The Dog Petting Photoshops meme, also known as Pet the Dog, involves an image of a hand reaching out to stroke a dog’s head, which has been widely adapted through digital manipulation. The meme originated from a series of 2017 Twitter posts and later gained massive traction on platforms like Reddit and Tumblr. It typically features the hand petting various icons, ranging from video game characters to abstract concepts, often resulting in a humorous distortion of the subject's face. The meme is celebrated for its versatility, functioning as both a wholesome expression of affection and a sarcastic way to mock people or objects that crave validation.