“They are inextricably linked.” 💙
Pitties aren’t known for wailing, but anything is possible with a skilled instructor.
When Gunner, an 8-year-old German shorthaired pointer, met his puppy brother Murphy, he knew he’d be the ideal protege. Murphy quickly looked up to his brother and aspired to be like him.
“Gunner and Murphy instantaneously connected,” the dogs’ mother, Sarah Lee, told The Dodo. “Murphy follows Gunner wherever he goes.” Murphy sleeps where Gunner sleeps. They are inextricably linked.”
While Murphy meticulously mimicked Gunner’s every motion, he fell short when it came to embracing his inner wolf, something Gunner does with ease.
“If Gunner hears a train, an ambulance, or a police siren, he yells,” Lee explained. “At first, Murphy would just stand there and tilt his head from side to side, sniffing him to see what he was doing.”
Murphy didn’t naturally howl, but that didn’t stop him from trying… and trying.
“He started trying one day, and his small muffled whines gradually blossomed into synchronized howls with Gunner,” Lee explained. “He completely imitates Gunner and will only do so if Gunner is howling.”
Both dogs have a lot of activity and enjoy humans, food, and cuddles. Despite their age gap, it is evident that the two are as close as brothers can be.
“[Gunner] still acts like a puppy, so they go around our yard smelling everything,” Lee explained. “They ‘pawtroll’ the yard together on the back deck steps.”
“Murphy is only 8 months old, so their energy levels are exactly matched,” she noted. “They cuddle on the couch, eat together, share toys, and play tug-of-war.”
Gunner has also taught Murphy how to be kind with Lee’s little children, and his mother is overjoyed to have such a wonderful role model for Murphy — even if it does make their lives a bit noisier.
“Our pets are like family to us,” Lee explained. “We adore them completely.”