17 Pupper Pawrents Sharing Puplifting Stories of the Wholesome Things Their Dogs Did to Make Them Smile

Author image for Blake Seidel
Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Jan 30, 2025 9:00 AM EST

Hey there, friendos. We appreciate our puppers, but maybe we don't tell them that enough. Not that they understand us when we say the words, but it wouldn't hurt to throw them an extra treato or two every once in a while. They do a lot for us that we don't even think about: they greet us at the door every evening when we come home from work, they keep us warm in these winter months by snuggling with us on the couch, they lift us up when we're feeling down, and many, many more things.

In fact, we can name something our dogs do every day that makes us smile. Today, we woke up not feeling like we were in the best of moods, but then on our morning walk, one of our dogs came running to us with a stick that was at least six times bigger than she was. She tripped over it, rolled over herself, and then kept running to show us her majestic find. If that was heartwarming to you, scroll down to see more wholesome stories of dogs making their owners smile. Enjoy!

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  • 01

    My Dog Did Something Today That Melted My Heart

    'Dogs don't need words to show love'
    via Helena Lopez from Pexels

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    I was having a rough morning, just sitting on the couch feeling off. My 6-year-old golden retriever, Max, must've noticed, because he disappeared and came back with his favorite stuffed bear-the one he never shares with anyone.
    via u/johnnyenglish72
  • 03
    He dropped it in my lap, sat next to me, and rested his head on my shoulder. It was like he was saying, "This always makes me feel better- you try it." I teared up a little. Dogs don't need words to show love, do they? What's the most comforting thing your dog has ever done for you?
    via u/johnnyenglish72
  • 04
    NorthPackFan • 14h ago I'm convinced dogs see auras of our emotions. They know. They always know.
    via u/NorthPackFan
  • 05
    PEEPofV 14h ago When I was sick a few weeks ago my dog would not leave my side. She usually naps at the foot of the bed but she snuggled right next to me for like 3 days. Dogs are so amazing.
    via u/PEEPofV
  • 06
    Cheezburger Image 10460218880
    via chendongshan

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Dogs really are amazing! One of our dogs is not really a cuddler. She will lay next to us on the couch, but never touch us. Sometimes, she tolerates belly rubs, but rarely. When we were sick a few weeks ago, she curled up next to us on the couch and instead of turning her head away, she actually rested it on our legs. It doesn't seem like a lot, but it was a big deal for us.

  • 07
    velvetpawz 13h ago My Goose has had a couple of sweet moments, but last Friday melted my heart. He usually nudges me awake at around, 5:00, 5:30 in the morning to be let out I'll stumble half asleep - and unlock the door for him, and go back to bed until my alarm goes off an hour later.
    via u/velvetpawz
  • 08
    I had to be at court this past Friday, and I was really anxious for it. I was up later than usual Thursday night prepping and packing, and slept quite restlessly.
    via u/velvetpawz
  • 09
    Instead of waking me up at five and adventuring until breakfast like he always does, Goose let me sleep in. I woke up to my alarm with him snuggled in my arms. He was gentle the entire morning (no post-breakfast zoomies like usual), just quietly keeping me company as I got ready.
    via u/velvetpawz
  • 10
    When I got back later the evening, he was was just as docile not my two and a half - year old dynamite on four paws. We took a gentle short evening walk (all I felt up to) and it's as if he understood that that's all I was up to. Dogs man. We don't deserve them.
    via u/velvetpawz
  • 11
    Battleaxe1959 • 13h ago I've watched those videos where the owner "falls" so they can see how the dog reacts? Well, I fell yesterday (really) and was thrilled to see my big dog all anxious, licking my face. Unfortunately it was difficult to get up with an 80lb dog, standing on me.
    via u/Battleaxe1959
  • 12
    Calzonieman • 13h ago I lost four fingers on my left hand in a factory accident when I was 18. It required a lot of skin graphs off my left thigh which left me bed ridden for a while.
    via u/Calzonieman
  • 13
    During the entire time I was in bed, my mini black and tan dachshund wouldn't leave my side, If my hand or thigh was exposed she'd push blankets over me to cover me back up. It was an amazing show of compassion.
    via u/Calzonieman
  • 14
    Rolandium 13h ago My dog is not the most affectionate. He's a happy boy, but not a cuddler. I was going through a particularly rough patch at work. I came home and just sat on the couch and let out this long sigh. He came over, jumped on the couch, put his paw down on my thigh and then rested his head on it. He'd never done it before and hasn't done it since. I guess he just knew I needed him.
    via u/Rolandium
  • 15
    • awkward porcupines 13h ago Whenever my son (who is really struggling to learn to read) is really upset at the kitchen table and getting down on himself, she always comes over and puts her head in his lap and just supports him as he reads.
    via u/awkward_porcupines
  • 16
    OneTransportation918 ✔ 13h ago Dogs are amazingly intuitive. I work at a school for kids with autism. We have therapy dogs in the classroom with the kids. It's amazing how they can keep the kids calm and regulated.
    via u/OneTransportation918

  • We love watching videos of therapy dogs in classrooms. There was one about a deaf doggo who was a therapy dog for kids and it's the most wholesome thing ever. He doesn't get scared by all the noises because he can't hear them! 

