After months of fear about how her dachshunds would react to their baby sister, a new mom has shared their adorable reactions to the tiny human.

When Mackenzie Kennington learned that she was pregnant, she was of course elated and delighted to start the next chapter in her life. However, it wasn’t all perfect, as she became increasingly nervous about how her four-legged babies, Penelope and Phoebe the dachshunds, would respond.

Kennington, of Florida, told Newsweek that the pair have “never been the best dogs around kids.” She expected Penelope, who is short-haired with black-and-tan fur, and Phoebe, an English cream long-haired dachshund, to become territorial and unfriendly toward the new addition.

“I was really nervous how they would react when we had children of our own,” Kennington said. “I thought they would become territorial over me, anxious, and just overall not super friendly.”

As her pregnancy went on, this dread became one of Kennington’s “biggest fears,” and she just had to hope for the best.

It is perfectly normal for canines to need an adjustment period when faced with a major life change. The American Kennel Club suggests providing dogs with mental and physical space, and to look out for your pup’s body language.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) recommends greeting the dog first and letting them have a moment of excitement. They should be placed on a leash during their first moments with the baby, and have some treats at hand in case a distraction is required.

Importantly, the ASPCA adds that new parents should stay calm and relaxed during the introductions. If they are stressed and nervous, the dog will feed off that energy and think the baby is something to be worried about.

When Kennington’s daughter Stevie was born in October 2023, it was finally time for the introductions. To her amazement, they couldn’t have gone better.

Both dogs were instantly obsessed with their baby sister, and they wanted to be wherever she was.

“For every nighttime feeding, Penelope would join us in the nursery; they also sat by the tub every night for bath time; and Stevie has loved playing with them since the tummy time days. It’s so sweet,” Kennington said.

Witnessing the bond that Stevie has developed with her four-legged sisters has been “so emotional” and heartening for Kennington. She said she can’t help but smile as she watches them lavishing Stevie with kisses or rolling around together during playtime.

Indeed, the baby-dog connection is so strong that Kennington even joked that sometimes it seems as if “Penelope thinks she birthed Stevie.”

The proud mom shared an adorable video on TikTok (@mackennington) detailing how her fears were quickly forgotten the moment her dachshunds met their sister. The footage shows the new mom leaving the hospital with Stevie in her buggy, before showing the eager dogs trying to sniff and kiss the newborn.

The clip has melted plenty of viewers’ hearts online, and, in just a matter of days, it has gone viral, with over 336,000 views and more than 51,500 likes at the time of writing.

The trio have been together for almost two years now, and there is no doubt that they are best friends. They have become so inseparable during that time, as Kennington told Newsweek that “the dogs are never far” from wherever Stevie is.

She has been blown away by the online response to her TikTok video, but she hopes it will encourage other moms-to-be who may be equally concerned about those canine introductions.

Kennington said: “It’s given people with dogs the confidence that things will be OK and that they will eventually bond. It’s such a different experience to bring your own baby home compared to being around others.”

With over 250 comments on the viral TikTok video, social-media users have hailed the adorable connection between Stevie, Penelope, and Phoebe.

One comment reads: “The blonde dachshund absolutely loves the baby.”

Another TikTok user wrote: “Dachshunds are the best siblings.”

A third person added: “Instant buddies! Forever friends.”

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