Not long after discovering she was expecting a baby, Paige Knudtson decided to bring home a 2-year-old boxer named Brutus from a nearby rescue. Being familiar with boxers from her childhood, Knudtson was aware of their gentle nature. Little did she know just how much of a role Brutus would play in her baby’s life. Describing Brutus as a lovable teddy bear, Knudtson shared with The Dodo how he adores attention and cuddling with people.
During the anatomy scan at 20 weeks of pregnancy, Knudtson received the news of Finn’s serious heart defect. Finn had to undergo several procedures right after birth before being able to have open-heart surgery. Knudtson mentioned, “We were really fortunate to have discovered this before his birth, or else he wouldn’t be here with us today.” Following seven weeks and some complications, Finn was finally discharged from the hospital. When Brutus, their pet, met his new baby brother, the bond was instant. Knudtson shared, “Once we returned home, it was almost like Brutus could sense that Finn needed extra attention, and he’s been by his side ever since.”
They share a special bond, always by each other’s side, whether it’s watching TV, playing in the yard, having meals, or taking naps. “Brutus loves to snuggle up next to Finn and goes wherever Finn goes around the house,” Knudtson shared. “When Finn isn’t feeling well, Brutus senses it and stays close by, offering comfort by resting his head on Finn’s chest.”
Brutus absolutely can’t stand being away from Finn, not even briefly, and he will scratch at the door of Finn’s room or anxiously pace outside until he is let in. These two brothers prefer to stick together, especially at night.
As a little baby, Finn had his loyal protector, Brutus the dog, who always slept by his crib. And now that Finn has upgraded to a toddler bed, it’s even easier for them to cuddle up together. According to Knudtson, ever since Finn started sleeping in his ‘big boy bed’ about a month ago, Brutus has made it a habit to crawl up and snuggle with Finn every night. It seems like Brutus just wants to make sure Finn stays safe and snug, preventing him from accidentally rolling out of bed.
Wherever Finn goes, his loyal companion Brutus is sure to follow, even if it means sacrificing a bit of comfort. “Once Finn started sleeping on the floor, Brutus was right there beside him,” Knudtson shared.
Since Knudtson relocated Brutus’ dog bed into Finn’s room, Finn now prefers to cozy up with Brutus in his bed rather than staying in his own. Knudtson was able to capture their adorable bedtime routine with a nanny camera recently. If Brutus is resting on the floor, Finn will grab his blanket and hop out of bed to snuggle up with his furry buddy. The kind dog doesn’t seem to mind being used as a pillow as long as his brother is comfortable.
