In early 2021, Russell Jones from England was recovering from a broken ankle, with his leg in a plaster cast and using crutches. Then he noticed something unusual — his lurcher named Bill had started walking with a limp too.
At first, Russell thought his dog was hurt, so he took Bill to the vet to find out what was wrong. After paying around £300 (about $400) for vet checks and X-rays, no physical injury was found.
That’s when Russell realized the surprising possibility: Bill appeared to be copying his owner’s limp. The dog seemed to be matching Russell’s way of walking as they moved together.
Russell shared a video of Bill on Facebook in January 2021, and the adorable moment quickly spread online.
While the vet visit cost Russell some money, it also revealed something heartwarming — dogs can pay close attention to the people around them. Bill wasn’t found to have a physical injury; he simply appeared to be mirroring his owner.