A large breed dog with black fur and brown markings lying in an outdoor enclosure surrounded by a wooden fence and earthy tones under daylight, suggesting autumn. 3:08
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A baby takin's nanny is a big zoo dog

Dale the takin had a hard start. He was born at the Cincinnati Zoo, and his mother rejected him right away. more

A takin belongs to the same animal family as goats and sheep. Dale's mother did not seem to know what to do with him, so the staff brought him up to the zoo nursery. Without a mother, a newborn like Dale has a tough road ahead, and they knew they had to act fast.

They had been here before. Other babies at the zoo had needed a stand-in parent, and the staff already had someone in mind for Dale. His name is Blakely, and he's a dog.

Blakely is a large dog, black with brown markings, and the nursery is his home. He spends most of his time with the young animals, playing with them and keeping their spirits up, and he puts up with a lot, from chewing to tugs on his feet and tail. Even so, a few people wondered what a dog could really do for a takin.

Dale answered that quickly. He's a herd animal and wants company, and he warmed up to Blakely almost at once. Soon the two were doing nearly everything together, lunch included.

A large breed dog with black fur and brown markings lying in an outdoor enclosure surrounded by a wooden fence and earthy tones under daylight, suggesting autumn. The headline runs in white letters across the lower third.Save
Dale the takin had a hard start.

At about six weeks old, Dale is like a bull in a china shop. He runs, kicks and flips around, and he tries to headbutt Blakely, who mostly ducks out of the way. Then he wants to lie in someone's lap like a big dog, even though he weighs 50 pounds.

They also go on long walks. Dale needs the exercise to build up his muscles, but he wouldn't walk without the dog. So he follows his buddy.

A young takin wearing a purple halter stands beside a fence post and looks ahead. A headline runs in white letters across the lower third.Save
Dale won't go on his walks unless Blakely comes too.

Blakely keeps him calm, too. When Dale gets nervous, he goes and stands next to one of his keepers or next to Blakely. Nobody has told him he should run from a dog, and to Dale, Blakely is just a big, fuzzy friend to play with.