A toddler and her protective Bernese mountain dog from New England have melted the hearts of internet users this week.
Ryan, who doesn’t share his last name on the internet for privacy reasons, caught the moment his 2-year-old toddler decided to explore a hiking trail by herself, while the family’s pet dog, Ivy, kept a watchful eye on her.
Ryan shared the clip on under his Instagram account @ryan_s_photography, which shows his determined daughter walking down the path after confidently telling him she wanted to hike alone. “I told her she could walk as far as she wanted on that path. When she got pretty far away, she screamed proudly, ‘I did it!’,” the dad told Newsweek.
From left: The adventurous toddler sets out on her trek; and Ivy follows her to make sure she’s safe. The 2-year-old had created quite a distance between her dad and her canine best friend Ivy, but the family dog decided she had gone far enough.
@ryan_s_photography
As she ventures further, Ivy can be seen anxiously pacing at the bottom of the screen, not taking her eyes off her tiny buddy.
When the toddler said she had reached her destination, the family dog decided that was far enough and stepped in to close the distance and ensure her safety.
“At that point, my dog, her best friend, who had been impatiently waiting and didn’t like how far away she was, ran to be with her,” Ryan said.
The heartwarming video has been viewed more than 392,000 times and received thousands of comments from Instagram users who admired the little girl’s outgoing personality, despite feeling nervous about where she was setting off to.
“I started to get anxious too … like umm where do you think you’re going little lady,” one user wrote.
Many others commented on Ivy’s admirable role as a big sister. “I love her spirit! So good to have her guardian angels were watching too,” another wrote.
Dogs are often protective over their owners, especially young children, due to their strong instincts and the bonds they form with their human families.
Some breeds, like Bernese mountain dogs, were originally bred for protective roles, such as guarding livestock or property. These canines are naturally inclined to be watchful and cautious, especially when it comes to the safety of their family members.
As Ryan zoomed in on his daughter, viewers could see her gesturing from afar, which some users commented looked as if she was telling a story.
“Wish she was wearing a mic. I bet the monologue was just a precious,” one user wrote.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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