Owners who adopt rescue animals often have to put in extra training or show unlimited patience, as the pets' trauma and previous hardships make them nervous, fearful or highly reactive to others. But every bit of help moves them forward.

One dog owner took to TikTok to celebrate her Staffordshire bull terrier's recent victory when an overnight guest stayed at the house for the first time.

Five-year-old Rue is very fearful of strangers, owner Melanie Eyre told Newsweek. She prepped the dog by explaining that her best friend was coming to visit and that she didn't need to be afraid. She asked Rue to be a "nice girl."

Fearful dogs can express their discomfort in different ways, including barking, growling, lunging or snapping. But fortunately Rue's experience went better than expected.

The friend's interaction with Rue started with lots of ignoring as well as dog treats, as seen in the June 11 TikTok video posted to the account @macrosbymel. After a few sniff tests, Rue checked in with her owner for positive reinforcement, only to return to the friend for more sniffing and treats. Her tail was wagging the entire time.

The new relationship slowly continued to grow throughout the friend's stay. The caption reads: "An update I am SO excited to give. Our brave girl did GREAT."

Eyre said: "She did such a great job, and my best friend Bri was such a huge part of that."

Eyre gave Rue breaks throughout the interaction, as experiences like this one can be anxiety-inducing and tiring. Her friend continued to ignore Rue, an important step in training. This allows dogs to meet others on their terms and without being forced.

Eventually, Rue felt comfortable enough to rest next to Bri on the couch, with the first pets to follow. Before everyone knew it, the two were "besties."

"I hope the video can show that although it might take a few extra steps, those extra steps are so worth it for our girl," she said. "Rue has an incredible TikTok family. We call them her 'TikTok aunts and uncles,' and their love and support since the day we adopted her has meant the world to us."

Viewer Reactions

The TikTok video has amassed over 941,500 views, 142,000 likes and 1,191 comments as of Monday. Viewers flooded the comments section with praise for how well Rue did in the situation and how brave she was.

"She is such a good girl! Well done Rue," said a TikToker. Another wrote: "Her sitting with her is such a big step I'm so proud of little miss Rue."

Another applauded the owner's patience: "Your time, dedication, and love is obvious. Bravo for setting her up for success!!"

One user commented: "Brings me so much joy to see owners actively putting in the work for their fearful/reactive pups! I know personally that it can be so overwhelming at times but they are worth all of the work!"

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.