Affection between people and animals is easiest to recognise in the small things: a dog leaning its whole weight against someone, a cat that settles on a chest every morning, a puppy riding in a sweatshirt pocket. This gallery collects twenty such moments that pet owners shared on Reddit, Instagram and Twitter in 2018–2020, each one posted by the person who lived it.
The short answer to what these photos show is simple: animals that feel safe with their people, and people who have rearranged parts of their lives around them. What they cannot show is whether a dog or cat "loves" in exactly the way a human does. Researchers who study the bond between people and pets are careful with that word, but they do find measurable signs of attachment, which we come back to below.
Each post is embedded as it was shared, so the captions under the pictures are the owners' own. Our notes around them add context: what the animal in question is like, what is known about the behaviour in the picture, and where a viral caption needs a gentle reality check. Some older embeds may no longer load if the original poster deleted them.
Dogs and the people they attach to
Just a guy and his wife's dog. from r/aww
A man posing with his wife's dog is a familiar joke on pet forums: the partner who "never wanted a dog" ends up as its favourite pillow. Dogs often bond strongly with whoever spends the most calm, everyday time with them, regardless of whose name is on the adoption papers.
This dog is so adorable, that smile gets me every time from r/aww
The open-mouthed, relaxed face people call a dog's "smile" usually comes with a loose jaw and soft eyes. Behaviourists read that combination as contentment, while a tight mouth or visible whites of the eyes mean the opposite. It is one of the more reliable ways to tell how a dog is feeling in a photo.
When I adopted her from the rescue I was worried I couldn’t make her happy. I think she is happy. from r/aww
Owners of rescue dogs often worry, as this poster did, that an animal from a difficult background will never settle. Many do, given time and a predictable routine. Shelter staff commonly describe a gradual adjustment over the first weeks and months, so a happy face like this one is often the result of patience rather than luck.
Happy to see you from r/aww
Greeting behaviour is one of the clearest signals a dog gives. Whole-body wiggling, a low wagging tail and pushing close to a returning person are typical of a dog that is attached to someone and has been waiting for them.
My pit has been extremely affectionate with my sister ever since she got pregnant. from r/aww
Many owners report that their dogs became clingier during a pregnancy in the household, as this poster describes with a pit bull and her sister. There is no solid research showing that dogs "know" someone is pregnant. They do notice changes in routine, movement and probably scent, which may explain the extra attention.
Just a girl and her Dane.. from r/aww
Great Danes are among the tallest dog breeds, yet they are widely known as gentle, people-focused companions. Their size means they need early training and a lot of space, and like most giant breeds they tend to have shorter lifespans than small dogs.
I promised to try to love her as much as our Golden does from r/aww
This owner's caption flips the usual story: the family's Golden Retriever welcomed a newcomer so warmly that the humans set themselves the goal of catching up. Older, well-socialised dogs often help a new pet settle by showing it that the household is safe.
Cats who chose their humans
UPDATE: The little kitten we found in our yard a couple weeks ago has been settling in nicely 😽 We named her Whiskey! from r/aww
A kitten found outdoors and given a name, here Whiskey, is how many cats join a family. Anyone in the same position should take a found kitten to a vet early for a health check, deworming and a microchip scan, in case it belongs to someone nearby.
My cat learned that the alarm sound means I wake up, and she snuggles on my chest right after. I've been setting my alarm 30 minutes early every day to give her more happy time. from r/aww
This poster noticed that their cat linked the alarm sound with the start of cuddle time, and began setting the alarm half an hour early to make room for it. Cats learn household routines quickly, and seeking out a resting person's chest for warmth and contact is a common sign of a relaxed, trusting cat.
My kitten likes to be held like a baby (sorry for the junk in the background) from r/aww
Not every cat tolerates being cradled on its back like a baby, because the position exposes the belly. A cat that relaxes in that hold is showing a high level of trust in the person carrying it.
We’ve been together for 10 years now. He is the best thing to ever happen to me! from r/aww
Ten years together is a long time in a pet's life, and owners often describe an animal that has been with them through moves, jobs and relationships as the most constant thing they have. The caption does not say what kind of animal this is, but the sentiment is one many long-term pet owners will recognise.
