A mom was curious what her dogs looked like when she gave them hugs, so she recorded herself hugging them. And what came out was incredibly sweet. Chili and Stevie, two Golden Retrievers, answered to the hugs in the most heartwarming way.
Their mom, behind the Instagram account @goldenchilidog, hit record and revealed that while the first dog “melts” into the hug, the other one rests her head on her mom’s shoulder as if she knows she belongs there. And it might just be the most adorable thing you will see today.
Dogs’ reaction when mom hugs them is one for the books
In the video, both dogs react to their mom’s hugs more or less the same way. For one, Chili dissolves into it, while the on-screen text notes he is “melting into it,” and it is the perfect description as his eyes are half-closed in a dreamy way. A moment later, he lifts his paws and rests them on his mom’s arm. As another on-screen text says, Chili “had to give me a hug back,” while he soaks up some scratches and then returns the hug all over again.
Then there’s Stevie, the smaller Golden, who nestles her head right onto her mom’s shoulder, closing her eyes in bliss. The text on the video reads, “her head on my shoulder,” followed by “she loves kisses” as her mom kisses her on her face, all while Stevie’s posture radiates trust and love.
Some dogs react this way because, when a hug comes from someone they trust deeply, their brains release oxytocin. It is the same bonding hormone that floods human systems during warm embraces. Hence, that soft-eyed gaze and hugging back are signs of a bond that screams safety and affection.
The video’s caption calls them “my cuddle bugs ?,” and after watching dogs turn into little puddles of love when their mom hugs them, it is easy to see why.
