Cactus The Dog Takes His Duties As An Unexpected Puppy Papa Very Seriously & We're Obsessed

Being a puppy parent is hard work. The pup needs hours of attention every day, plus plenty of tedious training. The effort's well worth it if you're willing to be repaid in cuddles and slobbery kisses. When tiny Cowboy (and his mom) were placed with a foster dad, he was prepared to do whatever it took to help the little one thrive. He just didn't realize he'd have an enthusiastic furry assistant to share the duties: his dog Cactus! Cactus was already a four-legged social media star; now that he lives with Cowboy, he's also a doting stand-in puppy dad.

An Instagram video showcasing Cactus and Cowboy's adorable bond racked up over 200,000 likes in less than two months. One commenter playfully insisted, "I think I speak for all of us when I demand that Cowboy stay with Cactus forever." 

It's easy to see why viewers are so charmed. In the clip, the pups look like they're discovering fresh joys in each other. Cactus towers over his minuscule new buddy, and he clearly doesn't mind. He hovers excitedly by Cowboy's crate and tries to engage him in play when he's free. Cowboy's a little bemused by all the attention and temporarily escapes under the bed, but he emerges ready to play again a few seconds later.

Cactus and Cowboy were instant best friends thanks to Cactus's sweet, accepting nature, and their Instagram account is full of all of their adventures. However, forming a bond between a puppy and an older dog can sometimes take much longer. An adult dog might get jealous of a new pup in the house or act nervously. Adult dogs often growl at new puppies to keep them in line.

Leaving a rambunctious puppy and an adult dog alone could cause serious problems while the puppy's still learning the rules. If you aren't sure how they will behave together, supervise their interactions. You can step in if the moment grows too heated. Try enforcing alone time as well. Strategically placed puppy pens and gates can keep the dogs separated and give them time to decompress. Lastly, a routine can help both pups adjust. Dogs often find consistency calming.