Social media users have been left in shock by a dog's transformation from puppy to adult.
On January 28, user @babygirl_130467 posted a TikTok video of her dog playing on a sofa as a puppy. She thought the tiny pup, which resembled a Chihuahua, would be "so cute when she gets bigger." However, reality didn't quite meet her expectations. The video cut to a more recent image of the dog, which now sported scraggly hair.
"She's still cute she's just ugly cute," the poster wrote in the caption of the video, which has garnered more than 11 million views. "She looks like a teddy bear when she's brushed."
Newsweek contacted @babygirl_130467 for comment via TikTok. We could not verify the details of the case.
The clip has received more than 1.9 million likes and 5,500 comments, with one viewer writing, "I refuse to believe that's the same dog."
"Are you sure no one switched out your dog?" another said, while a commenter added: "THAT CAN NOT BE THE SAME DOG. She's adorable, though."
Other users suggested maintaining the dog's wild hair by brushing it regularly or taking her to a groomer.
The poster later responded to such a comment with another video, writing in the caption, "She gets brushed regularly." She added that the dog had wiry and coarse hair that matted within an hour of being brushed.
The caption also said that simply playing with another dog or touching the carpet was enough to cause the dog's hair to knot.
While the poster didn't specify the dog's breed, a separate video on the related @love.moomies account suggested that the dog's mom was a whippet and her dad was a terrier.
According to Purina, crossbreeding dogs may not always result in the appearance owners expect. Just as coat type can be unpredictable, the combination of size and shape from two different breeds can vary significantly in each puppy. In a litter of designer crossbreeds, there may be little resemblance among them, which may be even more noticeable when they reach adulthood. For example, some cockapoos take after spaniels, others resemble poodles, and some fall somewhere in between. Traits such as size, shape, coat type and color can all differ.
Crossbreeding also doesn't guarantee better temperaments or eliminate undesirable traits. Puppies can inherit any mix from their parents, and if both breeds share genetic conditions, their offspring may still inherit them.
The unpredictability of crossbreeding makes it difficult to know exactly how a puppy will develop, making grooming and behavioral expectations challenging. To add to the surprise, some crossbreeds may even grow larger than either parent.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our "Pet of the Week" lineup.