My senior Dachshund and Pug mix are very close and fortunately aren’t territorial with each other. Though they’re both obsessed with food and will occasionally swipe a treat from each other, they often sample each other’s meals without any arguments. They also drink out of the water bowl at the same time, almost like they’ve rehearsed how to hydrate together.
These canine siblings seem to have the same setup when it’s time to get a drink, though one pup won’t even start slurping until the other one does.
In the TikTok from @willoughby’s_way, an extremely large German Shepherd was drinking from a water bowl alongside a very little Dapple Dachshund puppy. Despite the massive size difference, the precious puppy felt perfectly safe next to her giant fur baby brother with no need to give him any space.
Apparently, this tiny Doxie has already learned to follow her big brother’s lead. Any time he stopped drinking, she followed suit. As soon as he walked away from the water, the puppy did as well.
“Only wants water if big guy is drinking it,” the onscreen text explained.
The little ritual went on several times, with the puppy refusing any further hydration unless her German Shepherd bestie participated. The Dapple Dachshund even gave her big brother several kisses along the way, showing their loving bond.
Followers Shared Similar Stories
Viewers of the video were charmed by the scene and posted some sweet details about their own fur babies.
Related: Moment German Shepherd Reunites With Her Sick Puppy Is Touching Hearts Everywhere
“My miniature Dachshund does the same thing with my Weimaraner — he’s his shadow,” one remarked.
“My cat didn’t want his cat water fountain — he just wanted to drink from the same bowl as my dog,” another wrote.
“My Chihuahua was like this. My Dalmatian would get a drink and she’d dribble, so he’d run up and lick it off the floor,” a follower explained.
“Aww she wants to be like her big brother,” someone noted.
Even though their size contrast is off the charts, these two canine cuties are obviously besties for life.
🐶SIGN UP to get “pawsitivity” delivered right to your inbox with inspiring & entertaining stories about our furry & feathered friends🐾🐾
This story was originally published by Parade Pets on Jan 10, 2026, where it first appeared in the Dogs section. Add Parade Pets as a Preferred Source by clicking here.