Cow kept pushing other animals away from the dog — then her owner realized why she was doing it

Some animals form bonds based on familiarity or instinct, while others create connections that go beyond what we expect, forming attachments across species in ways that challenge how we understand loyalty, protection, and affection. In a widely shared TikTok video posted by @dakotafunnyfarm, one protective cow named Daisy has apparently made her choice, and it’s the family dog.

In the video, captioned by her human as the moment she was "officially convinced my cow thinks my dog is her baby," Daisy can be seen hovering over Sarge, a dog she treats like her own calf. As the clip unfolds, the dynamic between them becomes clear: Daisy is in full mom mode. While Sarge appears calm and cooperative, the same cannot be said for Gunner, another dog on the property. According to the caption, "Anytime Gunner tries to lay by Sarge, her wrecking ball feature kicks in." As shown in the video, when Gunner comes close, Daisy promptly nudges him away, unwilling to tolerate any perceived threat to her adopted pup.

The protectiveness, however, isn’t applied equally. When a pig named Shirley walks by, Daisy doesn’t react, but her eyes stay locked on Gunner. As the video suggests, "Even when Shriley shows up, Daisy lets her touch Gunner, but one move toward Sarge and she will charge him again." Despite the comedic back-and-forth, the bond between Daisy and Sarge feels genuine. She follows him closely, keeps others at a distance, and acts as a steady guardian in every scene shown. Research supports the idea that empathy exists across species, grounded in emotional systems shared by all mammals.

A 2013 study published in Trends in Neurosciences found that even rodents show what researchers call “primal empathy." This form of empathy is based on emotional contagion, where one animal instinctively mirrors the emotional state of another. Scientists observed that rats and mice react with distress when witnessing a social partner in pain, fear, or isolation. These responses are tied to deep brain systems associated with feelings like fear, nurturing, and social bonding. By the end of the video, the message is clear: Sarge is Daisy’s baby, and everyone else, Gunner included, will just have to live with it. Viewers were smitten by this uncanny connection and shared their thoughts in the comments.

@ladyjlilly wrote, "The pig is like, 'Can we all just get along and be friends?'" @flashesofquincy said, "Sarge is like, 'I dunno what’s goin’ on… but I like the personal security guard!'" @snoozebear added, "She really does think it’s her baby. And well, he’s just milking it for all it’s worth. Could she be the new Alpha of your pack?!" @user3812878874450 wrote, "This is too crazy. That dog is just looking at the other ones, saying, 'Come and get me.'" @daniellaloren said, "The side-eye smirk on Gunner throwing his head back to the camera while riling her up is everything." @jb123jb4 commented, "Gunner Bear may be the Alpha in his pack of 5, but it's pretty clear who is the Alpha in this situation." @amberreiter92 penned, "This is absolutely adorable. The other dog is like I want to be groomed too."

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