Meet Leleco and Donny, the Dogs Who Only Sleep Next to Their Mickey Mouse Plushie

Leleco and Donny are two small Lhasa Apsos who love to sleep close to each other — but only if their stuffed Mickey Mouse is with them. It’s so adorable to see!

The owner of this duo is Gislene Camargo, who lives in São Paulo, Brazil. In an interview with Amo Meu Pet (our Brazilian website about pet news), she shared that they love sleeping in her bed, but since they take up so much space, she decided to buy them their own bed.

At first, she bought a bed to see if Leleco and Donny would use it, but they completely ignored it.

It’s understandable — after all, sleeping in their owner's huge, comfortable bed makes the doggy bed seem much less appealing, doesn’t it?

“No one wanted to lie on that bed — poor thing, it was always empty — and the two rascals kept lying on mine,” she said.

Trying to convince them to lie on the doggy bed, Gislene bought a Mickey Mouse plush toy and placed it there to attract them — and it worked with one of them!

One morning, when Gislene woke up, she saw Leleco curled up in bed next to the plush toy, snoring like crazy.

Donny wasn’t convinced at first, but it only took a few days for him to start sleeping snuggled up next to his brother with the plush toy. It was then that Gislene bought the second bed.

“I bought another one just like it, in the same color. They had a ritual of first jumping on my bed and then moving to their own bed. In the middle of the night, I would fall asleep and only see them again in the morning,” she explained.

However, the owner didn’t buy another plush toy because she couldn’t find one in stores and she did not imagine that the two had become so attached to the toy.

She discovered this when she saw them sleeping together in the same bed, while the other one remained empty.

“Conclusion: I wasted money buying a second bed,” she joked. “Since they’re small, they fit just fine.”

The duo is deeply loved by their owner, who says: “They represent life and love. After suffering the aftereffects of a stroke, I became depressed, and if it weren’t for them, I would have succumbed. They gave me the strength and resilience to bounce back. Their love brought me life and hope again.”

Why Do Dogs Like Stuffed Animals?

According to the news portal Wag!, dogs generally like stuffed animals because of the comforting sensation of their soft texture, the companionship they offer, and the fun they provide.

These toys can help reduce loneliness, serve as playmates, and even help relieve chewing. Additionally, some stuffed animals provide mental stimulation through noise-making devices.

However, individual preferences vary, and the choice of toys should be suited to each dog’s temperament and needs.

Does Your Pet Also Like Stuffed Animals?