Growing up, from puppies to piglets
6 weeks and 6 months from r/aww
Side-by-side "then and now" pictures are a staple of pet forums. Six months is enough for most puppies and kittens to change shape completely, which is why these comparisons are so popular with new owners.
I bought my dad a puppy six months ago, 120lbs pounds later he’s bestest biggest boy. Reddit meet Odin. from r/aww
Odin went from a small puppy to about 120 pounds (around 54 kilograms) in six months. Giant breeds grow astonishingly fast in their first year, which is why vets usually recommend food formulated for large-breed puppies and caution against too much high-impact exercise while joints are still developing.
This gentleman at Target who reversed his hooded sweatshirt to make a puppy pocket from r/aww
A shopper turned his hoodie back to front so a small puppy could ride in the hood like a pouch. It is a practical trick for a young dog that is too small, or not yet vaccinated enough, to walk on busy shop floors.
After waiting 115 days, our little farm girl woke to brand new KuneKune piglets! from r/aww
Kunekune pigs come from New Zealand, and their Māori name means roughly "fat and round". The breed nearly vanished in the 1980s, when only about 50 purebred animals were thought to remain, before breeders brought it back. The 115-day wait in the caption matches the pregnancy length typical of domestic pigs, a little under four months.
Friendships between animals
This is Daisy and Luna. Daisy doesn’t like car rides, so Luna comforts her until they both fall asleep. from r/Eyebleach
Daisy dislikes car journeys, so her companion Luna lies against her until both dogs fall asleep. Physical contact is one of the ways dogs that live together calm each other, and many owners notice a nervous dog travels better with a confident friend beside it.
This is Daisy and Luna. Daisy doesn’t like car rides so Luna comforts her until they both fall asleep. H*ckin heartwarming. 13/10 for each pic.twitter.com/dxUWUWmYCG
— WeRateDogs® (@dog_rates) August 16, 2018
The same picture of Daisy and Luna was shared by WeRateDogs, the Twitter account Matt Nelson started in 2015. It is known for rating every dog above the maximum, here 13/10 each, and for popularising internet "doggo" slang.
Sunny loves her human Luna from r/aww
Sunny and her human, Luna, are one of several child-and-dog pairs in this collection. Pets and young children can form close bonds, but safety experts advise that small children are never left alone with any dog, however gentle.
Glad to have you, fren from r/aww
The caption's "fren" is internet pet slang for friend. Introductions between a resident animal and a newcomer usually go best when they are gradual, with separate spaces at first and plenty of supervision.
A post shared by Серый Волгоградский Волк (@real_gray_wolf) on
This Instagram post comes from an account whose name translates as "Grey Volgograd Wolf", which follows a grey wolf in southern Russia. Wolves are wild animals rather than pets: even when raised by people they keep strong wild instincts, and keeping one is restricted or banned in many countries.
What research says about affection between pets and people
Scientists who study the human–dog relationship describe it as a two-way attachment that resembles, in some ways, the bond between a carer and a young child. Dogs seek out their person when stressed, show signs of separation anxiety when that person leaves, and explore new places more confidently when their owner is nearby, a pattern known as the "safe haven" effect.
Hormones play a part. Studies summarised in a 2019 review found that both dogs and people release oxytocin, a hormone linked to social bonding, when they spend friendly time together. Dogs can also tell positive from negative human facial expressions and adjust their behaviour accordingly.
Cats have been studied less, partly because they are harder to test in a laboratory, but they too learn routines, seek out favourite people and show distress when those routines change.
A common myth is that pets who misbehave when left alone are being spiteful. Chewing or crying in an empty house is far more often a sign of stress or boredom, and a vet or qualified behaviourist can help with that.
Bringing this kind of bond home
Most of the moments above grew out of ordinary care: regular walks, meals at predictable times, patience with a nervous rescue and a vet visit when something seemed wrong. Anyone thinking of adopting can start by asking a local shelter which animal would suit their home, space and schedule, rather than choosing on looks alone.
And if these pictures remind you of your own animal, the simplest thing is also the best one: spend a few extra quiet minutes with them today.
Sources: Photos and captions by the Reddit users who posted them in r/aww and r/Eyebleach, the Instagram account @real_gray_wolf and WeRateDogs, as embedded above. Background: Wikipedia, Human–canine bond; WeRateDogs; Kunekune.
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