Owner shares photo of pets, dares internet: “Can you find the second dog?”

A recent photo posted to Reddit puzzled viewers after they were tasked with a nearly impossible mission of finding the second dog.

Reddit user ElleWinter told Newsweek through the platform’s messaging that she and her husband are hosting Mugwuffin, a dog whose owner is undergoing surgery, at their house. Mugwuffin has been a “very good boy” and a “gentleman.” Plus, dog sitting means their golden retriever, Toby, gets an extra friend to play with.

However, when the two dogs were playing outside, it suddenly looked like Toby disappeared. After looking around, the couple realized he wasn’t gone. He was being “sneaky” and hid.

Wanting to capture his epic hiding spot, the couple snapped a photo. In the picture, which has been since shared to the subreddit r/rarepuppers, Mugwuffin sat on the porch, staring back at his dog sitters. He seemed to be the only dog, but when you look close enough, Toby was also there looking at his owners.

The caption on the post asked: “Can you find the second dog?”

Reddit users immediately went to work trying to figure out where Toby could’ve been hiding. The post amassed over 1,600 upvotes and 46 comments as of Tuesday.

He wasn’t blending in with the fence in the background. Nor was he only halfway in the picture. Instead, he was “laying low,” as one Reddit user pointed out. Literally.

Underneath the porch where Mugwuffin sat was a tiny hiding spot. Toby crawled underneath and hid. The shadows made it especially difficult to see him at first.

Stunned by his impressive hiding skills, someone called Toby “stealthy.”

Another wrote from Mugwuffin’s perspective: “Bro is like, ‘He’s literally beneath me.'”

A third Reddit user wrote: “No I absolutely didn’t see her until I read the comments and looked underneath the first dog. Very clever!”

Newsweek reached out to ElleWinter via Reddit for additional comment.

Why Do Dogs Hide?

Hiding is considered a generally normal behavior for dogs. But owners should be cognizant of why their dog might be hiding, as it could be a sign of a health issue, according to an article from Holistapet.

Dogs might simply be drawn to familiar and secure areas as a place to hide away when they’re feeling overwhelmed. It is their comfort area. Playing hide and seek also gives canines great exercise and mental stimulation.

But if your dog starts skipping meals, refuses to go outside or runs away along with hiding, it could be an indication of a more serious issue, the article said. Hiding can be linked to fear, pain or anxiety.

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.