Brandon and Kelly Madsen’s first baby was Bentley. Of course, Bentley wasn’t a human baby but a four-legged friend who joined their family in 2017.
Bentley is a 5-year-old goldendoodle who is “goofy, quirky, smart, loyal, and loving,” Kelly told The Epoch Times. “He has so many things that make him uniquely Bentley, like … his utter inability to catch a ball.”
After Tyler’s birth, though, they were cautious about introducing their new bundle of joy to their fun-loving fur baby.
“We sent a blanket and hat home from the hospital that smelled like our son so Bentley would have a chance to get acquainted with the scent first,” the mom said. “After we were discharged from the hospital two days later, we let Bentley greet and sniff Tyler while also petting him and showing him love. And that’s definitely where their friendship all began!”
At first, Bentley was very inquisitive of Tyler and always wanted to run over to sniff him when he cried. The couple called Bentley their “baby monitor,” because he often knew when Tyler was upset before they even heard him.
From then on, the dog was always near Tyler when he napped or played with his parents, and their bond grew ever stronger—especially when Tyler later learned to throw bits of food for Bentley.
Then came the photoshoot.
“We knew we wanted to commemorate the newborn phase with pictures,” said Kelly. They decided to shoot it at home and save on the photographer, but when everything was all set to go, dear Bentley wouldn’t be left idling on the sidelines.
“We got everything ready and then put Tyler in his place and there was Bentley!” Kelly recalled. “He never left Tyler’s side when he was a newborn, plus he is used to being the star of the show, always getting pictures taken of him.”
No matter how they positioned Tyler, Bentley either had to rest his head on him or lay right beside him. The mom said there’s an “undeniable bond” between Bentley and their son.
One year has passed since that photoshoot. And last February, Tyler turned one, while the parents had recorded a year’s worth of photos of him—including his first birthday shoot. But guess who else was there, right by Tyler’s side? Why, Bentley, of course!
As for the blossoming friendship between boy and dog, the mom shared, “Bentley and Tyler’s adventures have only just begun!” She added that most likely “his first word is going to be ‘Bentley.’”
