A dog’s unlikely friendship with his tortoise neighbor has melted hearts across the internet.
The dog’s owner, known on social media as @thesleepyweenie, shared a video of her dachshund, Omar, strolling side-by-side with his tortoise best friend, amassing 501,600 likes and 2.4 million views on TikTok. Their endearing companionship has sparked joy and countless comments.
“Tortoise can’t outrun his slightly clingy friend,” joked one viewer, noticing the tortoise’s leisurely pace and the dachshund’s adorable dedication to slowing down to stay in step with him.
Though it might seem like an unusual pairing, dog and tortoise friendships are more common than people think. According to WagWalking, while dogs and tortoises can live together harmoniously, their interactions need to be supervised.
Dogs, with their playful energy, may not realize the fragility of their shelled friends, so owners should assess how anxious or excitable their pooch is before introducing them to a tortoise. Larger tortoises could also harm small dogs, so owners should be cautious if they consider co-parenting these species and understand the associated risks.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) mentions that dachshunds, with their intelligent and loyal nature, often form strong bonds with other pets, including those of a different species. Dachshunds are curious dogs with a keen sense of smell and love companionship.
This helps explain Omar’s attachment to his tortoise pal, as they both seem to enjoy each other’s company despite their vastly different paces of life.
The tortoise in the video is a sulcata tortoise, a species known for its resilience and impressive size. These tortoises, according to The Spruce Pets, can live for over 70 years and are one of the largest species in the world.
A file photo of a tortoise and dog. The adorable cross-species friendship has melted hearts online.
Marina Caldentey Mestre/iStock / Getty Images Plus
Interestingly, one viewer noticed that the tortoise’s shell was “pyramiding,” a condition often linked to poor diet and lack of proper care. As noted by the Arizona Tortoise Compound, shell pyramiding is usually preventable with a healthy diet and the right habitat.
In this case, the tortoise’s shell shows some signs of its challenging past, but thanks to its new home, it’s now living a much happier life.
Viewers have been captivated by the unusual bond between the animals.
“Brb mom gotta walk the shell dog!,” joked one viewer.
“It’s the fact that the dog is walking at the tortoise’s pace, how respectful,” said Carmen.
“What a cute children’s book idea,” said another user.
“I don’t know how to explain this but they remind me of the people who go to the mall to exercise,” quipped one TikToker.
“It’s like they are talking and walking together,” said another.
Newsweek reached out to @@thesleepyweenie for comment via TikTok. We couldn’t verify the details of the case.
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