We’ve all seen unlikely animal pairings. Nature programs and social media videos have highlighted everything from dogs with deer to tigers with pigs. It’s amazing how these four-legged fur babies find common ground to become friends.

Denni the Golden Retriever from Australia apparently bonded with a baby Koala after a chance meeting in her backyard and it’s over-the-top adorable.

The Tiktok from @yahooaustralia told the sweet story of how these two furry friends got together.

Steve Lamplough heard his dogs barking in the backyard and went outside to see what the commotion was about. His 9-year-old Golden Retriever had a baby Koala on her back with his tiny furry paws wrapped around the dog’s neck. According to the video, Lamplough found the situation a bit comical.

“It looked quite hilarious, especially when she was running,” Denni’s dad commented. “It was like a little jockey on her back.”

The fluffy Koala was the picture of cuteness as he nestled into Denni’s fur. The Golden Retriever had no complaints and appeared to have a smile on her face, as if she welcomed the company.

Though the two fur babies were having fun, Lamplough knew the joey needed to be returned to his mother. He calmly walked behind Denni and gently lifted the baby Koala off her back.

Koalas Aren’t Rare in This Backyard

Lamplough wasn’t too surprised to see the marsupial since he has something in his backyard that attracts several Koalas.

“We’ve got one big great massive manna gum tree,” he explained. “We get quite a few Koalas through here and they sit up in that tree.”

Related: Golden Retriever Adorably Tries to Play With Animals He Sees on TV

After placing the little Koala back in the tree, Lamplough checked on Denni. The gorgeous Golden was just fine and seemed to have enjoyed her brief playtime with her new pal. Lamplough then went back to the tree and saw that the joey was already cuddling with his mom.

How the baby Koala found his way onto Denni’s back remains a mystery. They may have some playdates scheduled for the future.

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This story was originally reported by Parade Pets on Sep 30, 2025, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add Parade Pets as a Preferred Source by clicking here.