Playful Great Dane Gets Shut Down By His Fur Sibling And We're Crying

Of the many things you'll understand if you have a big dog, large dog owners definitely know these hounds often think they're much smaller than they are. Unfortunately, animal siblings of giant dogs clearly see how big they are, and sometimes that's a problem, like with this viral Instagram video, featuring a harlequin great Dane, Finn, and his much smaller cat-sibling, Art. Let's just say these two have pretty different definitions of fun.

In the beginning, it's hard to know how everything will play out. Finn stares directly at Art and seems to consider his options before — wait for it — playfully galloping towards his tiny sibling! This is clearly not the right move, because Art, an especially small gray cat, immediately runs away to hide. The Instagrammer seems to feel Finn's pain, captioning the video to "just be yourself," but when Finn tries and fails, he probably thinks, "Okay, but when I do, nobody my size wants to play with me." Poor Finn!

When it comes to play time, can big dogs like Finn get along with tiny felines? Experts say it's possible, but with precautions. For one, it's important that pet owners train their dogs, big and small, not to chase cats, like our guy Finn did. Pet-care author and behavior expert Liz Palika explained to Pet Sitters International, "The dog needs to learn self-control...and also that the owner is the one to set the rules!"

This is why it's also important not to leave big dogs unsupervised with cats until you're sure they get along well. This way, you can be sure to catch any tension between your pets and react accordingly. And another thing? Remember that dogs and cats adapting to each other takes time, and patience can pay off. 

Even better news, other videos from the Instagram account show Finn the Big Man and little Art often get along! So don't fret. Make sure to follow these tips to help your cat and dog become best friends, and who knows? Maybe one day you'll find your giant pup and kitty cuddling, like these adorable dogs with their cat siblings.