Lovable horse likes to give dog best friend sweet belly rubs
Beau may seem like an ordinary dog, but he’s not.
This black Labrador Retriever has some quirks that would make him extra special. He doesn’t have any cool tricks or a sparkly personality, but there’s one thing people love about Beau: he thinks he’s a horse.
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That’s because he grew up with his best friend, Knokke, which is a horse.
Since he was little and just a few weeks old, Beau had been with Knokke. They did many things together that made him follow what his friend horse was doing – wherever he was going. They were inseparable.
Beau watched everything that Knokke did and mimicked him.
He would go anywhere Knokke would go and even go at his pace. While big dogs like Beau usually run around and have the zoomies, he is the exact opposite. He walked slow and trotted like Knokke.
He also did whatever fun things Knokke would do, and this horse wouldn’t budge.
Beau would like to lay, play, and nibble with hay since he saw Knokke do the same thing. His horse friend would love to share it with him, anyway. Beau also liked playing in the water trough and, at times, hogging it by himself. Of course, Knokke would just give way.
But if there’s one dog thing Beau still had in him, it’s his love for belly rubs.
Like any other dog, he would lie down on his back, exposing his belly to signal that he wanted some belly rubs. Knokke would bend down and ‘scratch’ his belly with his nose. And this adorable pooch loves that interaction!
Beau returned the favor by showing love and affection to Knokke in his own ways.
“If Knokke doesn’t put his nose down, he jumps up to him. And he is just trying to lick Knokke. If he puts his head down, he licks all over his nose and licks around his eyes,” their mom told The Dodo.
Beau has a big sister, Ripple, and their mom has other horses.
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And while these two get along (with the other horses, too), Beau is more fond of Knokke. He would often give him post-ride snuggles whenever their mom went on for a ride.
You might wonder, “is this normal dog behavior?” It is.
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According to MSD Vet Manual, dogs are highly adaptable animals. They can adapt and suit themselves to their environment. This includes adjusting themselves to other animals they live with.
Beau’s behavior is considered normal social behavior in dogs.
In fact, dogs and horses have a lot in common. According to Wag!, both dogs and horses are companion-driven animals. They like to work and go in packs, and as long as the dog does not chase the horse around, they most likely will become friends.
And since dogs are both sociable and adaptable animals, they can live well on a farm.
They don’t detect each other as prey, so it’s easier to welcome each other in their homes or barns. A dog is also likely to enjoy being around horses, especially when they lay on haystacks. Therefore, their friendship may be considered common, but we admit it’s also something special.
Watch their cute interaction in the video below, and follow more of their adventures on their Instagram page.
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Source: The Dodo YouTube Channel, Wag Walking, National Geographic, MSD Vet Manual