By Alyce CollinsShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberA rescue dog’s reaction to seeing a Christmas tree lit up for the first time has melted hearts across the internet.
There are many firsts for shelter dogs after finding their forever home—from their first time on the couch to their first-ever pup cup. Life has been pretty luxurious for a rescue pit bull named Olive Jean who was adopted in 2025, but this time of year has brought a whole new range of firsts.
Olive’s owner Jennifer captured the precious moment her rescue dog caught sight of the Christmas tree when it was lit up for the first time. After seeing the sparkling lights and stars glistening on the ceiling, Olive looked mesmerized and she could hardly take her eyes off it.
The adorable video of her reaction was shared on the dog’s dedicated TikTok account (@olive.jean.marie) and it delighted the internet. In just a matter of days, the clip has gone viral with over 485,000 views and more than 106,000 likes on TikTok at the time of writing.
...Newsweek has contacted Jennifer via Instagram for comment. We could not verify the details of the video.
The caption alongside the TikTok post reads: "I can’t with how sweet she is. We don’t deserve dogs."
After being adopted earlier this year, Olive is certainly making the most out of this second chance she’ has been given. Jennifer regularly shares videos of Olive relishing her new life, from lounging on the bed all day, finding sticks on her walks, to sunbathing in the yard.
While Olive seems to be getting into the festive spirit, it is also important for owners to be vigilant this time of year. The American Kennel Club (AKC) recommends puppy-proofing your home, regardless of how old the canine might be. Ensuring that holiday plants, foods, and decorations are out of reach is vital.
Dogs can get curious about the new festive additions to their home, so it is important to make sure they can’t try to chew or swallow anything potentially dangerous or toxic.
The holidays can also be incredibly hectic, so the AKC highlights the importance of maintaining the dog’s routine as much as possible and giving them breaks whenever they need one.
How a canine copes with the holidays will depend on their personality, but owners should consider using a crate, blocking access to certain rooms, or keeping them on a leash. This shouldn’t be done in a punitive way, however, and the dog should be rewarded for positive behavior throughout.
Social-media users can’t get enough of Olive Jean’s reaction to the Christmas tree glistening in her forever home. This has led to more than 1,150 comments on the viral TikTok video already, as people hailed her undeniable joy and gratitude.
One comment reads: "She straight up stopped to truly enjoy life for a moment. Lucky doggie."
Another TikTok user wrote: "My goodness, that’s precious!"
A third person replied: "They’re so appreciative of everything."
One commenter posted: "She like, wow I can see Christmas from my new home."
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to [email protected] and they could appear on our site.
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