A toddler who has never been around dogs meets one for the first time — and the moment is priceless

Watching your child grow around pets, perhaps, is one of the most remarkable experiences in life. With each passing day, they put their guard down, forming a strong bond built on love, trust and companionship. Similarly, Gracie Boettcher, who goes by @gracie.boettcher on TikTok, experienced this profound truth firsthand when she watched her toddler bonding with their new puppy.

In the now-viral video, Boettcher shared a glimpse of her daughter lovingly hugging her newfound canine best friend, proving that love knows no boundaries. Meanwhile, the adorable pup responded with equal love as the dog peacefully sat there, soaking up every bit of attention from its little human buddy. Both of them looked so comfortable around each other as if they had known each other for ages. Interestingly, Boettcher revealed that her daughter had never been around dogs before, making their new pet her first-ever experience. As the wholesome banter unfolded on the screen, the overlay text read, "POV: Your baby has never been around a dog before." Talking more about their bond, the woman wrote, "Her and the pug are becoming the best of friends," in the video caption. 

The TikTok video received over a million views online, with several netizens praising Boettcher's daughter and her bond with their pet dog. For instance, @suecarter598 commented, "Pugs are the best for kids. I grew up with pugs and learned empathy from them!" Similarly, @helgaschreyer3 wrote, "The child does everything right. The dog becomes restless, and the kid immediately releases the hug. I think the kid has shown the right feeling for the dog here. Keep it up, little one." @lamortciaa shared, "Pug hugs are just superior. As a pug momma, I am hurt that mine doesn’t like any attention." On a lighter note, @nevernotnick pointed out, "Pug is looking at you judgmental as hell. The same look people give you if your kid acts up in a restaurant."

@amelia.kycia wrote, "HAHAHA He's like, 'I’ve never seen a human this small. What’s happening!'" @rickspointsofview commented, "That's how I know someone's a good soul; even without knowing, he knew he loved this pup that's so beautiful!" @lyseonlife revealed, "This is so sweet! My parents had a rescue pug when I was born ('82), and she was my first companion (and I’ve had pugs ever since)." @lorilightning shared, "The pug says, 'I want to kiss him, but I always play it cool first.'" On the other hand, @joanna.fl wrote, "I’m a pug foster and have had my own pugs since I was a little girl. This is just how pugs are. They’re awkward. They love kids. They’re the best family dogs! I’ve had fosters that came from awful."

@linjean129 wrote, "That dog is so upset. The lip-licking and big eyes are a sign that he is unhappy." @cricket_00001 interpreted the dog's reaction and commented, "The dogs look like me if someone hugs me, like, bro, personal space. I don't even know you like that." @redblossomsblackbones shared, "Dog is trying to figure out if they like it or not. Baby is like, 'Look at this weird teddy bear.'"

You can follow Gracie Boettcher (@gracie.boettcher) on TikTok for more pet-related content.