Having a baby feels so special and miraculous that most parents find it impossible to put into words the love they feel for their child.
But not everyone in the family might feel the same way about having a new member introduced without their say.
It can be a nerve-wracking time introducing babies to pets. Cats and dogs that have been used to receiving full attention from their parents can struggle to accept a new addition to the family.
Luckily, the majority of the time, pets adjust to their new human friends and grow to love them as their parents do.
Berkley, a Burmese mountain dog, is a perfect example of how a dog’s love for a child can extend far beyond expected.
Christine Jo Miller, Berkley’s owner, has had him since she and her now-husband were dating in college.
Berkley has been right by Christine’s side throughout her journey through life, from getting engaged, to her marriage, buying her first home, having babies, and building the home she lives in now.
When Christine welcomed baby Elainey into her home, she was at first concerned about Berkley’s behavior.
He’s a big dog and full of energy, and Christine had her concerns that he might be too much for a newborn baby to handle.
But to Christine’s relief, Berkley fell in love with Elainey… and Elainey fell in love with Berkley right back.
Speaking to The Dodo about the pair’s immediate friendship, Christine recalled:
“The only thing that would make her happy was him being in the room. So once we gave him the OK to be around her … [we] realized how gentle he really is.”
Christine and her husband were naturally protective of Elainey, and set up baby monitors in her room when she was about 8 months old.
They wanted to check up on their baby, but they hadn’t realized that someone was already doing it for them.
The monitor footage, which Christine has shared to TikTok, shows Berkley padding into Elainey’s room multiple times in the night to give her a once-over while she sleeps.
On some occasions, Elainey is awake and standing up in her crib, and she and Berkley seem to share a knowing look.
According to Christine, Berkley knows that night time isn’t for playing, and he doesn’t get too close to Elainey’s crib. She said:
“He’s never gone in to do anything crazy. [He] just checks in and turns around and leaves, so I know it’s his duty to do as part of the family.”
The TikTok video has become an instant hit, with more than 750,000 likes and 4,000 comments.
With “Send Me on My Way” by Guy Meets Girl playing as the backing soundtrack, the video compilation shows Berkley nosing around Elainey’s room while the little girl sleeps.
It’s an emotional video, especially as Christine has shared snippets of Berkley’s life with the family as the videos play out.
She explains that she spent all the money she had on Berkley back when she first got him, and that her goal had always been to “get onto our 30 acres while he’s still young enough to run free.”
If you think that dogs and babies is a risky idea, you have to watch this video.
Berkley is a loveable giant with a big heart and the same protective nature as his parents. There’s no denying his love for little Elainey, and we sense the pair have a bond that will only strengthen over time.
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Source: The Dodo, TikTok, Facebook
