One-year-old River Shell has earned a charming nickname from her mom — Mowgli — thanks to her habit of crawling on all fours and mimicking her family’s six German Shepherds.
River’s mom, Ashley Shell, 31, from Tulsa, Oklahoma, admits she was initially nervous about how her beloved pack of dogs would react to a newborn joining the household.
But to her surprise, the big dogs welcomed River like one of their own from the very beginning.
“They were so curious but so gentle,” Ashley said. “They instantly accepted her.”
Since then, River’s bond with the dogs — Meeka, Kai, Ryker, Koba, Brenna, and Roma — has only grown stronger. Now that she’s a toddler, she spends so much time with them that she’s picked up some canine behaviors, too.
She walks on all fours, crawls through the doggy door, plays in the water bowl, and even tries to sneak bites of their food.
“She watches everything they do and copies them,” Ashley said. “She especially loves trying to eat their kibble whenever she gets the chance — I’ve had to fish it out of her mouth more than once!”
In a viral TikTok video that’s been viewed over 9.1 million times, River is seen playing in the dog crate, splashing in their water bowl, and crawling with her furry siblings like one of the pack.
The comments flooded in, with viewers calling her the “real-life Mowgli” and joking that she’s on track to have “the best immune system ever.”
Ashley, a content creator, says River is still learning how to be gentle with the dogs — petting and hugging them whenever they’re near, and even attempting to say their names.
“She lights up whenever she sees them,” Ashley shared. “They’re her best friends.”
What began as a worry has turned into a heartwarming friendship — one that millions online now can’t get enough of.
Want to see River and her pups in action? Check out Ashley’s sweet family moments on Instagram and TikTok.
