Miami, Florida - It’s just a few small steps for him, but one big leap in virality. With this heartwarming video of foster puppy Cowboy and rescue dog Cactus, Michael Brown and his pups have become stars on Instagram.
The clip in question has racked up more than 5.2 million views in just a few days.
In it, poor puppy Cowboy struggles to muster up the courage to approach larger dog Cactus.
The few steps that the puppy must take are clearly a struggle for him.
Throughout the viral mega‑hit, the small star repeatedly falters during his walk toward the older dog.
It’s obvious he’s extremely unsure whether he should disturb Cactus at that moment.
But his foster dad reassures him: "Go ahead, Cactus will let you."
Finally, the little one gathers all his courage and shuffles uncertainly toward Cactus, who is taking a nap.
Shortly after, the two dogs lie together, cuddling and dozing peacefully. The dogs' blossoming relationship is documented on the channel, and it adds more context to the viral video.
Older dog adores his puppy playmate
"Cowboy literally reminded me of a baby sea turtle headed for the ocean after hatching the way he clumsily walked towards Cactus," the owner jokes in his caption.
The Instagram audience has since rewarded the clip with viral status.
Of course, the replies are overflowing with heart emojis and tear‑filled smileys.
Michael Brown provides more depth in several other videos featuring his two four‑legged companions.
In them, the pet owner explains how the puppy ended up becoming part of his family.
"If you’ve been following along you know the backstory and that Cowboy had to be removed from his mom and litter mates early because his mom has to go through heartworm treatment," he says in another Instagram post.
"It’s pretty amazing to see how Cactus, who I still view as a puppy, has stepped up to look after and be almost like a parental figure for Cowboy. Truly amazing and so proud of Cactus!"