For Daisy the Rottweiler, nothing in the world beats bedtime — not treats, not toys, not even tug-of-war. Her favorite thing is curling up with her human brother each night and wrapping him in her paws.
“She’s his shadow,” said Daisy’s mom, Brittany Troilo. “She sleeps beside him every night.”
Since joining the family as a puppy two years ago, Daisy has formed an unbreakable bond with her brother. From day one, she’s been glued to his side — playing, running, and always snuggling.
“She can’t get enough of him,” Troilo said.
Throughout the day, they chase each other in the backyard and play with their favorite toys. But when 8:30 p.m. rolls around, Daisy gets serious about her nightly job — bedtime buddy.
“She’ll wait by the stairs like clockwork,” Troilo explained. “As soon as we head up, she hops on the bed and gets ready to cuddle.”
Once her brother is tucked in, Daisy gently hooks her arm around his and falls asleep beside him. It’s their quiet ritual — comforting and consistent.
But one night, that cuddle saved his life.
Troilo was startled awake at 2 a.m. to find Daisy sitting by her bed, alert and insistent. Her son has type 1 diabetes — and though Daisy was never trained as a service dog, she somehow sensed something was wrong.
“She knew he was in danger,” Troilo said. “Now, if his blood sugar dips too low or spikes too high, she wakes me up so I can help him.”
Daisy even understands the importance of his medical gear. She carefully avoids his Dexcom glucose monitor while they sleep, never lying on top of it or interfering with its alerts.
“She’s so smart,” Troilo said. “She’s a very special girl.”
Recently, Daisy got a new Rottweiler sibling named Lilly. The two dogs play together nonstop — but even puppy play can’t distract Daisy from her most important duty.
“She still knows that when 8:30 hits, it’s bedtime,” Troilo said.
Every night, Daisy leaves the toys behind and races to her brother’s side, ready for cuddles, comfort — and, if needed, quiet heroism.
