At 13 years old, Bruiser the dog knows what he likes — and change isn’t one of them. The big, lovable senior from upstate New York thrives on routine, something his mom, Nicole Michell, knows all too well.

Last week, though, that stubborn streak landed him in quite a predicament. While Nicole and her boyfriend were out of town, a friend stayed over to watch Bruiser. Normally, he uses the backyard, but it was under construction, with deep holes dug for a new deck. Nicole had left clear instructions: “Take him out front.”

But Bruiser refused. Determined, the sitter clipped him to a lead and took him out back anyway. One big pull later, his paw slipped — and plop! Bruiser fell straight into one of the holes, wedged tight like a cork in a bottle.

Animal control and the Baldwin Volunteer Fire Company rushed over, working for over an hour to safely free the 100-pound pup.

Finally, Bruiser was lifted out — dirty but completely unharmed. When Nicole returned home, he acted as if nothing had happened.

Thanks to the kind rescuers, Bruiser’s back to his beloved routine — and those backyard holes? Covered for good.