This is the touching moment a boy with a rare condition interacts with his puppy.

Eight-year-old Hugh from Birmingham in the West Midlands was born with a rare genetic disorder called FOXG1 syndrome, which causes multiple profound learning disabilities.

One month ago, Barney - a 12-week-old springer spaniel arrived in his life. Since then, a very special bond has developed between the two.

Footage shows Hugh ‘'holding hands'' with Barney as the puppy sits on his lap.

Hugh’s mother later wrote online: "Barney is learning to be incredibly gentle and calm with Hugh."

In the video, Barney gently sits on Hugh’s lap and nudges his hand with his head. He then lifts his paw to high-five and holds hands with Hugh.

"This isn’t something we taught him and both my husband and I were moved to tears just watching the beautiful and unexpected interaction between Hugh and Barney," she added.

The clip was filmed on July 29.

My 8 year old son Hugh is a wonderfully happy little boy. He was born with a rare genetic disorder called FOXG1 syndrome which has caused profound and multiple learning disabilities meaning he is unable to sit or walk independently, he can’t talk, has a severe visual impairment and is fed through a tube into his stomach. He also suffers a rare and severe form of life threatening epilepsy that causes him to stop breathing for prolonged periods of time and requires resuscitation. 4 weeks ago we bought a beautiful springer spaniel puppy who we named Barney. He’s now 17 weeks old and is as bouncy and crazy and yampy as you would expect for a young springer pup. He jumps and chases after my 9 year old son Sean. Yet with Hugh he is learning to be incredibly gentle and calm. This video shows him gently sitting on Hugh’s lap and nudging his hand with his head. He then lifts his paw to high-five or hold hands with Hugh. This isn’t something we taught him and both my husband and I were moved to tears just watching the beautiful and unexpected interaction between Hugh and Barney.