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Some of us enjoy watching comfort television, like cooking shows or home renovation programs. The more daring among us may crave a viewing experience that has us covering our eyes and sitting on the edge of our seats. But what do our pets enjoy?
It’s fair to say we can rule out anything with giant, slithering snakes—especially for one sweet Bulldog pup.
In a sweet video shared on TikTok, we meet Oatmeal, who appears to be giving the film Anaconda two thumbs down. Watch as the on-screen snake scares this little guy and has him scooting away from the screen and crying for help.
“Oatmeal’s first time watching TV… and this happened,” Oatmeal’s family captions the clip. “Oh hell no… that’s a big snake.”
Poor Oatmeal. We get it! I’d recoil, too, if I thought that scary creature was coming my way.
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Viewers feel for this precious pup.
“He’s a baby! Bluey would have been much more appropriate for his first TV experience 🥺😭💕,” one person said.
While Oatmeal doesn’t do a full-on jump, his little sounds let us know he’s not feeling too comfortable with this viewing selection.
“The little panicked snuffles as he retreats. So cute!” another person commented.
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“Oatmeal has no interest in finding out ‘what is out there’ 😂,” someone else joked.
“Give him a hug right now! 🥺🥺,” another fan implored.
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What Dogs See When They Watch TV
If they’re going out for the day, many pet parents opt to leave the TV on for their dogs.
Do dogs enjoy certain (non-Anaconda) programming? Some definitely do.
And just what do they see? While their vision isn’t as sharp as ours and their color perception differs, they can still watch TV and get the picture, though images may appear to flicker to their eyes. Of course, they can enjoy the sounds they hear, too. Unfortunately, the sniff component is out of the question—at least until new technology makes it possible.
Experts recommend choosing programs that are soothing and don’t include any sounds that indicate an animal is in distress.
We think some gentle cartoons may be better for little Oatmeal’s viewing pleasure. We hope the sweet pup doesn’t have nightmares about that snake!
This story was originally published by Parade Pets on Apr 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add Parade Pets as a Preferred Source by clicking here.