MAN'S BEST FRIEND
Dog owner on crutches spends £300 on vet bills for limping lurcher… only to find out he was simply copying him
A DOG owner on crutches spent £300 on vet bills for his limping lurcher - only to find out he was just copying him.
Heartwarming footage shows beloved dog Bill imitating his injured owner Russell Jones' hobble along the street.
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Russell, who had his leg in a plaster cast, was left unable to walk and concerned for his pet.
He paid £300 in vet fees and X-rays to figure out why his canine was limping.
However, he was overwhelmed to find out the heartwarming reason behind the limp.
He soon discovered his golden-coated pup was just imitating his own injured walk out of sympathy.
Russell, believed to be from London, took to social media to share heartwarming footage of his dog's hilarious behaviour.
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Why do dogs imitate their owners?
- In 2011, scientists at the University of Vienna and the University of Oxford found evidence of "automatic imitation" in dogs - meaning they will imitate their owners even when it is not in their best interest
- Researchers found that the dogs are more likely to imitate a pack leader
- Scientists concluded that because of the evolutionary history of domestication and their developmental training by humans, dogs will mimic behaviours they are shown
- A 2017 study by Dr Iris Schoberl, from the University of Vienna, found that both owners and dogs influence each other's coping mechanisms
- Another experiment with 132 owners and their pets found that dogs were sensitive to their owners' emotional states, with women in particular having stronger relationships with companion animals
He told Facebook friends: "Cost me £300 in vet fees and X-rays, nothing wrong just sympathy. Love him."
The video has now received over two million views.
It shows his beloved pet hop along the street with one paw raised above the ground - mimicking his owner's movements perfectly.
Facebook users commented on how adorable the video was.
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One user said: "Oh my goodness, bless his heart. Hope you're not in plaster too long"
Another added: "Aww. Now that is pure love."
A third joked: "He's copying you. That's brilliant! Though you have my sympathy for the vets bill."
Limping dog copies his injured owner out of sympathy