Kids and dogs can be great friends with the right connection and a little common-sense training. Children can learn valuable lessons about how to care for other living things, be responsible, kind and patient.

Dogs of course get an energetic playmate who can keep them entertained for hours on end, however they can find kids annoying at times too, so it’s important to teach respect! Things like personal space, the right kind of petting and leaving the dog to eat in peace are important messages to get across to your kids, because nobody wants to risk getting a little bite. Like us, pups can only take so much and are prone to snap if they are pushed too hard.

However, kids and dogs have so much in common that this is a pretty rare occurrence. They are much more likely to be the bestest buddies in the world! Scroll down below to see how this beautiful friendship can blossom, in a series of super cute pics compiled by Smalljoys. We asked our readers to send in their fave snaps of their children with their puppy-pals, and boy did they come through with some heart-melters. If you missed out don’t worry, feel free to add your own in the comments!

#1 Human Cold. Must Cover

 

#2 A Girl And Her Pup

#3 We’ve Been Looking For A Buddy For Our 10 Year Old Son For A Few Weeks And Yesterday We Found The Perfect Match!

 

#4 Dog Was Sad About The Cone, Thankfully Someone Was Willing To Cheer Him Up

 

#5 Samoyed Puppy And Baby, Partners In Crime

#6 Life Of Friendship Ahead Of Those Two

#7 When She Comes Home From A Long Day At School, Having A Bad Day, Been Told Off Or Sad… She Cuddles Her Best Friend

 

#8 My Daughter Wanted To Be A Sheepdog For Halloween

 

#9 My 7-Month-Old Son Was Sitting Playing When My Wife’s Great Pyreneese Walked Up And Sat Beside Him. One Of The Greatest Moments That I’m Thankful To Have Captured

#10 Doggo Can’t Stand When My Son Goes To School. She Sat On Him This Morning So He Wouldn’t Leave

 

#11 He Doesn’t Look Anything Like Us

#12 My Son And Our Dog 20 Minutes After We Adopted Her

#13 I Think We Found Our Babysitter

 

#14 Even If My Son So Much As Cries, He Rushes In To Save His Life. Best Buds

#15 My Son’s Always Been A Hugger. My Dog Wasn’t Totally Comfortable With That At First, But He’s Come Around

#16 3 Years Of Friendship

 

#17 My Daughter Is Home With A Fever. Puppy Therapy Has Commenced

#18 My Pup And I, Circa 1988

#19 These Two Are Inseparable

 

#20 My Nephew And His Yellow Lab

#21 Home From School With The Flu. Asked My Son Why The Top Of Our Teacup Chihuahua’s Head Was Wet When They Woke Up From Nap Time. He Said, “I Licked Him. I Wanted To Say ‘I Love You’ In His Language So He Would Really Know”

#22 No One Messes With My Niece

 

#23 My Friend’s Daughter And Her Valentine’s Present

#24 My Niece And Her Best Friend Got A Trampoline. I Think They Are Enjoying It

#25 My Son Giving His Dog A Quick Pep Talk Before The Vet Comes Back

 

#26 My Friends Dog Giving Up His Favorite Blanket To My Daughter

#27 My Daughter And Dog Checking Out The First Snow Of The Season

#28 She’s In Love With The New Tiny Human

#29 My Puppy And My Baby Girl Fight Over Who’s Going To Warm Their Butt On The Vent In The Morning. The Baby Won Today. The Puppy Is Pouting About It

#30 Turned The Corner To See My Daughter And Her Dog Like This