A woman who had long begged her husband to get a dog finally realized the heartbreaking reason he was against the idea.
Alexina Bonnaventure, 31, and her husband Anthony, 32, live in Texas and are the proud owners of Australian Shepherd Stilton. He has become something of a social media star, thanks to his dedicated Instagram page, @stiltontheaussie. The account is filled with the dog’s adventures, from long walks and car rides, to his owners showering him with love, including business manager Anthony.
But as Bonnaventure said Information week, “it took me two years to convince him” that they should get a puppy.
Bonnaventure had previously owned a Cavalier King Charles, who lived to be 15 years old, and when she broached the subject of purchasing another dog, Anthony repeatedly refused. “He kept telling me it wasn’t the right time and he didn’t really want a dog,” Bonnaventure said.
However, eventually, in 2020, Anthony gave in and the couple got Australian dog Stilton, who then joined them in the big move from France to their new home in the United States.
“We are very grateful to Stilton; he is our ‘oldest’ son and we take him everywhere with us,” Bonnaventure said. “He is a wonderful dog, and he brings us and our entire Instagram community so much happiness.”
Bonnaventure started thinking about how long it took Anthony to agree to get a dog, and a recent video on Stilton’s account revealing the reason went viral with over 140,000 likes since it was posted on the 28th. november.
Instagram @stiltontheaussie
In the clip, a cute video montage of Stilton and Anthony playing and cuddling, the words displayed on the screen read: “You’ll never believe the reasons why my husband didn’t want a dog.
“As long as I can remember, he was always against us having a dog. At first I thought it was because he didn’t like animals, but that wasn’t the case.” , adds the caption.
“That’s because he knew he would fall so deeply in love that he couldn’t imagine a life without him. And he was terrified of loving something that much.”
Bonnaventure said News week: “I came to the conclusion that all the excuses I found for not having a dog were actually due to being too attached to the dog.”
Instagram users were left in tears, as one commenter wrote: “This made me cry. First Thanksgiving without my loving bear since 2011. Australians, all dogs, are the best.”
Another posted that the clip “gave me such a big smile and a few tears”, praising the beautiful relationship between man and dog.
A third commented: “I’m not crying, it’s true. It’s so true and beautiful.”
Instagram @stiltontheaussie
Bonnaventure said: “My husband and Stilton have a very special bond. It’s true love.” She also praised Stilton and Australian Shepherds in general, saying they are a special breed.
Australian Shepherd Dogs are known for their intelligence and exuberance, and in 2023, they ranked 12th in the American Kennel Club’s list of most popular dog breeds. With a life expectancy of up to 15 years, they are a popular pet, as they are good with young children.
“I’ve been around a lot of dogs, but Australians have a little something,” Bonnaventure said. “It’s like they can speak to your soul, through their eyes.”
Do you have funny and adorable videos or photos of your pet that you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pets of the Week lineup.
