A festive event at a dog daycare centre descended into hilarious chaos when a playful puppy snatched Santa's beard right off his face, leading to a ten-minute pursuit.
The Festive Photo Op That Went Awry
The incident occurred at a special Santa Paws event held at The Puppy Dog Palace in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear. The event, organised by owner Robyn Ellis, 31, was designed to get dogs into the Christmas spirit with a festive photoshoot.
Nova, a six-month-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier, was among the guests. Her role was simple: to sit nicely for a seasonal snapshot with Father Christmas, played by Robyn's brother, Stevie, 35. Instead, the spirited pup had other plans.
The Great Beard Heist and Chase
In a moment of pure mischief, Nova lunged forward, seized Santa's fluffy white beard in her teeth, and made a swift getaway into a separate play area. What was meant to be a calm photo opportunity instantly transformed into a frantic chase scene.
Video footage captured the moment, showing Nova strutting away triumphantly with her prize, while Santa and an elf—played by Robyn's sister Darla, 29—raced after her. The determined pup led staff on a full ten-minute pursuit, defiantly clinging to her new seasonal trophy.
Robyn later admitted she had given Santa a warning, saying, "I did pre-warn Santa because Nova has a habit of pinching things and running off with them, but none of us expected it to go quite like that."
Aftermath and Owner's Reaction
Despite the chaos, the mood remained light-hearted. "It was absolutely hilarious," said Robyn. "Santa and the staff couldn't stop laughing." Stevie eventually surrendered the chase, leaving the elves to handle the retrieval mission.
The beard, however, did not survive the adventure unscathed. "Santa just laughed it off, but the beard was completely ruined and tangled," Robyn explained. "Looks like a new beard has gone straight onto Santa's Christmas list."
When Nova's owner came to collect her, he was unsurprised by the tale of festive theft. Robyn remarked, "He said she's always getting up to mischief at home and stealing the spotlight, so he wasn't shocked at all."
The unforgettable Christmas event proved that even the best-laid plans can be upstaged by a playful puppy with a taste for Santa's accessories.
