A five-month-old Leonberger is melting hearts online after showing just how gentle he can be around much smaller dogs.
Duncan may already be a big puppy, but when it comes to playtime, he seems to prefer hanging out with the little guys.
The young Leonberger has been attending puppy school since he was about 3 months old, and his family says he has made impressive progress with obedience and socialization.
During a puppy play session on Aug. 24, Duncan found himself separated from the smaller dogs by a gate.
Instead of jumping over it or causing a scene, the giant puppy patiently waited and made it very clear where he wanted to be.
Once he was finally allowed into the small-dog section, his whole personality changed.
Duncan immediately came to life, running around and happily playing with his tiny friends.
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Viewers quickly noticed that the smaller dogs seemed just as excited to see him.
“They were waiting for him too,” one commenter wrote.
The little dogs had already been gathering near Duncan on the other side of the gate, making it look like the feeling was mutual.
Another viewer pointed out just how well behaved the large puppy was.
“He’s so well behaved. He could’ve hopped that fence if he really wanted to,” the commenter wrote.
Duncan’s owner admitted that jumping the barrier actually had been an issue when he first started training.
But after months of obedience work and socialization, Duncan has apparently learned to control that puppy energy.
Leonbergers are known for their huge size and generally gentle, affectionate personalities, and Duncan already appears to be living up to that reputation.
He may still have plenty of growing left to do, but when it comes to picking his favorite playmates, this gentle giant clearly has a soft spot for the smallest dogs in the room.