New York, New York - A dog owner named Gary recently decided to test out whether canines are afraid of aluminum foil. So, he decided to conduct a hands-on experiment with his Golden Retriever, Marley.

In the viral clip, Gary lays aluminum foil out on the entrance to the living room.

He then calls in Marley, who stops abruptly, apparently startled!

The furry friend looks uncertainly at the reflective floor, and it's clear that the Golden Retriever is uncomfortable with the foil.

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His owner tries to persuade him to come over, offering the prospect of some pets.

But Marley continues to falter, carefully tapping the foil with one paw and following up with the other. The situation seems too dangerous for him, and he timidly backs away again, pacing uncertainly.

Gary's calls lure the four-legged friend back, however, and slowly – very slowly – Marley finally works his way forward until he reaches his cheering owner.

Obviously, Marley is indeed afraid of the aluminium foil, but why is that?

There are several reasons why four-legged friends have a hard time with foil, but one thing is certain: Marley is anything but an isolated case!

According to the dog website Wag!, the vast majority of pets are afraid of aluminium foil.

The strange crackling sound often worries many dogs, and the unusual, reflective texture can also be unsettling for them.

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Last but not least, dogs get a very bad feeling when they touch the foil with their paws and claws, so they'd rather avoid it.

Gary's test didn't exactly do any favors for Marley, but he's scored a viral hit with it – the clip has been viewed nearly a million times just a day after it was posted!