You have sniper vision if you can spot the hidden dog in this photo

Can you spot it in 20 seconds?

Cognitive challenges became increasingly popular online during the Coronavirus pandemic as many used them as boredom busters during lockdown.

They have remained popular ever since as people enjoy finding the hidden objects or animals in the pictures.

An image currently circulating on Reddit challenges users to spot the hidden dog in a snow-covered forest.

Those who can spot the animal within 20 seconds apparently have a high IQ.

At first glance, it looks an impossible task, but eagle-eyed users have managed to locate the four-legged friend.

One user claimed: “That was easy, his ears gave it away.”

A second commented: “Spotted straight away!” While a third said: “Yup… found the dog.”

However, many were left frustrated after they were unable to find the canine. One said: “Even with the clues in the comments, I still can’t find it.”

Another said: “I think y’all lying if y’all said you found it.” A third said: “I have been staring at this photograph for ages now.”

An optical illusion involves the brain interpreting an image differently from how it is in reality.

When people can’t figure out an optical illusion, the brain fills in the gaps where there is incomplete information.

Associate Professor Paul E. Dux, from the School of Psychology at the University of Queensland, said: “How people search through space and a visual environment. Basically, you present stimuli and you’re finding a target in a mass of distracting objects.

“The reason why some people find it and others don’t is because some have better ‘spatial attention’ than others.”

People have been given a big clue in how to find the dog as users looked to help each other out.

If you focus on the centre of the image and look out for the dog’s ears, eyes and nose which stand out against the snowy backdrop, the dog should be easier to find.