A couple of months ago, a Reddit user shared a heartwarming video of his two dogs comforting their anxious sibling. The video features a small Shih Tzu named Huxley and a white, deaf dog named Winnie, comforting their big brother Rex, an English/French Mastiff mix who suffers from severe anxiety due to a traumatic past with multiple abusive owners.
From Abusive Owners to Loving Paws
Source: Reddit
A study from the University of Helsinki found that dogs are highly prone to anxiety, especially those who have been abused. The study surveyed 13,715 pet dogs from Finland, revealing that 72.5% displayed anxiety-like behaviors.
Rex’s current owner, his fourth, took him in when he was 1.5 years old after previous owners had abused him. His second owners used to beat him and use a shock collar on him, leading to his fear of loud noises, brooms, and clapping. Due to his traumatic experiences, Rex developed resource guarding tendencies, fear, and aggression, making it hard for him to fit into his third family.
Source: Reddit
Rex’s current owner has spent the last 2.5 years rehabilitating him, and Rex has made significant progress. Although he still exhibits anxious behaviors, Rex now enjoys spending time with his dog and human siblings.
According to the owner, “With anxiety, the dog generally wants nothing to do with whatever it’s scared of, and will try to get out of that situation as quickly as it can. He was my first dog post-divorce, when I was single, so we kind of helped each other a lot.”
Bound By Love
In the video, you can see how Huxley and Winnie adore Rex. Whenever they sense his anxiety, they rush to comfort him with kisses.
Huxley, a Shih Tzu, is a fearless puppy who loves everyone. Winnie, the deaf dog, relies on Rex for guidance. Despite his vocal nature and occasional growling when scared, Winnie, unable to hear, simply loves and accepts him. Rex, in turn, helps Winnie by being her ears, enhancing their bond.
Source: Reddit
Huxley and Winnie have played a significant role in Rex’s recovery, helping him come out of his shell.
Source: Reddit
Their heartwarming story has garnered almost 21K upvotes on Reddit. One user commented, “I can’t tell you how much this information sparks joy in me. Winnie, Rex, and Huxley are some of my current favorite people. Oh, and you’re pretty awesome, too, for giving these wonderful dogs a happy home.”
Despite his rough past, Rex found a loving family with the best owner and doggie siblings. His owner proudly stated, “I’ve always said I’m really lucky to have such a cool dog.”