Parents Share the Telltale Signs Their Kids Were Actually Raised by the Dog

Children and pets can have an unspeakable bond that involves love, snuggles, and playtime. But since kids are like sponges and absorb endless amounts of information, they can start picking up on dog habits.

At least that is the experience for one family of five that consists of two parents, two kids, and a dog. Kelly Madsen told Newsweek via email that their two children have a very close relationship with their mini goldendoodle, Bentley.

The parents started noticing their kids acting like Bentley when they were only a few months old. In Bentley's eyes, it's all paws on deck to help with raising the children.

Madsen remembers her younger child picking up on Bentley's actions since it happened more recently, which can be seen in a clip that was shared last week to the TikTok account @minidoodlebentley. Madsen said her daughter watched Bentley pant and then started to do the same when she was around seven months old. Now, nearly 1 years old, she carries things around in her mouth just like Bentley. As for her son, Madsen says he copies Bentley's mannerisms. He'll move his butt similarly to Bentley wagging his tail.

Thankfully, Bentley is teaching them both polite mannerisms. The "children" will all sit nicely when waiting for a treat and there is no whining or barking when their snack doesn't come quick enough. Plus, he's showing them it is perfectly fine to express your emotions—happy panting and butt-shaking.

"I think Bentley is extremely proud of himself that he finally has some puppy siblings in the house!" Madsen said.

The best part about having Bentley as part of the family is that the kids each have a unique relationship with the pup.

"Right now, with my son who is about to be three, it's been so sweet hearing him tell Bentley, 'Bye, we love you Bentley!' when we leave the house," she added. "[He'll] go over and give Bentley head scratches at all random times of the day."

Madsen said her 1-year-old daughter loves to play with Bentley and his toys right now, hence the toy ring she's carrying around in her mouth in the video—a spitting image of her older doggy sibling.

TikTok Users React

The TikTok clip melted the hearts of viewers, reaching over 358,300 views and receiving 31,600 likes as of Friday.

"You have three puppies," commented one user. "Or three children, both of which you can't go wrong with!

Another praised the parenting style: "Raising them right."

"They got the best teacher aka best big brother," commented a third user.

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.