A family decided to bring home a new puppy, and how their senior dog reacted melted hearts.
At the beginning of a TikTok video posted to the account @tails_allyandbeau last week, the family’s 12-year-old senior golden retriever, Ally, looked upset. She sat on her bed with little energy, which can happen with aging dogs. Hoping to change her spirit, the family welcomed a new puppy, Beau.
Their hopes immediately came true as soon as Beau arrived. Ally’s energy did a 180 flip, as the second part of the video shows her playing in the yard with Beau.
The two new besties ran through the grass. Even though Beau circled her, she tried her best to keep up with him. She hopped through the grass with a smile on her face. The text on the video called it the “greatest joy” Ally had felt in ages.
Newsweek reached out to @tails_allyandbeau via TikTok for additional comment.
@tails_allyandbeau/TikTok
Within three days of posting, the TikTok video amassed over 556,600 views and 82,100 likes. People couldn’t get over the dog’s new youthful glow.
“I love this! That 12-year-old has renewed energy and interest in life,” said one viewer.
Another added: “He’s a puppy too, just in a senior body.” The owner replied: “They’ll always be our puppies.”
A third commented: “I swear it extends their lives, I got 3 extra years with my golden angel.”
New Pup Benefits for Senior Dogs
Like Ally, many pet parents notice their senior dogs regaining energy after adding a puppy to the family. However, that isn’t the only benefit. An article from Dogster listed several positive reasons for making your home a two-dog household.
Senior dogs often have newfound life thanks to a puppy’s endless energy. The increased movement will help reduce the risk of obesity and diseases. They’ll benefit from companionship as the puppies will keep them occupied. This often translates to the chance of separation anxiety lessening.
Both the senior canines and puppies will receive mental stimulation. The pros of adding a puppy to the family might translate to a longer lifespan and a better quality of life.
Puppies benefit too. The older dogs become an in-house teacher, showing your new pet how things run. This will make training quicker and easier.
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.
