this very entertaining TikTok, Joey is doing his best to make an enormous image of a grilled steak on the TV come to life. The poor Maltipoo is licking the screen with everything he’s got, hoping to get just a taste of the very realistic image. And while this trick is mean, it’s also hilarious, and we just hope that Joey’s humans gave him a piece of the real deal after all of his pain and suffering.
I, for one, have been guilty of similar behavior while watching TV. I’ve yet to lick the screen, but I’ve fallen victim to many an appetizing food commercial and ordered delivery on the spot. Therefore, I can’t blame this duped dog for taking matters into his own paws (or mouth). I wonder, though: do most dogs recognize the images they see on TV, or is Joey in the minority?
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The Power of TV
Turns out, dogs aren’t just randomly staring at the TV—they can genuinely see and process what’s happening on screen in a way that’s pretty similar to us. They’re able to recognize animals (even ones they’ve never seen before) and respond to familiar sounds like barking as if it’s happening in real life. But food? Yes, that too.
A big part of the appeal is movement and sound. Dogs are especially tuned into motion, so anything running, jumping, or darting across the screen can grab their attention fast. Add in high-pitched or recognizable noises—like another dog barking—and you’ve got their full focus.
Modern TVs actually make a difference, too. Today’s high-definition TVs are much smoother, which makes the experience more engaging and realistic.
There’s also a sensory component. While dogs don’t see the full range of colors we do (they mostly see blues and yellows), certain programming—like shows designed specifically for dogs—leans into colors, movement, and pacing that hold their interest.
That said, not every dog is going to care. A lot of it comes down to personality and breed. Visual, high-energy dogs (think terriers or herding breeds) are more likely to get invested, while scent-driven dogs (like hounds) may be completely unimpressed.
TV appeals to dogs for the same basic reasons it appeals to us—movement, sound, and something interesting to focus on—just filtered through their own unique senses and instincts. Oh, and appetites.
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This story was originally published by Parade Pets on Apr 20, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add Parade Pets as a Preferred Source by clicking here.