There’s one special thing that Brutus, a bullmastiff from Northern California, refuses to destroy: his beloved “fluffy.”
The “fluffy” is a soft yellow toy that Brutus constantly carries in his mouth. “It’s the only toy he hasn’t shredded in under five minutes,” said his owner, Bonnie Michalek, in an interview with The Dodo.
Despite his tendency to tear apart his toys, Brutus is incredibly loyal and gentle.
Bonnie and her husband adopted Brutus in 2016 after moving into a home spacious enough for a large breed. “He’s like my first child,” said Bonnie—though now she adds “first” because she recently gave birth to their baby boy, Kayden, just eleven weeks ago.
Even before Kayden was born, Brutus seemed to sense that something was changing.
He figured out I was pregnant before I did,” Bonnie shared. “When my husband worked night shifts, Brutus would refuse to sleep in his crate.” Even after adjusting the crate to make it more comfortable, Brutus still insisted on staying by her side. Looking back, Bonnie believes he was trying to protect her.
As a devoted “mama’s boy,” Brutus was included in every step of the family’s preparations for the baby.
While Bonnie was in the hospital delivering Kayden, Brutus stayed with her parents. When they returned to bring him home, Bonnie made sure he had a moment of attention before meeting the new family member. “He skipped right over my husband and went straight to Kayden,” she recalled. “He immediately wanted to kiss him and snuggle.”
Since that day, Brutus hasn’t left Kayden’s side.
Whenever the baby cries, Brutus knows just what to do: he brings over his most treasured possession—the fluffy.
“He offers his favorite toy to Kayden to try and comfort him,” Bonnie explained.
That toy has always brought Brutus joy, and now he hopes it will do the same for his little brother. (Though of course, milk still tops the list for baby comfort.)
The whole family is excited for the adventures ahead.
“Every summer we go camping at our family cabin, and Brutus has always loved it. I’ve been going since I was a kid,” Bonnie said. “Now I can’t wait to bring Kayden too.”
With Kayden now part of the family, everyone is adjusting and growing—and Brutus is learning that some toys, even non-dog ones, are meant for sharing. 
