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By Lucy Notarantonio
Senior Reporter
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A video of a puppy waking up his senior sibling has melted hearts online, racking up more than 1.7 million views on TikTok.
The clip, shared on November 10 by owner Melissa Milne (@melissamilne_), shows Archie, a white senior cockapoo, fast asleep on the sofa. Despite being right in front of his owner and her new puppy, he doesn’t stir—until Frankie, a brown pup, jumps onto the couch and gently taps him with his paw. Archie wakes up and greets his family with excitement.
The text layered over the clip explains why, because Archie is "hard of hearing," and the next few clips show the same endearing ritual, with 1-year-old Frankie softly nudging Archie, 11, awake each time.
Read More on Pets
Their 34-year-old owner told Newsweek: "If he’s sleeping while we’re out, he oftentimes doesn’t hear us coming in through the garage and door. Frankie started to wake him up when we get home, so he can share the excitement of our return."
The video’s caption reads, "My heart can’t handle the way that our puppy lets our senior dog know that we’re home," describing "the gentle little nudge, just enough for him to open his eyes and realize."
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Milne, from Springwater, Ontario, describes their bond as "wholesome." In another video showing the pair cuddling, she explains: "I loved my dog so much, that I wanted him to have a dog of his own. These guys really do love each other, and the puppy certainly keeps our older dog young."
Milne told Newsweek that Archie was initially unbothered about Frankie when he joined their family last year.
"But, eventually, he started to warm up and became increasingly playful," Milne said. "Now, they are two peas in a pod. They have such similar personalities and quirks, I think Frankie really learnt so much from Archie.
"They love to play together and chase each other in the backyard, and they are the best of friends!"
Understanding Senior Dog Hearing Loss
The American Kennel Club (AKC) says that senior dogs often experience gradual hearing loss due to age-related nerve degeneration, similar to that seen in humans. Early signs include ignoring commands, appearing confused, not reacting to familiar sounds, sleeping more deeply, or no longer responding to loud noises. Owners who notice these symptoms should consult a veterinarian to confirm the cause.
Managing Hearing Loss in Older Dogs
When verbal communication becomes difficult, the AKC recommends using hand signals for commands:
Pair gestures with familiar cues until your dog responds to the signal alone.
- Replace sound-based markers such as clickers with visual ones (e.g., a thumbs-up).
- Teach safety-related gestures to maintain control and communication.
- Use a loud emergency whistle for dogs with partial hearing and reward them when they respond.
- Train your dog to recognize a vibration collar (not a shock collar) as a signal to look toward you or come when called.
Other ways to get a canine's attention include:
- Stomping your foot to create vibrations
- Waving to be seen
- Using a gentle touch as a cue
TikTok Reacts
The video has gained over 351,000 likes, with viewers praising the puppy’s gentle behavior.
One user wrote: "I love how excited your puppy is but he still manages to gently wake his brother up." Melissa replied: "I know, he doesn’t want to startle him, but wants to share his excitement that the humans are home!"
Another user commented, "Big brother looks like a little sleeping lamb, so precious," while a third added: "It totally amazes me that they are so in tune and just know what they have to do!"
Update, 11/13/25 11:32 a.m. ET: This story has been updated to add the original content and comments from their owner.
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