Paige Knudtson grew up with a boxer, so when she found out she was pregnant with her son Finn, she went out and adopted one from a local shelter.
And it was a great decision – the 2-year-old pup, named Brutus, became best friends with the newborn the minute he came home.
Knudtson says Brutus has a sixth sense for knowing when Finn needs a little extra attention.
When she was 20 weeks pregnant, she was told that Finn had a heart defect that would require multiple surgeries immediately after his birth until he was strong enough to undergo open-heart surgery.
“We were extremely lucky to have found this out prior to his birth, or he would not be here with us today,” Knudtson told The Dodo.
It wasn’t easy, but seven weeks after his birth, Finn came home and met his furry big brother for the first time. And the two have been inseparable ever since.
“Once we got home, it was as if Brutus just knew Finn needed some extra close monitoring, and he has been by his side ever since,” Knudtson said.
As Finn grew up, the two would do everything together, including taking naps. Brutus loves to snuggle and his mom calls him “a big teddy bear.”
Like all loyal dogs, Brutus also knows when Finn needs extra care.
“Brutus often curls up wherever Finn is sitting and follows him from room to room in our house,” Knudtson said in her interview with The Dodo. “If Finn is sick, Brutus knows it and just stays right by Finn’s side or lays his head on Finn’s chest.”
The dog seems to consider himself Finn’s protector and hates being separated from him, even when Finn is asleep. He would scratch the bedroom door if it was closed and he was denied access to his little “brother.”
His preferred position was directly in front of the crib, and when Finn graduated to a toddler bed, Brutus would crawl right in.
“Finn just started sleeping in his ‘big boy bed’ a little over a month ago and that is when Brutus began crawling up and sleeping in Finn’s bed every night,” Knudtson said. “It was as if he laid next to him to prevent him from rolling out of bed.”
On the nights that Brutus doesn’t climb into bed with him, Finn will climb out. The little boy is happy to sleep on the floor next to his dog. (Kids don’t get sore backs from sleeping on the floor!)
Once Knudtson started seeing this on the baby monitor, she realized that since she couldn’t do much to stop it, the best option was to move Brutus’ dog bed into the little boy’s room.
For anyone who doesn’t believe it, the mom has footage of one of the many nights Finn decided to join Brutus on the floor.
You can see him grab his blanket, climb out of his bed, and sidle up next to his best friend.
Brutus is not only a teddy bear but a pillow as well – and he doesn’t seem to mind.
Anything to be closer to Finn is just fine with him.
He doesn’t seem to be remotely phased as the kiddo climbs all over him in an attempt to get comfortable.
And, to be fair, that dog bed looks comfy – and big enough for two!
Be sure to scroll down below to see the sweet video for yourself.
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