Why Do People Compare Dogs to Haunted Victorian Children?

It’s no secret we love to anthropomorphize our pets — from making up silly voices for them, to presuming their opinions (e.g., “Spot hates the Yankees; he’s a die-hard Mets fan”), or naming their human doppelgänger (I used to say my scruffy blond mutt Phoebe looked like ‘negative space Meg Ryan’). 

Assigning our animals human qualities helps us connect with and feel closer to them, and it’s also a way we entertain ourselves. So when people started comparing dogs to haunted Victorian children — sure, it may seem a bit out of left field. But really, it’s just another example of this impulse to define our dogs’ behavior in human terms.  

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If the phrase “haunted Victorian child” doesn’t ring a bell, allow me to back up.

If you Google image search the phrase, you’ll find old photos of sickly, ghostly appearing children. While likely a combination of the daguerreotype-style of photography common to the 19th century — characterized by sepia-tinted, hazy shots — and the fact that nutrition wasn’t exactly a strong-suit back then, the representation we have of kids from that era is delightfully spooky. 

There was a popular meme circa 2020, “showing things to a Victorian child,” that played on the frail, weak quality of Dickensian youth by imagining what modern-day phenomena, from Four Loko to 100 Gecs, would send them to an even earlier grave than usual. This is the viral tweet that kicked it off: 

When did people start comparing dogs to haunted Victorian children?

So, with jokes about Victorian children well circulating in internet speak, the concept eventually made its way to dog people, starting with a viral 2021 Facebook post about an adoptable bug-eyed chihuahua named Prancer. Written by Prancer’s foster mom in an attempt to find him his forever home, the ad described Prancer as a “haunted Victorian child in the body of a small dog that hates men and children.” Below, a snippet:

“I’ve tried for the last several months to post this dog for adoption and make him sound... palatable. The problem is, he’s just not. There’s not a very big market for neurotic, man-hating, animal-hating, children-hating dogs that look like gremlins. But I have to believe there’s someone out there for Prancer, because I am tired, and so is my family. Every day we live in the grips of the demonic Chihuahua hellscape he has created… I am convinced at this point he is not a real dog, but more like a vessel for a traumatized Victorian child that now haunts our home.”

The blunt and hyperbolic tone of the ad won over the hearts of Americans; it was picked up by major news outlets from The Today Show to Buzzfeed and The New York Times, and shared on We Rate Dogs Twitter account. The rescue where Prancer was listed for adoption, Second Chance Pet Adoption League, even sold shirts with Prancer’s face on them. And it worked; in just two weeks, Prancer was adopted! He’s still living with his new mom and has his own Instagram account — give him a follow! 

Following the Prancer ad, everyday folks began posting online, comparing their own surly and strange pups to the, um, slightly possessed. If you look on TikTok, you’ll find videos in which pet parents liken their own eccentric pups to haunted Victorian children. Like eerily-blue eyed Aussies that stare in shock, wander aimlessly around the house as though in a daze, or simply always appear concerned:

Then this July, Renegade Paws Shelter in Savannah, Georgia penned their own viral Facebook adoption ad for a Chihuahua mix named Igor, who they likened to a cursed Victorian child. Igor had a spot on the Today show, a write-up in People, and went viral on TikTok. Below, a snippet from the ad, which has garnered 17.5K comments from posters professing their love for him:

“Ever wanted to adopt a sentient middle finger wrapped in a cloud of fur? Meet Igor.

We have reason to believe he’s a cursed Victorian child masquerading as a 10-pound stuffed animal. He was not born, he appeared. No one remembers how or when. He materializes in doorways and stares at corners. He knows exactly what you did….

Igor is not a good boy. Igor is an experience. He will allow you to live in his home if you agree to worship him like the tiny, furious deity he is.”

It’s safe to say the staff at Renegade Paws put every bit of creative energy they had into their promotional efforts, and it paid off: Igor has a home! On Aug. 5, they announced this news with an equally hilarious Instagram post, writing in part:

“Igor, our tiny poltergeist, has chosen a new kingdom upon which to unleash his biohazardous bottom. We repeat, the fluffy, rage-filled demon has been adopted. We tried to warn his new servants. We told them about banshee-level butt gusts and his thirst for vengeance. We even sent him on a trial run and told them to triple barricade their doors at night. Alas, ‘Igor’s new peons said, Perfect, he’ll fit right in with our bearded dragon.’”

Beyond the meme, what’s actually going on with these dogs?

While the spookiness and the hyperbolic descriptions are a charming marketing ploy, the haunted Victorian child dogs have a few qualities in common. Often, they are toy breeds, like mini-Australian Shepherds or Chihuahua mixes, with bug eyes, trembling, jumpy movements, and a general nervous disposition. According to certified trainer Shelby Semel, founder of Shelby Semel Dog Training, these high-strung qualities can be common in breeds we’ve bred for looks and size. 

“Australian Shepherds and Poodle mixes [and other small breeds] often have nerves around sounds that translate to cowering,” Semel explains. “When this genetic vulnerability is combined with environmental stressors such as repeated rehoming or long-distance transport, the cumulative trauma can significantly affect a dog’s ability to adapt and regulate behavior.”

Another possible reason behind the haunted looks: Many dogs simply don’t feel comfortable with a camera in their face. When we see their photos online, they could appear overstimulated and stressed out because a human is up close and repeatedly snapping their pic. 

“A lot of the dogs have a whale eye, they are actively asking to be given space, they’re licking their lips, trying to say, ‘please back off’,” Semel says. “Sometimes on social media, people try to elicit the [certain] behavior for the video, and who knows how many times they’re doing it before they get the video they want.” 

The behavior can also stem from trauma they’ve been through, combined with lack of early socialization. The “sentient middle finger wrapped in a cloud of fur,” Igor, had an additional listing on the shelter website that included less playful language, and more specifics on his backstory. Namely, that he came from a hoarding situation, and was scared of his collar and leash and any sudden sounds and movements. No wonder! 

Don’t worry, you can help your haunted Victorian dog adjust.

If you end up adopting a dog with this predisposition for acting spooked (and looking spooky), there are ways to help calm their nervous system and get them better adjusted to their environment. The most important thing is to take it very slow.

“Avoid prolonged eye contact — a lot of dogs find that threatening or uncomfortable,” Sebel suggests. “Don’t add too much new equipment like a harness or booties in the first week or two while the dog gets used to you. Give them a little time to settle in before intro-ing to family and friends. No long absences. Make sure they have a behaviorist or trainer to connect with.”

It’s important to give the new rescue ample space. Sebel favors what she calls the “three-second rule” when it comes to petting. Ideally, let the dog come to you and nudge you (which is distinct from laying down next to you, which doesn’t necessarily mean they want to be petted). Then, pet them for three seconds, and stop. If they keep nudging you, continue for another three seconds, and so on. “That way you’re getting the dog’s consent each time. Maybe they do want to be petted, but not for four minutes straight.”

With patient handling, plus the support system of a trainer or veterinary behaviorist, many haunted pups can shake off the curse and ease into a more grounded routine in a safe space with their guardian. 

“You learn to work around the issues here and there,” Sebel says. “If someone is willing to take in one of those demons, those unicorns are the most amazing people.”