A "reactive" dog's response to one of her owner's oldest friends has warmed the hearts of viewers online.
Dewey has struggled to trust new people ever since he was attacked by another dog. His owner, Mady O'Reilly, said that he has a particularly sweet relationship with the humans he had met before the incident, and captured him sitting comfortably with one of her oldest friends as his paw rested on her lap.
O'Reilly shared the adorable moment to TikTok on October 16, which has since been viewed more than 1.9 million times.
In the clip, Dewey is sitting beside O'Reilly's friend, who giggles away at the fact he has rested his paw on her lap in a clear sign of affection and protection.
O'Reilly, who is based in Alton, Illinois, explains to viewers that her dog can be quite reactive, meaning that the canine has a tendency to become overstimulated and growl, lunge or bark in new situations, or around new people.
Despite this character trait, Dewey is on good terms with O'Reilly's friend, known online as @lex_crafts. The pet owner, who works in animal welfare, reveals in the comments that Dewey's temperament was very calm before the dog attack.
"His 'pre-attack' friends are in the circle, it's new friends that are hard," she says, adding in the post's caption that the woman in the video will "never be a stranger."
An overlaid text on the video reads: "The long distance best friends you see once or twice a year but stay in your reactive dog's inner circle are top tier friends."
Viewers online have poked fun at the adorable moment, many sharing their own similar experiences with reactive dogs in the comments section.
"OK. But my reactive dogs name is also Dewey and this is too accurate," one viewer, @sydwitt_, said.
Another, @ojsimpin94, added: "My reactive dog loved everybody but children and short adults."
"That's clearly her man," a third viewer, @atadbitnormal, said.
Another, @atmosphericairhead, added: "I work with reactive dogs and am always honored when they allow me in their circle. Some of the best personalities are hidden behind the reactivity, people just judge too quickly."
"I wish my reactive dog trusted one single person," another, @adventurousemma, said. "She's lived with my mom for five years and still isn't sure."
"I trust my reactive dog's judgment more than I trust humans," another, @p0lishqueen, added.
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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