When Ashlyn Thompson rescued Benny the dog in September, she did everything she could to help him settle into his new home. But, it turns out, the only comfort he needs is a stuffed toy, which is with him wherever he goes, even at night.
After going upstairs to sleep, Thompson was surprised to hear Benny, a golden retriever who shuffled out of the bedroom and went downstairs, but soon returned with his favorite lamb stuffed toy.
“He’s very attached to his toys, especially a duck and the sheep in this video that he got last week as a gift from two of my friends,” Thompson said. Newsweek. “I took my phone out when I heard him come back because I thought he might have taken it, and I was right.
“The rest of that video is actually him walking over to his own bed to lay down with the sheep and go to sleep,” Thompson added.
Benny has been a part of the family for about a month now, and it quickly became clear how much the rescue dog loves having his toys with him all the time.
@ash.tho / TikTok
Dogs of any age love playing with toys, but they may have a preference for what kind they like: some may choose a tennis ball instead of a naughty one; and others may prefer a teddy bear to a rope toy. But it is believed that different types of toys will serve different purposes, and they can teach dogs different developmental skills.
Seeing a dog carrying its own soft toy is undoubtedly cute, but for the animal, it is a source of comfort. The American Kennel Club (AKC) says that soft toys, such as stuffed bears, can provide familiarity to a dog. This is why they often take them to bed or take them to new places to create a sense of security.
Alternatively, chew toys can help with teething and strengthen the dog’s face and neck muscles, while the AKC notes that interactive toys can encourage mental stimulation to keep the animal occupied.
Thompson shared the adorable clip of Benny back in bed with his stuffed bear on his TikTok account (@ash.tho) on October 12. The video has already garnered over 1.2 million views and 196,500 likes within How many days.
Layered over the video, Thompson wrote: “rescue org said they sent me a dog…should I call and let them know he’s actually a little baby?”
Even when they go out for walks, Benny happily takes his toys with him, as Thompson says he has “videos of him taking them all over Manhattan.”
He added: “He’s my only pet, and I’d say he has great only-child energy because he can easily entertain himself. Sometimes, he likes to take the duck or Lamby with us for a walk he can show everyone. we passed by.
“Benny is the ultimate lover boy. I wasn’t planning on adopting, but his personality and attitude won me over right away,” Thompson said. “He’s very gentle and loving, gives me a hug when I come home, and generally just wants to please me. I’ve always been raised around animals, and there’s a lot you can train a dog to do, but I don’t think so. you can train for that kind of personality.”
Thompson loved seeing the social-media reaction Benny’s video received, even joking that many of his followers want to see more dog content now as a result.
In the nearly 400 comments on the viral video, many people praised Benny’s loveliness, and other dog owners wrote that they also take their stuffed toy with them everywhere.
One comment read, “She has the sweetest personality,” to which Thompson responded by saying: “She’s so gentle.”
Another person commented: “Mine does this when she’s in a big mood.”
One TikTok user wrote: “He knows what it’s like to be saved, so he had to save Lamby.”
Do you have funny and adorable videos or photos of your pet that you want to share? Send them to [email protected] along with a few details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is dedicated to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is dedicated to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
