A Great Dane living his best life on a farm in Ireland has a very unique way to show love to his owner: by stealing and running off with his jackets.
“He is a very lovable dog. He likes to be cuddled a lot, and he is very jealous; he doesn’t like to share his dad with anyone else, human or animal!” said Tommy’s daughter Grainne Finlay, 35.
“We noticed Cooper stealing Dad’s clothes when he was about 2 ... it was hilarious. I remember looking out the window and seeing Cooper pulling Dad around the place, trying to take his coat off, and I could not stop laughing.
“He never does this to anyone else, just my Dad!”
Grainne, a mom of two, and her husband bought Cooper as a puppy in 2016 after their own Great Dane, Lady, passed away. Tommy was heartbroken.
Since welcoming his very own Great Dane home, Tommy has fallen head over heels in love, and it’s reciprocated. Cooper gets so excited to be around Tommy that he steals his jackets most days, but he also loves his hats. So, Tommy bought the dog a hat of his own, but it didn’t pass muster.
“He gets excited to see Dad or to be going for a walk,” Grainne said. “Once he gets the coat, he walks off with it and sits in a different field with it, or just carries it around in his mouth. If Dad isn’t wearing a coat, Cooper will try to take his wellies off.
“A lot of people think Cooper is out of control when they see our videos, and that he is going to hurt someone. Cooper has manners. He has never hurt anyone and is just a big, lovable goofball.”
When the excitement wears off, Cooper is a lazy dog, always trying to sit on Tommy’s lap despite his size, and expecting to be tucked into bed every night. He even has his own bedroom from which Tommy has to “coax him out of bed multiple times a day.”
Grainne and her husband have four rescued dogs of their own and support rescue over buying from breeders. But, unable to find a Great Dane puppy in need of a home, they agreed to adopt Cooper from someone whose Great Danes became pregnant before the pair could be neutered. Cooper was 12 weeks old when they took him home to Tommy.
“We drove two hours to pick him up and got a bow to put around his neck,” said Grainne. “Dad was in shock, but immediately took Cooper into the house and cuddled him.
“Their bond is incredible. They are best friends, they go everywhere together: to the shops, bank, visiting family. Every Sunday, they go on a day out ... and are always stopped by people for photographs.
“The ladies who work in the local convenience store give Cooper some ham or sausages when he comes in with Dad. He’s a local celebrity. He has been known to eat kids’ ice creams on the street. Dad will bring Cooper to restaurants and order him steak; some places serve it to Cooper on a real plate, too!”
Since Tommy lost his wife three years ago, he spends his vacations with Cooper, renting dog-friendly homes across Ireland and taking his four-legged sidekick on many adventures.
