One pair of parents never have to worry about their toddler wandering off too far, because they have a wonderful four-legged babysitter who is always on hand to help.
Living with six dogs certainly has its perks, but there’s one thing that Ashley Shell can never get enough of, and that’s how loving and protective they are of their little sister, River. Shell told Newsweek how their Estrela mountain dog, named Roman, is always watching River to make sure she is safe.
“It makes me happy that he’s keeping a close eye on her and knows she isn’t supposed to get far away,” Shell said.
Roman takes his duties very seriously, as Shell shared a video on TikTok (@von.jakoba) proving just how cautious he is with his sister. As River wandered along the path near their home, Roman was instantly by her side and subtly walked in front of her, to steer her back towards the house instead.
Social-media users have been left amazed by the video, showing how Roman is “always watching out,” and it has been viewed more than 1.8 million times.
@von.jakoba / TikTok
Shell added: “It’s not necessarily a trick. He does it naturally. So, whenever she would start the walk off, he would always slowly walk in front of her until she turned around. Generally, people think it’s amazing that he’s keeping such a close eye on her and that he has great instincts.”
Judging by his sheer size and power, some people might be surprised to see Roman being so loving towards little River, 2. But that’s a huge part of his breed genetics, as the American Kennel Club (AKC) says that the Estrela mountain dog is known for its love of family and children. They may be watchful guardians who keep their people and home safe, but they are also incredibly docile and affectionate towards their family, according to the AKC.
Of course, the five German shepherds and the Estrela mountain dog have an undeniable love for River, but a girl is nothing without her dogs, and she loves her pack just as much in return. “She learned to be gentle with them at a young age, and she loves to take care of them by brushing them, feeding them, and giving them treats,” Shell said.
The dogs are never far away from her side, and if they aren’t watching over her, they are sure to be playing gently together. Shell loves updating her millions of TikTok followers with videos of the dogs and their favorite human, showing that the biggest of dogs are still gentle pets at heart.
Since the video of Roman steering River back towards home went viral on TikTok, it has amassed hundreds of comments online already. Many people praised the dog’s protective instincts, as one comment reads that “he is gently herding the little human.”
Another person wrote: “The subtle art of protecting without being overbearing.”
A third TikTok user posted that River is the “most protected little girl.”
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.