Heart-warming moment gentle labrador Himalaya coaxed reluctant Down’s Syndrome boy who shuns human contact to play with him

Tender: This is the heart-warming moment that a gentle dog befriends a young boy with Down's Syndrome to play with him

This is the heart-warming moment that a gentle dog befriends a young boy with Down's Syndrome and persuades the child to play. 

Herman, now five, from La Plata, Buenos Aires, was captured on camera being approached by Himalaya, a Labrador. 

Herman's mother Ana, who posted the video on YouTube, said her son usually backs away from contact.

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Befriend: Herman, now five, from La Plata, Buenos Aires, was captured on camera being approached by Himalayan, a Labrador

Emotional: Herman's mother Ana, who posted the video on YouTube said her son's condition means that he shies away from contact

Herman, who has two older sisters was aged three when the tender moment was filmed. 

The video shows the little boy sitting on a patio in front of Himalaya. 

 

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Herman then shuffles over to the dog and looks at him, but when Himalaya places a gentle paw on the little boy's foot he baulks and moves away again. 

Playful: The gentle giant places a a paw on the young boy's shoulder

Friends: Himalaya, sensing the boy's hesitancy, decides to try contact again and puts her paw on Herman's feet before dropping his head in his lap

Confidence: Eventually Herman relents and starts to touch the dog at one point stroking her snout and pulling back her fur to reveal her teeth

A few minutes pass with the pair looking at each other in an interested fashion, but remaining still.

Himalaya, sensing the boy's hesitancy, decides to try contact again and puts her paw on Herman's feet before dropping her head in his lap.

Herman seems to signal the level of contact is welcome as he picks up the dog's paw, but then pushes the dog away as she sniffs contently at Herman's feet.

At this point Herman is backed up against the wall, but Himalaya is undaunted and rolls over on to her back stretching out a paw in a playful fashion.

Content: Although he does continue to push the gentle giant away, it becomes more of a game and towards the end of the four minute video the pair sit side-by-side contentedly

Herman then moves across the patio, only to be followed by the determined canine and the scene repeats itself with the little boy being followed by Himalaya.

Eventually Herman relents and starts to touch the dog at one point stroking her snout and pulling back her fur to reveal her teeth. 

Although he does continue to push the gentle giant away it becomes more of a game and towards the end of the four minute video the pair sit side-by-side contentedly. 

Herman is thought to be Herman's uncle's dog.

Down's Syndrome is a genetic condition that typically causes some level of learning disability and a characteristic range of physical features.

Herman's mother wrote on YouTube: 'Hernan, is a bit withdrawn and flees from physical contact. 

'He does not like be touched, but Himalaya (the dog) insisted so patiently, and she was so soft that's why it is so moving, she is left to do anything. '