K.J. Osborn Grateful for ‘Best Friend’ in Larry…

“I actually was supposed to get him after [the regular-season finale] when we played the Lions,” K.J. explained. “I went to the breeder and said, ‘OK, I’m gonna come back next week to get him’ – and then I just took him home that day. Ever since then, he’s been my guy.”

His “guy” is Larry, an 11-month-old English bulldog who will turn 1 on Nov. 11.

The wrinkled, tan-and-white pup has no doubt changed K.J.’s life for the better.

“Whether I have a good or bad day, Larry’s always happy for me when I come home,” K.J. said. “He’s waiting for me at the door, jumping on me, happy, ready to go outside, ready to play. He just gives me that company.”

You wouldn’t know it if you saw the duo together, but Larry is K.J.’s first-ever pet.

“I never had a fish or a snake or a bird,” he laughed. “My family didn’t have pets growing up, so this is my first pet ever. I tried to do it the right way – I did a lot of research. My plan was to do a lot of research, get his bed, get everything, go get him and then bring him home.

“I was just so excited when I saw him,” K.J. added. “It was him and his sister, and I almost bought both. I just grabbed him, and we went straight from the breeder to the store and got his bed and pads and everything, and I just kind of learned on the fly. I think I’m being a good dad.”