Given their history as strong working dogs, descended from the powerful Mastiffs of the Roman legions, you might expect Rottweilers to be fearless in almost any situation. But picture this: a big, confident Rottie frozen in place because of a tiny puppy, so small she’s barely the size of his head.
It might sound unbelievable, but one such Rottweiler refused to leave the safety of the couch, all thanks to the playful persistence of a new four-legged family member.
Over time, though, his apprehension melted away, and the two forged a bond that’s still going strong today.
A Couch Becomes His Fortress
Dozer the Rottweiler lived a calm, balanced life with his sister, Lilah, in their Claremore, Oklahoma, home. The two were in perfect sync, enjoying a peaceful routine—until their mom, Kimberly Ward, decided to bring home a new family member.
Enter Daisy, a tiny French Bulldog with a big personality. From the moment she stepped through the door, she was determined to win over her giant brother’s attention.
“The first couple of days, he was kind of scared of her,” Kimberly Ward told The Dodo. “She was so tiny and outgoing and charismatic … She wanted to play with him all the time, but he didn’t know that he could be a puppy.”
Dozer wasn’t sure how to respond to this whirlwind of energy. Every time Daisy bounded toward him, he tried to avoid her, which only encouraged her more. Before long, he realized the couch was his safe haven—too high for Daisy to reach and the perfect place to keep her puppy enthusiasm at bay.
For several days, that couch was his escape from the tiny newcomer’s relentless charm.
Persistence Pays Off
Daisy, however, had no intention of letting her big brother ignore her forever. She trotted around him, pawed at his legs, and barked playfully until he finally relented.
“The first time that he ran with her and figured out that she would chase him, it was on,” Ward said. “He figured out that he could be interactive with her.”
From that moment, the dynamic between them shifted. While Daisy had more energy than Dozer could ever hope to match, he gamely tried to keep up.
They chased each other around the living room, raced through the yard, and even played a game of hide-and-seek under the bed.
What made their play sessions remarkable was Dozer’s gentleness. Despite his size and strength, he instinctively adjusted his behavior to match Daisy’s smaller frame. “He knew that he was supposed to be gentle with her and that she was tiny,” Ward explained.
In her own persistent way, Daisy managed something no one had anticipated—she brought out the playful side Dozer had long since tucked away. Her love language was play, and Dozer responded in kind.
Expanding The Pack
Though Dozer and Daisy became fast friends, Ward sensed Daisy could use another playmate closer to her own energy level. That’s when Mocha, affectionately called “Mini Mo,” entered the picture—another French Bulldog who quickly settled into the family dynamic.
From their very first meeting, Daisy adored Mocha. “I bet they play and wrestle and run and chase each other two or three hours a day,” Ward said. “It’s incredible.”
While Mocha eventually developed a calmer personality, preferring cuddles over constant activity, she still enjoyed romping around with her Rottweiler siblings. Dozer, ever the gentle big brother, sometimes let her win during their tug-of-war games.
The three dogs formed a close-knit pack, each with their own unique personality, but all sharing a home full of love and companionship.
When asked whether another canine sibling might be in the cards, Ward laughed and said, “There’s always the possibility of a tinier sister or brother.” And for Dozer and Daisy, there’s no such thing as too many playmates.