Dog motivates 2-legged puppy to stand using its chin. His tutorial video has the internet crying

An endearing clip recently surfaced on the internet, and needless to say, the entire internet is in tears. It shows a puppy born without front limbs trying to teach a newborn how to stand on its own. The care, dedication, and effort the two dogs display serve as an undeniable lesson in not giving up. As humans, we often take our physical and mental disabilities to heart, not knowing whether we can triumph over them, especially since we don't try. We accept the new normal, which these dogs weren't about to give in to. The clip was originally posted on Reddit by u/mocha31807 with the caption, "This disabled dog was spotted while trying to teach a pup with its same problem how to stand up on its own." The video starts with the older dog showing the younger animal how to find its balance on just two hind legs and not topple over. 

The older dog repeatedly looks at the pup and occasionally nudges him, too, as a gentle encouragement to keep trying. As the video continues, the younger dog is seen wiggling, when it suddenly makes a light jump and lands on its hind legs. The puppy eventually finds its balance. The bond between the two animals is one that made netizens emotional and inspired. But it also got many wondering about the common disability that had left them without their front limbs. An Instagram post shared by @turboroo provides some insight into this condition. The owner of the two two-legged chihuahuas shown in the post shares, "Just like people, dogs can be born with congenital differences that affect their limbs. These differences happen while they’re developing in the womb, sometimes due to genetics, other times just by chance. Some puppies are born missing limbs entirely, while others have shortened or underdeveloped ones."

According to a study paper by Science Direct, nearly 7% of newborn puppies are born with congenital malformations, which are becoming more common due to factors like commercial dog breeding and inbreeding, especially in flat-faced breeds like pugs and bulldogs. These birth defects can be caused by a mix of genetic, nutritional, medical, or infectious issues, and often it's hard to know the exact cause. Some defects, like cleft palate or water on the brain (hydrocephalus), have been studied for years, while others, like gastroschisis or hypospadias, are rare and not well understood. Sadly, many of these conditions can lead to early death or require lifelong medical care. This not only affects the dog’s health and comfort but also causes emotional and financial stress for breeders, owners, and vets. 

The owner further states that the dogs aren't aware of their conditions and thus naturally learn to adapt. The two canines can also be seen wearing dog wheelchairs that help them walk around comfortably. According to a report by the HTF Market Intelligence, these dog carts or mobility aids are important for canines with disabilities like spinal injuries, paralysis, or neurological disorders. The dog wheelchair market is also rapidly expanding and is expected to reach a value of USD 856.2 million by 2035.