Laughter As Dog Is Obsessed With Fireplace: 'Think He's a Pyro'

A video of a dog seemingly obsessed with a fireplace has delighted users on TikTok.

The viral clip was posted by user just_joshin_ya_buddy and has had over 775,000 views since it was shared on October 30.

A caption shared with the video reads: "My dog loves the fireplace." The footage shows a view of a stairway inside a home. A voice in the clip says, "I think I'm gonna turn on the fireplace," after which a dog is seen running down the stairs toward a glass-covered fireplace in the room.

The camera pans to a hand turning on a switch on a wall, which ignites a flame inside the fireplace. The canine is seen standing still in front of the glass, appearing transfixed by the fire. The pup's gaze is broken after a second flame lights up.

According to a later comment by the poster, the dog likes "the whoosh [sound] when the second part comes on..."

A voice in the video asks, "You like that?" before the clip ends.

It's not surprising that the dog appeared to know when the owner was about to switch the fireplace on because research has shown that "different animal species can be taught to respond in particular ways to human words and other arbitrary symbols," noted a March 2014 study in the journal PLOS One.

According to the study, "some domestic dogs learn to comprehend human words, although the nature and basis of this learning is unknown."

Perhaps the dog's fixation with the fire could be down to the blue and yellow colors of the flame.

Dogs perceive colors differently than humans because of the way their eyes are built. Dr. Jerry Klein, the chief veterinary officer at the American Kennel Club, told Newsweek in July 2021 that "dogs can see yellow and blue, and a combination of those hues. This means they see a lot of the world as grayish-brown."

It's important to keep your curious dog safe around a fireplace or other potential fire safety hazards in a home.

The National Fire Protection Association says nearly 1,000 home fires each year are accidentally started by the homeowners' pets, according to a July 2010 article by the AKC.

"Pets are generally curious and will investigate cooking appliances, candles, or even a fire in your fireplace. Ensure your pet is not left unattended around an open flame and make sure to thoroughly extinguish any open flame before leaving your home," the AKC advised.

'An Obsession'

Several users on TikTok were amused by the dog's reaction to the fire in the latest viral clip.

Alyssa said: "I think he has an obsession but it's a cute one."

CleverGirl wrote: "I've never seen a dog pyromaniac [a person with an impulse-control disorder that involves a failure to resist impulses to set fires]."

Kaydog1979 noted: "At first I was like oh he likes the heat, but the way he looked at the fire I think he's a pyro [pyromaniac]."

Matthew Archbold said: "The way he looked right where the [flames] are.....you should prob hide the matches."

Bella wrote: "Omg I love dogs so much. They each have their own quirks and personalities."

Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok. This video has not been independently verified.

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