  • 17
    Cheezburger Image 10460218624
    via Blue Bird from Pexels

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 18
    yetanother5 • 12h ago On one of my first long road trips with my girl Nyxie, we stopped at a gas station for a stretch and fill up. What I didn't realize was that the grassy area at that particular place was absolutely full of stickers, and her poor paw pads were full of them. So I knelt down to pull them out. (Picked her up, carried her to pavement after I figured it out by getting a knee full of them.) While I'm pulling them off of her, she
    via u/yetanother5
  • 19
    reaches over and starts to pull them off my knee with her mouth. My heart just melted. If I hadn't already loved her, I would have fallen right then. She was my soul dog, lost her 3 years ago, and I miss her every day.
    via u/yetanother5
  • 20
    mysticmedley • 13h ago My Anatolian shepherd would wait for me to get home every evening from work. He would wait next to the car for me to get out. At the time I had issues with my hips that made walking extremely painful. He would stand next to me and I would rest my weight on him. He would do an adjustment move to balance my weight, and then walk me into the house. He was such an awesome dog!
    via u/mysticmedley
  • 21
    Pixie-elf 12h ago My little dog loves blankets. If you are sad, or sick, she thinks you ALSO need a blanket.
    via u/Pixie-elf
  • 22
    Dazzling Goat6305 · 12h ago I shattered my knee in an accident and was in the hospital for 10 days. When I got home with my 20 inch long scar and leg brace, my husband let in our 3 dogs. Our biggest guy, a 95lb Lab/Husky/Shepherd cross, walked up to me carefully. Smelled my leg top to bottom for about 10 seconds then howled at the top of his lungs for a good five minutes.
    via u/DazzlingGoat6305
  • 23
    He then laid on the flood with his head on my foot until he fell asleep. Our other 2 dogs who were young rascals were not allowed to play around me for weeks. He would guard me from their puppy antics. Miss our kind giant. He passed a few months ago.
    via u/DazzlingGoat6305
  • 24
    simKat61 11h ago • I am 67 years old now with many dogs in between, but something I have never forgotten is my Grandpa's English Setter hunting dog Missy. Long story short, it was a difficult time in my life. In the matter of just about 4 months my parents were divorced and both remarried. For a 10 year old it was hard to cope. I was super sick with influenza and a high fever. Since it was a school week, I went to stay with my Grandma and Grandpa. I
    via u/simKat61
  • 25
    told Grandma I wanted to go outside and I laid down in the grass on a little incline. It was warm and there was a cool waft of air while lying in the partial shade, that lightly blew over me. My Grandpa's dog Missy came to me and gently put her head on me and laid down beside me. We laid like that the whole day. It was the most comforting feeling I had ever felt in my 10 years of life. I know she felt my sadness and sickness. I loved that dog.
    via u/simKat61
  • 26
    Busy_Marionberry1536 12h ago ⋅ I was lying in bed crying over the loss of a friend once and my collie got on the bed, rooted up under my arms while I was on my side, and put her face next to mine. She lay down with me like she was saying "It's okay, I'm here." She would also lay with me if I was sick too.
    via u/Busy_Marionberry1536
  • 27
    Any_Veterinarian_163 · 11h ago Our black lab heard our elderly neighbor fall outside in the winter. She insisted on coming outside and stood where she was until my husband and I came out. She definitely knew what was going on.
    via u/Any_Veterinarian_163
  • 28
    disjointed_chameleon 9h ago I had to undergo reconstructive jaw surgery two years ago due to my autoimmune condition. In short, surgeons had to detach my jaw from my skull and spine, and then rebuild & replace my jaw using custom titanium prosthetic hardware. My mouth was wired shut for three months, and so I was restricted to a liquid-only diet for the first four to six months, and soft food only for a good year or so thereafter. I had to take about two months off work for recovery.
    via u/disjointed_chameleon
  • 29
    My Siberian Husky never left my side. She slept in bed next to me every minute, of every hour. She refused to go on regular walks, and instead she'd quickly piddle in the yard and then hop right back in bed with me. Once I felt strong enough to "eat" meals at my breakfast nook (i.e. soup broth, juice, smoothies, pudding, etc.), she couldn't seem to understand that I couldn't eat regular food. She picked up her bowl of kibble and put it in my lap, and just stared at me, as if to say: Here, mom, e
    via u/disjointed_chameleon

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aww wholesome dogs cute dogs adorable heartwarming pupper dog parents cute doggos doggo uplifting dog owners animals smile
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