Creepy photo confuses the internet

First there was the dress that broke the internet. Was it black and blue or white and gold?

I saw white and gold.

Then the Laurel vs Yanny audio clip. Which name was the voice saying?

I heard Yanny.

Now comes this eerie photo stumping the internet even further.

Do you see a creepy clown – or a cute dog?

I see a creepy clown, and I'm wishing I hadn't.

The image, which has been shared on Reddit, is confusing thousands, with some seeing just a clown or a dog, and others able to see both. For one, the clown or dog debate left them completely baffled, explaining they instead "see what looks like a child with clown paint and no dog."

"The snout is the face, the mouth line is the clowns smile, the clown is looking down to the left and it's a sideways profile," wrote another.

"Try covering the dog's eyes with your fingers – the dog's nose should be the 'clowns' left eye," suggested one more user. "It took me forever."

"I mean, it is a dog – it's an older black lab. I'm so confused! How are y'all seeing a clown?"

Some are struggling to make out what's lurking in the picture, with one admitting it "took them a bit", but was able to make out a figure "with help from another comment".

"It's only the clown's head/face in a three-quarter turn to the right; the dog's nose is the clown's left eye. They share the mouth."

"The question should be, do you see a clown's face in the picture of this whole dog?" quizzed another. "It is an entire dog complete with paws and all."

"I saw the clown, but now I've seen the dog and the clown is gone…"