A “single father” dog has melted the hearts of the internet by caring for guinea pigs as if they are his children.
The owner of an Irish setter and five guinea pigs (@animallover.zx123) has shared heartwarming footage of their animal family.
“Animal friendship and the best of love they can give,” the user wrote as the caption of the TikTok, which has garnered 384,100 likes and 2.4 million views.
The red-furred dog grooms his white, ginger, and black guinea pig friends, follows them around, and lets them snuggle up in his coat. The video shows the animals eating their dinners together, and the dog letting himself into their pen when he misses his playmates.
Irish setters are known for their friendly and outgoing nature, according to the American Kennel Club. They are energetic, affectionate, and great with families, making them wonderful companions for both humans and other animals. Their playful demeanor and gentle disposition can make them excellent friends for smaller pets like guinea pigs, provided they are introduced properly.
Introducing dogs and guinea pigs to each other can be a delicate process.
According to a veterinarian company called Lafeber, guinea pigs should be kept in a secure cage, with interactions supervised until both animals are comfortable.
It’s essential to ensure that the dog is calm and gentle, as guinea pigs are delicate and can be easily stressed.
Initially, keeping them separated and allowing them to get used to each other’s scent can help in building a harmonious relationship.
After the animals are used to each other’s scents, an effective method of introducing them is to start with a closed door between the dog and guinea pig. This allows both animals to smell and hear each other without direct visual contact, reducing the initial stress of meeting.
Owners can then attempt to introduce the animals face-to-face but should take precautions to ensure the dog is on a leash and the guinea pig is in a pen or container.
The owner should bring the dog to the guinea pig slowly but should retract if the guinea pig shows any sign of stress or if the dog seems overexcited or aggressive.
Stock photo of guinea pig and dog. The heartfelt montage showed the unlikely friendship between the dog and his adopted guinea pigs.
Patryk_Kosmider/iStock / Getty Images Plus
TikTok users were overjoyed with the delightful footage.
“Does it think it’s a puppy?” one viewer asked. “He’s a single father to them,” the owner responded.
“I’m literally crying at this video; this is so wholesome,” said another viewer.
“This is my favorite video ever on TikTok,” exclaimed another commenter.
“They are the sweetest dogs ever! I have three, and you’ll never have a better dog than a red dog,” said Terri.
“Amazing bond,” said Maurice. “Cutest ever. my border collie loved my guinea pigs,” said Ciara.
Newsweek reached out to the owner for comment but could not verify the details of the video.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pets you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them to life@newsweek.com, and they could appear on our site.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
