German Shepherd And His Stuffie Guard The House As A 'Two-Man Team'

German shepherds are known for their loyalty and virtual fearlessness when it comes to protection, but they're also gentle pets, too. Just take this German shepherd named Dax from Instagram, who is clearly an old softie who just wants to be by his humans' side with his stuffy on hand. We don't know about you, but we'd definitely still feel well protected!

"This is who we chose to protect our house," jokingly notes the video of the darling dog climbing up the stairs to bed with a stuffed alligator toy neatly tucked in his mouth. "They're a two-man team 🐊🐾," the caption reads. "Just a baby," read one comment, with a reply that quipped, "bust a window and see what happens..." in reference to the way a German shepherd's demeanor can turn on a dime, like this one who has two completely different barks.

Sadly, Dax passed away a few months after this sweet video went viral, but his memory lives on as a reminder of what gentle giants German shepherds can be. Thank you for this cherished moment, precious pup.

Stuffed toys for dogs can serve two purposes: to help engage a dog's prey drive and/or to provide comfort for anxiety. Both offer mental stimulation and interaction that dogs need.

If a stuffed toy is seen as prey, dogs will often shake, chew, and destroy the toy. If it provides emotional support, they'll often leave it intact, carrying it around like Dax in the Instagram video, and usually sleep with it to help them self-soothe. No matter how they're treated, these stuffed toys also allow for a satisfying low-impact chew that helps with oral health, and often gives dogs and owners a fun bonding experience by playing fetch or tug-of-war together.

If you're looking for ideas about what to get your dog for a toy, this timeless Lambchop toy has long been a top choice, or these super tough toys would be good for pups who seemingly destroy everything. No matter whether your pup destroys them or not, we're sure that they love them lots!