Sweet Moment Chihuahua Comforts 17-Year-Old Brother: 'Protector'

Puppies and senior dogs don't always get along, but whenever 17-year-old Huang'er is feeling anxious, his Chihuahua brother is always on hand to put him at ease.

While Toby the Chihuahua may be 10 years younger than his brother, and they differ in many ways (namely their energy levels), they always know exactly what each other needs. When Huang'er was feeling "a little uneasy" recently, Toby instantly rushed to his side and sat in the bed next to him, which helped the senior dog drift back into his slumber.

Their owner Hannah Moosvi, from New Jersey, loves seeing the wonderful bond they share, despite their age difference, as she told Newsweek that they're best friends and "Toby likes to act as Huang'er's protector."

She shared a video of the moment Toby went to comfort his big brother on TikTok (@teenytoby) and the clip melted so many hearts since it was posted on January 12. It has already been viewed more than 20,400 times and amassed over 3,700 likes.

"They do everything together, and that morning Huang was particularly anxious, so Toby walked over to his bed and just kept nestling his nose in his fur," Moosvi continued. "It was very sweet to see Toby picking up on Huang'er's need for a little extra love in that moment.

"You can't see it in the video, but Huang'er had a moment after I stopped recording where he just lay his head down on the pillow and you could sense him just relax. Toby did such a good job."

If a senior dog particularly likes their rest and tranquility, they might not be too pleased about a puppy coming in and disrupting that. So, the American Kennel Club (AKC) recommends giving dogs plenty of space to themselves, as being in constant contact can create conflict. They will both need plenty of one-on-one time too, so neither dog feels left out or as though they're being forgotten.

Over time, dogs become accustomed to one another, and as shown by Toby and Huang'er, bonds will form. Huang'er was born in Beijing and originally adopted by Moosvi's sister, Sarah Moosvi, when she lived there back in 2006. When she moved back to the U.S. a year later, she couldn't possibly leave without him, and so he made the journey to his new home in New Jersey.

It certainly hasn't been easy for him, as Moosvi explained that the senior dog "was not enthused" when she brought home Toby, who only wanted to bark and play. "Over time, they became the little twins you see today. Huang'er is still over it sometimes though, and we get it. A 10-year age gap makes a big difference in energy levels," she told Newsweek.

Due to his age, Huang'er is almost blind and can't walk very far, so he spends most of the day napping. But thankfully he has his younger brother to check on him and give him some company whenever it's needed.

Moosvi continued: "Toby's actions showed me that dogs have intuition and empathy; we can learn so much from them."

Many TikTok commenters praised Toby for being so loving towards his older brother, as one person wrote: "Omg Toby's little nuzzles are the best!"

Another person responded: "So sweet. Toby knows his brother needs extra love right now."

One commenter said that "Toby is a great brother."

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