'Gentle' Rescue Dog Carries His Toy to Bed Every Night in Adorable Video

When Ashlyn Thompson rescued Benny the dog in September, she did everything she could to help him settle into his new home. But, as it turns out, the only comfort he needs is a stuffed toy, which accompanies him wherever he goes, even at night.

After heading upstairs to bed, Thompson was surprised to hear Benny, a golden retriever mix, leave the room and go downstairs, but he soon returned carrying his favorite lamb stuffed toy.

"He's very attached to his toys, especially a duck and the lamb in this video that he got last weekend as a gift from two of my friends," Thompson told Newsweek. "I pulled out my phone when I heard him coming back up because I figured he might have gone to get it, and I was right.

"The rest of that video is actually him walking over to his own bed to lay down with the lamb and go to sleep," Thompson added.

Benny has been part of the family for almost a month now, and it quickly became clear how much the rescue dog loves having his toys with him all the time.

Dogs of any age will love playing with toys, but they might have a preference as to what type they prefer: some may opt for a tennis ball rather than a squeaky one; and others may prefer a teddy bear over a rope toy. But it is thought that the different types of toys will serve different purposes, and they can teach dogs a variety of different developmental skills.

Seeing a dog carrying their own soft toy is undoubtedly cute, but for the animal, it's 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 carry them to bed or take them to new places to create a sense of security.

Alternatively, chew toys can aid with teething and strengthen the dog's face and neck muscles, whereas the AKC notes that interactive toys can encourage mental stimulation to keep the animal occupied.

Thompson shared the adorable clip of Benny coming back to bed with his stuffed bear on her TikTok account (@ash.tho) on October 12. The video has already amassed over 1.2 million views and 196,500 likes in a matter of days.

Layered over the video, Thompson wrote: "the rescue org said they were sending me a dog...should I call and let them know he's actually just a little baby?"

Even when they go out for walks, Benny will happily carry his toys along with him, as Thompson said that she has "videos of him carrying them all over Manhattan."

She added: "He's my only pet, and I like to say he has big only-child energy in that he easily entertains himself. Sometimes, he likes to bring the duck or Lamby out with us on walks so he can show off to everyone we pass.

"Benny is the ultimate lover boy. I wasn't planning on adopting, but his personality and temperament won me over almost immediately," Thompson said. "He's so gentle and loving, gives me hugs when I get home, and in general just wants to please me. I've always grown up with animals, and there's a lot you can train a dog to do, but I don't think you can train for that type of personality."

Thompson has loved seeing the social-media reaction that Benny's video received, even joking that many of her followers want to see more dog content now as a result.

With almost 400 comments on the viral video, many people have praised Benny's loving nature, and other dog owners have written that theirs carries their stuffed toy everywhere, too.

One comment reads, "He has the sweetest temperament," which Thompson responded to by saying: "He's so gentle."

Another person commented: "Mine does this when he's having large feels."

One TikTok user wrote: "He knows what it feels like to be rescued, so he had to rescue Lamby."

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