The Internet's favorite cow thinks he's a dog

The Internet’s new favorite farm animal is Goliath the cow, and looking at these pictures, we can see why. The small calf, who was rescued about two months ago from a dairy farm where he was scheduled to be slaughtered, wasn’t in good shape initially.

 

Shaylee Hubbs, a high school senior who lives with her family on a ranch in Danville, California, told ABC News that Goliath was "so weak and so small that he couldn't stand and you could pick him up very easily.”

 

Now, after being nursed into healthy 8-week old calf, it appears Goliath is having an identity crisis.

 

"I'm pretty sure he thinks he's a dog," said Hubbs, 17. "He was raised with our three dogs, and he's around them every day. They chase and play together, he watches how they eat their dog food and drink water from their bowls and copies them and he even lays in their dog beds. He even loves scratches on his neck around his ear."

 

In a photo that has gone viral, Goliath can be seen curled up on the family’s couch like a dog after apparently sneaking into the home. It appears the calf is taking after Hubbs’ 2-year-old Great Dane, Leonidas.

 

"He's best friends with Leo, and so he used to watch Leo push down the door handle and come and sit on the couch," Hubbs said. "And of course, he now knows how to come in, too. He just pushes down on the knob with his head and lets himself in and onto our couch."

 

Hubbs said Goliath and Leo are "best friends," adding that Leo "took to mothering the little cow" when he was first brought in and “would lick the little cow on the face and try to nudge him to stand up.”

 

Hubbs continues to share cute photos and video of Goliath behaving like the canine we’re now convinced he is. 

Note: Though all cows are actually female, we have referred to Goliath as a male since the owner calls the animal "he."