'He was meant to be in our family': Heartwarming story behind Chuck the boxer who became internet sensation after greeting his master back from war

By Daily Mail Reporter Loving family: Chuck the boxer knows how to show love to his family, which includes Nick (left), his wife Katie (right) and their daughter Sydney (center) Chuck the boxer is an Internet star after a second video of him ecstatically greeting his soldier owner became a YouTube hit - and it comes at no surprise to Nick and Katie Merrick, who share a special bond with the affectionate pup. The soldier's wife told RadarOnline today that the loveable dog is a perfect match for the family of three, who have become increasingly popular from the video that has had nearly 2,800,000 views since it was posted on March 22. The two-year-old brown and white devoted hound that had three previous owners was apparently destined to belong to his current family, which includes soldier Nick, who just completed eight months in Afghanistan on his third tour of duty. Scroll down to watch the videos Doggone devoted: Lovable Chuck waits to see his master, Nick, after a long, eight month absence 'It's sad to know that he was passed along so much,' said Katie, whose husband, Nick, received an enthusiastic welcome home from Chuck as he jumped and licked his owner. 'Nick and Chuck are two peas in a pod and he was meant to be in our family.' In the start of the video, the loveable pup can be seen in the trunk of a SUV. With the words, 'Daddy's home!', from the returning soldier's wife, Katie, Chuck suddenly realises what's happening and with lightning speed jumps out the trunk and runs over to his master, Nick. That phrase about Nick's presence has become a common signal for the family, who lived in Iowa and Texas before being stationed in Stuttgart, Germany. For their daughter Sydney, it means it's time to talk to her father on the video service Skype. For Chuck, he heads for the front door hoping his master will be at the entrance. 'It's a sad reality but we are very thankful for Skype and today's technology,' the military wife went on to say. ' Sadly, Chuck does not comprehend the computer screen nor the sound. So, these eight months gone were truly without Nick or his voice for Chuck.' Jump for joy: Chuck leaps out of the car trunk and makes a dash towards the sound of the soldier's voice Happy hound: Chuck bounds into the arms of his master, licking and barking, unable to contain his joy Pooch smooch: The soldier's wife, Katie, exclaims 'He's getting a longer welcome than I did!' As the video continues, we get an eye-misting 59 seconds of the dog's uninhibited joy at seeing his pack leader home again after a military deployment. 'It's been a long eight months,' says Katie. At one point the boxer lives up to his name and gets so excited he knocks off Nick's sunglasses. Nick has to constantly fix his cap too, lest it is lost amidst the canine excitement. Jealous of the attention the dog is getting, the soldier's wife jokingly exclaims, 'He's getting a longer welcome than I did.' Lots of love: The affection Chuck the boxer has for his owners extends to their daughter Sydney as he sneaks some licks on her cheeks 'Best friends': Although Chuck shares a special bond with owner Nick, he also is very close with baby Sydney as they 'are great entertainment for each other' Where's Daddy?: When Nick's wife Katie tells their daughter Sydney and their dog Chuck that it's time to go 'talk to Daddy,' the toddler runs to the computer and the pup waits by the door But who could blame Nick for spending some quality time playing when his devoted dog is just so happy to see him? The duo are best buddies, sharing countless happy moments together. 'They run together, play together, go to work together and sometimes he even spends more time on the floor with Chuck rather than with me on the couch,' Katie told RadarOnline. The pooch even provides reassurance for Nick when he is away on military duty because he knows his wife and daughter are not alone. Boxer by nature: At one point the dog gets so worked up he knocks off the soldier's sunglasses Hat's off: And the soldier has to constantly readjust his cap too, least he loses it in the excitement 'He knows that Chuck and Sydney are best friends and are great entertainment for each other,' Katie told the website. 'He knows he has a great support system at home at all times while he is away.' And this is not the first time Chuck has become a viral video hit. Last year, he became famous for Nick's first welcome home in February 2011. In that YouTube video, we see a younger, slimmer Chuck skidding all over a wooden floor and greeting his master at the couple's home. And just when you thought that your heart's strings couldn't be stretched any further, there's a video of the adorable pooch playing with the couple's daughter, Sydney, in January 2011, when the little girl was just five months old. Watch Chuck greet his master for the second time: source:dailymail