If you’ve ever faced the challenge of reaching for an item on the top shelf at the grocery store, you’ll appreciate this heartwarming reminder that dogs, too, can sometimes find themselves just a little short.

Meet Afton Tarin from Boise, Idaho, who is the proud owner of two massive Great Danes, Vito and Bambino. Despite their imposing size, these gentle giants are incredibly loving and affectionate animals.

When new neighbors moved in next door, Afton’s family was thrilled to meet their chocolate Lab, Giuseppe. Vito and Bambino quickly formed a bond with their new canine neighbor, and as the humans grew friendlier, the dogs began to spend more time together.

Given the considerable height of the Danes, they had a clever way of connecting with Giuseppe over the tall dividing wall between the properties. They would simply pop their heads over the wall to say hello to their friend on the other side.

This arrangement worked perfectly for Vito and Bambino, but poor Giuseppe had a different experience. He wasn’t quite tall enough to peek over the wall, which left him repeatedly leaping in vain attempts to catch a glimpse of his big doggy friends. Afton’s husband, Robert Carnes, observed Giuseppe’s efforts and couldn’t help but sympathize with the determined Lab.

“He has tried many times to jump up and get a good whiff of his big doggy friends whenever we’re all outside,” Afton shared. Robert, playfully, would say to Giuseppe, “If only you had a step stool!”

Then, one day, it dawned on Robert: they did have a step stool! He set up the stool on their side of the wall and waited to see if Giuseppe would figure it out. It didn’t take long for the clever Lab to do just that.

Robert snapped a picture of Giuseppe on the stool and shared it with Afton. When she saw it, she couldn’t help but burst into laughter. “Seeing his little feet fully extended and his tail all blurred out from wagging too fast, I couldn’t help it. So stinkin’ cute. It definitely gives you that feel-good feeling,” she said.

Now, the two families frequently take their dogs for walks together and arrange playdates in each other’s yards. Whenever they can’t be together, Giuseppe has his trusty stool to give him a boost. It’s an adorable solution to an equally adorable problem that warms the hearts of all who hear about it.

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