It is often said that a dog is a man’s best friend, but it turns out a dog can be a small owl’s best friend as well. Meet this incredible pair of unlikely buddies: Ingo the dog and the adorable owlet Poldi. Ingo is a beautiful Belgian Shepherd and is rather large, and it’s pretty strange to see this dog get along so well with an undomesticated animal such as Poldi so quickly.
Professional animal photographer and artist Tanja Brandt from Germany took dozens of incredible pictures of Ingo and Poldi, putting their friendship on display.
Poldi is only one year old and the photographer describes their relationship as “protector-protected”.
Ingo always wants to keep Poldi close by and always offers his love and protection. Poldi “doesn’t know how to live free”, according to Tanja.
Poldi is a bit more vulnerable than his brothers and sisters. He hatched two days later than his siblings and is quite tiny compared to other owls. In short, he needed more attention and care than others. That is in sharp contrast with Ingo, who has experience protecting others. The Belgian Shepherd comes from a family of police dogs and has definitely had his tough moments in life.
“They respect each other and they can read each other,” Tanja wrote on her website.
Ingo might be the more protective of the two, but it’s absolutely clear in the photographs that owlet Poldi likes to take care of his loving four-legged friend as well. You can see that Poldi always snuggles up to Ingo and keeps him very close. Tanja captured some nice, playful and absolutely heartwarming moments of the two together and it’s an incredibly sweet sight to behold.
Tanja regularly posts updates about Ingo, Poldi and their families on her website and Instagram account. All of the pictures are truly stunning and unique.
The woman took a photography workshop for beginners years ago and has always been a huge animal lover. She’s especially keen to canines and birds of prey. In other words, Ingo and Poldi aren’t only perfect for each other, but for Tanja as well.
She also takes care of other birds such as hawks, falcons, and tons of other owls. Even though Tanja refers to the owlet as “Poldi”, it’s actually short for “Napoleon”.
Of course, Ingo and Poldi both lead their separate lives, but the best friends regularly hang out together and Tanja is always close by to capture their beautiful moments on camera.
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Source: Ingoundelse, Whitewolfpack, Tanja_Brandt (Instagram)
Related: 20 Facts About Owls That Prove They’re One Of Nature’s Oddest Creatures
David Cranford
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That is awesome! ❤️
Ruth Warren
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Hannah Warren
Hannah Warren
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Oh god!
Jill Hunt
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Actually I think that it is a love affair!!Just look at the dog’s eyes!! It’s not The Owl and the$#%&!@*Cat,it is The Owl and The Alsatian!!
Jacky Davis
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Kaylee Wright. Xx
Debbie Cartwright Carruthers
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Animals never cease to amaze me.
Jenny Russell
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Kitty Winn
Deanna Blanchard Geiger
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So cute!
Martha Gallardo
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Love this ❤
Janet Sturgis Werntz
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Morgan Quaintance❤️❤️
Robinator Hobbs
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Monica Miller
Kelly Roos
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James Fugate
MelissaBrian Cooper
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Thats a belgin malinos not a geman shepard
Brenda Lyttle
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Beautiful, animals have way more compassion than most humans.
Richard Littrell
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I. Like. Jackie
Lynn Béland
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Manon Carriere
Manon Carriere
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Honnnnnnn
Dawn Waterman
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Just chilling.
Jon Mancusso
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Aww
Charman Morris
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Mark Smith
Tammy King
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Amazing
James May
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Tia Rosetti
Richard Littrell
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I. Like. Jackie
Elizabeth Cole
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NOT a German Shepherd!