There are few things on this planet cuter than a puppy. Their soft, squishy faces, huge eyes and fluffy fur can melt my heart into a puddle faster than anything else. But because puppies often get the most attention, it’s easy to forget how adorable older doggos can be too. So today, we’re celebrating both ends of the spectrum!

Bored Panda has scoured the internet to find heartwarming before and after pics of dogs as puppies and all grown up, so prepare yourself for a cuteness overload down below. Keep reading to also find a chat with the team at Lucky Dog Animal Rescue, and be sure to upvote the dogs that you would love to have as members of your family!

#1 She Didn't Grow Into Them

Image credits: BlondeRed

#2 Then vs. Now. This Is Cain, My Best Friend. I Saved This Fella From A Bad Situation, And Now He Makes My House A Home

Image credits: Kodiak-Jack

#3 Abby's Before And After. She Is Still A Good Girl

Image credits: wbbartsch

If you’ve ever owned a dog, I don’t need to tell you what a lifechanging experience it can be. These precious creatures are called man’s best friend for a reason, after all! They’re intelligent, loving, adorable animals who can form incredibly strong bonds with their owners. So it’s no surprise that dogs are the most popular pets in the world, residing in about a third of the world’s households.

To learn more about why dogs make such great companions, we reached out to the team at Lucky Dog Animal Rescue in Arlington, Virginia. “Dogs make wonderful pets for so many reasons,” they shared. “From giving you the motivation to get out of bed in the morning, to sharing unconditional love, to always being by your side through all of life's twists and turns, there is no animal as loving or as loyal as a dog.”

#4 Before And After

Image credits: KeNtLuN

#5 This Good Boy Grew A Lot This Year

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#6 Because Toilet Paper Is Better Than Toys. 3 Months vs. 7 Months

Image credits: paxton_thegolden

We also asked the Lucky Dog team if they could explain why it’s so important to adopt rather than shop when bringing a new dog into your family. “There are so many animals dying daily in shelters that there really isn't a good reason to buy from a breeder instead of adopting,” they explained.

“Rescues have all sorts of sizes, ages, personalities, etc. — anything an adopter could wish for. There are even breed specific rescues that focus on particular breeds,” the dog experts added. “The more that people adopt, the less demand there will be for breeders -- and the more lives will be saved!”

#7 From 2.5 Months To Nearly 2 Years

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#8 My Best Friend Appa At 10 Weeks And 3 Years. Never Grew Into Those Paws

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#9 Pupper Did A Grow From 8 Weeks To Nearly A Year

Image credits: commonvanilla

And as far as what potential adopters should understand before welcoming a doggo into their lives, the Lucky Dog team says, “People should know that dogs are living beings who deserve to receive the same effort, love, training and commitment that they will offer you. They will have an adjustment period just like you, and in the end everything will be worth it. If you are unsure of what type of dog is best to adopt, we would be happy to help you find a good fit.”

And if you’re interested in adopting, be sure to check out Lucky Dog Animal Rescue!

#10 My Little Potato, Who's Ears Never Seemed To Grow

Image credits: barkingsimian

#11 Mr. Fancy Paws Has Grown Up. The Name Still Stands

Image credits: Herwiththetwodogs

#12 My Puppy Very Proud Of Himself For Doing Such A Big Grow

Image credits: trollinwithmygnomies

For a previous Bored Panda article featuring adorable adopted dogs, we got in touch with Ivanka Patterson, director of Every Dog Matters EU. Ivanka also shared her thoughts on why adoption is so important when bringing a new pet into the family. "A lot of breed dogs come from illegal puppy mills where the dogs and the puppies are living in very poor conditions. Not knowing the origin of your bought pups hides the huge risk of getting an overbred pup which will have genetic health issues and a shorter life span," she explained.

#13 I Will Always See Him As The First Picture

Image credits: Ch0rdeva

#14 My Little Teddy Bear Seems To Keep Growing

Image credits: penelope.groodle

#15 She Is Growing Into A Fine Young Lady

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Ivanka also detailed the benefits dog owners can experience after welcoming a rescue into their homes. "We believe there is hidden superhero in each one of us," she shared. "By adopting a rescue animal, this super hero comes to life and the feeling of worthiness within oneself improves greatly ones self-esteem."

#16 Our Family Dog, Indie, Recently Turned 11. She's Just As Cute As She Was As A Puppy

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#17 My Little Girl When She Arrived vs. Her Now

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#18 Not Much Has Changed In 2 Years

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"It has been now scientifically proven that adopting a pet from a shelter makes people become more compassionate and responsible," Ivanka continued. "It has physical benefits as well like spending time with ones adopted animal normalizes blood pressure, reduces cortisol and help overcome mental disorders like depression. And last but not least, all of the above makes us better people."

#19 I Decided To Do The Same Picture A Few Years Later At The Exact Same Place. What A Transformation

Image credits: malcolm_the_akita

#20 How It Started vs. How It's Going

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#21 Dahlia Struggling In The First Photo At 2 Months And Now At 1 Year And 5 Months

Image credits: Adelarosa92

When it comes to what potential adopters should understand, Ivanka shared, "They should know that, before everything, the dog is a responsibility. An adopter should really think well if in their current lifestyle there is a room for a pet and if yes, what exactly having one will entail. And once again, patience. A lot of people think the dog will immediately love their new life, the moment it steps into their new home. That the dog will immediately trust their adopter and will bond and start playing form the get go. Would you immediately trust a stranger?"

#22 These Pictures Are Taken 10 Months Apart

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#23 He Watched Over Her The Whole Time

Image credits: ValicarHyne

#24 Little Dude Is Growing Up So Fast

Image credits: yourenotmyrealmomamy

"If you have decided to adopt a dog really think it through and chose the dog with temperament and character that will fit best your lifestyle in order to have a true best friend," Ivanka added. "Have realistic expectations from your adopted dog, be patient with it and show it it can trust you 100%. Then and only then you will really have a true, joyful, obedient and forever four-legged best friend. And trust me, every single effort is so worth it!"

#25 Flash Grew Up In A Flash. From 6 Weeks To 9 Weeks

Image credits: TeekaElSayed

#26 8 Weeks To 10 Years

Image credits: Cautious_Clock7774

#27 Handsome Boy Grew

Image credits: commonvanilla

Whether you have dog best friend or not, we hope you're loving these adorable photos, pandas! Keep upvoting the ones that you find particularly heartwarming, and if you are a dog parent, let us know in the comments how different your fur baby looks from when they were a puppy. Then, if you're interested in checking out another Bored Panda list featuring cute pics of pups, look no further than right here!

#28 Well, He Grew Up Fast. Photos Taken One Year Apart

Image credits: Armyboykee

#29 Still The Same Smile

Image credits: commonvanilla

#30 Bowie Big Ears. 6 Weeks Old To 1 Year

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#31 Small Boy vs. Big Boy

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#32 6 Years Between Photos. Happy 6th Birthday To These Two Fuzzballs

Image credits: HikingWiththeHuskies

#33 My Boy Became A Wolf

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#34 Evi Just Turned 1 Year Old, And She Is As Cute As Ever

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#35 He Got A Way To Go Till He Grows Into Those Paws

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#36 Tonbo At 8 Weeks vs. Tonbo Tonight, 3 Years Later

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#37 One Year Ago vs. Now

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#38 Almost Six Years Later, My Dog Still Sleeps With His Red Dog. He's Grown A Bit Since Then, Though

He loves the red dog so much that we have loads of them in the cupboard upstairs, so whenever one gets a bit ropey, we replace it with a new one. He never knows the difference.