It's often said that dogs can make friends with anyone. Birdie, a young Labrador, is living proof of this: her best friend is none other than a 20-year-old horse.
Shared on TikTok, their unexpected bond has already won over millions of internet users.
A shy start to their friendship
Aysha Michaud, 34, who owns a farm in Pennsylvania, USA, posted a video on her @oakforgefarm account tracing the duo's evolving friendship. In it, we see Birdie, now two years old, alongside Baltimore, her imposing equine companion.
When the little Labrador arrived at the farm at just eight weeks old, she was immediately introduced to the horse. But the chemistry wasn't immediately obvious.
"Their relationship definitely took time to blossom," Aysha Michaud told Newsweek.
Baltimore, despite being used to dogs, didn't seem interested in this tiny ball of fur. 'He really wanted nothing to do with her at first,' explains their owner. As Birdie grew and gained confidence, the horse became more tolerant. However, he continued to ignore her, which, according to Michaud, paradoxically reassured the young dog.
Little by little, Birdie started to make herself at home. She would wander into Baltimore's stable as if it were her own. Sometimes it was just to say hello, other times to lie down at his feet, and often to nibble on the grains that had fallen on the floor during the horse's meals.
An inseparable pair
Two years after their first meeting, they have become inseparable. Birdie loves to sleep in the stable, curled up at Baltimore's feet. She even 'walks' him, holding his lead rope in her mouth.
"I don't know if she thinks she's a horse or if he thinks he's a dog, but they're convinced they're the same," jokes Aysha Michaud. She also adds that the pair 'have no boundaries' and spend as much time together as possible.
The video showing their hesitant beginnings and their current bond has surpassed 1.4 million views and garnered over 178,400 likes at the time of writing. It first shows a less-than-enthusiastic Baltimore meeting the puppy, before cutting to him giving his canine best friend long belly rubs.
The online reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. While Aysha Michaud is used to seeing Birdie and Baltimore side by side, she is delighted that their friendship can touch so many people.
