Who doesn’t love a dog! Dog ownership is connected to good health, they love to play, chase and run, and your kids will love to join along. The process seems too good to be true…one day it’s just a carefree little goofball, chasing its own tail and the next it’s already an adult who knows how to act all calm and collected when its owner takes it to a local café. Everyone who has owned a puppy knows how fast they become a dog.
Regardless of everything else, there’s one thing that remains the same no matter how old a dog gets— is the fact that it’s so adorable. We’ve collected a cute list of photos to prove it. Labs, corgis, mutts, you name it, we included them all! Continue scrolling to check the before-and-after pictures of these adorable fluff-babies growing up. This will surely make you recall your memories of your pups!
1. Corgi and my father 1 year apart 
We asked Michelle Lugones, who is a DVM and veterinarian, about the categorizing of normal growth in a puppy and how it’s challenging because of the many breeds. He expressed how, “There are, however, some general stages we can refer to when it comes to puppy development. First is the neonatal stage which is from birth to 2 weeks old. At this stage, a puppy is completely dependent on its mother for all aspects of its care. Its eyes aren’t open yet and it begins to crawl slowly”.
“From about 2-4 weeks old a puppy is in the transitional stage of puppy development. Its eyes open and the rest of its senses really start to blossom. The baby’s teeth erupt, and a puppy begins to walk and bark. By 4 weeks old most puppies can go to the bathroom without their mother having to stimulate them. Puppies also start to be weaned from their mother’s milk at this age.” By playing with other pups, taking the many life directions from his mother dog, and by interacting with others, he comes to know the importance of his pack. This happens between the third and eighth week of age.
2. Elliot The Dragon And Elliott. 
Lugones expressed that “During this stage of development, a puppy’s fear threshold is fairly high so they may appear to not be afraid of anything”. Later on, he told us that “As the puppy reaches 6-8 weeks old the pet owner can start to gently expose the puppy to more stimuli in the environment, play, and train with them as long as the puppy is not fearful. This should be done under the supervision of the mother. It’s important that the puppy isn’t permanently separated from the litter or mother during this time.”
A puppy becomes more physically comfortable and coordinated during the second and third months of life, but this is also the time when he develops the feeling of fear. Owners are recommended to make their life as little adventurous as possible in that time period.
3. You’ve got a friend in me! 
“Between 3-6 months old a puppy should continue to be socialized, but in a controlled, safe way such as puppy training class where all the puppies are healthy and at the same stage of vaccinations to minimize the chance of contracting a disease,” Lugones pointed out. “Adult teeth start to erupt so providing safe, appropriate chew toys is essential.”
At 6 to 12 months of age, a puppy is in his teens, so he can be more boisterous, and safe training and exploration should be encouraged.
4. A brick will never give you up, let you down, run around or desert you. In fact, it won’t do much of anything. 
5. Why can’t I fit mom? 
6. The human must have shrunk! 
7. Someone get him a giant boot.
8. Christmas Together! 
9. May I have your attention for a moment?
10. A Life long friendship
11. Ok, how much longer can we do this?
12. I’ve mastered the art of standing.
13. Dogs don’t Retire.
14. Momma I can stand!
It is a well-known fact that a dogs’ ability to communicate with humans is unlike any other species in the animal kingdom. A study found that the scent of their owners excited the dogs more than any other stimulus. They can sense our emotions, read our facial expressions, and even follow our pointing gestures. Having a dog improves our physical well-being and encourages healthy fitness.
Of course! Your dog requires daily exercise, and so do you! Dog owners carry the responsibility of playing with and working with their dogs, so it only makes sense that dog people tend to be more active. So if you’re still confused about whether or not to get a dog then I think that’s definitely a big reason to become a dog parent!
