Golden Retriever accidentaly made his 'baby brother' cry — then apologized in the sweetest way possible

Dogs can form strong, meaningful bonds with someone they met only a few minutes ago. Perhaps, it's their childlike innocence, endless energy, and playful nature that work like a charm on almost everyone they meet. While some people seek emotional support and companionship in these cuddly furballs to escape loneliness, others see a lifelong playmate in them for their kids to grow with. On a related note, a heartwarming video (@lifewithmalamutes on YouTube) of a golden retriever genuinely apologizing to his toddler bestie after he unintentionally made him cry proves just how empathetic dogs can be, especially towards children.

In the video, the adorable golden retriever, Buddy, accidentally scared his baby brother, Nathan, when his wet nose brushed against his face, eventually leading to a never-ending gentle apology session. "He didn't mean to! Okay, Buddy, you made him cry!" a woman in the background exclaimed as Buddy, the innocent dog, tried his best to assure his little brother, who had begun panicking. Nathan was so scared of the golden retriever that he crawled a few steps and plonked down while maintaining a safe distance from the puppy. However, Buddy looked determined to win back his brother's trust as he gently approached Nathan and began licking his face, as if to say sorry for what he had done. Thankfully, this very gesture calmed Nathan, as he instantly stopped crying, and a bright smile lit up his face. 

Further, as captured in the clip, Buddy sat near his brother, and this time, he seemed more mindful about not frightening Nathan again. On the other hand, the toddler, too, seemed quite impressed by the dog, as he allowed him to sit near him without any hesitation. "Golden retrievers are just so wholesome, full of love and just too easy to please all the time, they're the perfect family pet all around," the woman wrote in the caption, revealing how dogs can be great companions for kids. With a profound rise in dog ownership across the globe, particularly in households with children, a report by the National Library of Medicine claims that childhood interaction with canines leads to a positive impact on kids, including increased physical activity, reduced levels of stress, and development of empathy.

Upon seeing the video, @orsolyaritter7292 commented, "It is shocking how high their emotional intelligence is. I mean both the dog and the baby. They are trying to understand each other by paying so much attention. Beautiful!" Another user, who goes by @goldl3147 on YouTube, shared, "The doggo is so intelligent and observant. He almost immediately rolled over to the other side, sat up, tried to back up and give space to the baby, only got close again with the adult's direction, and gave kisses before leaning in again. I'm impressed by the series of actions he took here, such a bright and good-natured animal!"

@arpita434 pointed out, "The dog yawning shows that he got instantly tensed because of the baby's cry... he understood the problem and even became more gentle. Kudos to the mother; she is the perfect parent to both of them, and the baby also put in so much effort to understand the dog.... Both of them did so much better than most humans. They will grow up to be best friends for life."

You can follow Life with Malamutes (@lifewithmalamutes) on YouTube for more dog-related content.