Watch as cheeky pup rips Santa’s beard off before leading elves on chase around Sunderland doggy day-care

Nova, a six-month-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier, stole the show while visiting a festive Santa Paws event at a doggy day care. The excitable pup was meant to pose sweetly for a photo with Santa Clause, but instead leapt forward, grabbed his beard and bolted into another play area.

Video footage shows Nova proudly trotting away as Santa and his elf scramble after her, attempting to retrieve the tangled beard. The festive event was organised by Robyn Ellis, 31, who owns and runs The Puppy Dog Palace in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear..

Robyn had enlisted her brother Stevie, 35, to dress up as Santa for the dogs and Robyn's sister Darla, 29, was also on hand dressed as an elf. Nova made a break for the beard into another play area, forcing staff to chase her for a full ten minutes as she proudly refused to give up her festive prize.

Robyn's sister Darla, 29, was also on hand dressed as an elf and ended up leading the charge to recover Santa’s beard. Robyn, from Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, said: "It was absolutely hilarious. We’d planned a Santa Paws event to get the dogs into the Christmas spirit but Nova quickly became the Grinch by stealing Santa’s beard."

"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. Santa and the staff couldn’t stop laughing. Stevie eventually gave up and left it to the elves to deal with."

Despite Santa taking the mishap in good spirits, the beard didn’t survive the ordeal unscathed. Robyn said: "Santa just laughed it off, but the beard was completely ruined and tangled. Looks like a new beard has gone straight onto Santa’s Christmas list."

Nova’s owner was less than surprised by her antics when he came to pick her up. Robyn said: "He said she’s always getting up to mischief at home and stealing the spotlight, so he wasn’t shocked at all."