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By Rachael O'Connor
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Hearts have melted at how a family celebrated their adopted dog's first birthday with them.
Koba the Rottweiler was adopted by a new family in Bury, United Kingdom, less than a year ago, and it is clear he has been a huge hit, as they have since set up a TikTok account dedicated to his life with them.
Sandra Daly, 42, adopted Koba with her partner, Chris Dawson, 53, and told Newsweek: "We adopted him from another family; whilst they loved him, they couldn’t give him what he desperately needed and deserved."
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And Koba is the best dog they could have asked for, as Daly added: "I know all pet owners are biased, but he truly is a special boy. We can’t go anywhere without being stopped. They see his face and are just drawn to him!"
The TikTok account, @kingkoba25, shows the family cuddling with the giant dog in bed, taking him for walks to the park, and exploring the countryside.
In one video, his new owners describe their pup as having "changed our lives"—and now a new video has seen Koba proving a hit with millions of online strangers.
Posted on November 11, it shows Koba marking his first birthday since coming into the care of his new owners. And they've gone all out for him, as multiple gift-wrapped presents litter the floor, Koba curiously sniffing at each one.
And though they encourage him to "rip" the wrapping paper off, the dog does it his own way: gently, and needing plenty of encouragement along the way.
Finally, after ripping the paper off bit by bit, revealing layers of cardboard and more layers underneath, he opens his first present: a new ball. And he knows it's for him, as he picks it up in his mouth and runs happily away, his tail wagging, before lying down beside his owners with the ball between his paws.
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His adoring owners captioned the video: "His first birthday with us. Adopting him was the best decision we've ever made."
TikTok users loved it, watching the video more than 2 million times and awarding it more than 420,000 likes, as one wrote: "I'm sorry how the hell did he know how to unwrap it? He was so gentle?"
Another posted: "I could watch dogs opening presents all day, I think this is my new favorite pastime."
And one moved commenter wrote: "The smile I needed, thank you. Extra thank you for adopting such a handsome boy and giving him a loving home."
"He is so handsome," another said. "A proper rottie head!"
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Daly told Newsweek that Koba brings joy to everyone around them, even cheering up their neighbor, who comes to visit Koba when they are feeling down.
"I’ve been told by the vet she thinks he should be a therapy dog," Daly said. "He’s incredible with young children and the older generation.
"His character is just the absolute best, and we are so, so lucky to have him. He gives so much to other people that he deserves the absolute best."
Rottweilers are known to make good guard dogs due to their great strength, courage and loyalty. However, they are also described as being hugely affectionate toward their owners, with a playful and often silly nature, making them popular as pets, according to the American Kennel Club (AKC).
In 2024, Rottweilers were eighth in the AKC's annual list of the most popular dog breeds in America, behind the French bulldog, Labrador retriever, golden retriever, German shepherd dog, poodle, dachshund and beagle.
Correction, 11/21/2025, 08:48 a.m. ET: A previous version of this headline inaccurately stated Koba was previously in a shelter; he was in fact adopted from another owner.
Update, 11/21/2025, 08:48 a.m. ET: This story has been updated to include comment and video from Sandra Daly.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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