25 of the Cutest Puppies We've Ever Seen

Lucy, the Golden Retriever

Golden retrievers are known for their super sweet and friendly personalities, but they love to have jobs, too. They were bred as working dogs, after all! Their gentle demeanors combined with their serious work ethics make golden retrievers the perfect pooches for hunting, rescue, and therapy jobs. That's why you'll often see Goldens at search and rescue sites, or visiting patients in hospitals.

Roswell, the Miniature Dapple Dachshund

What's a dapple dachshund, you say? A dapple dachshund has the same ancestry, personality, and overall appearance as a standard dachshund, but generally has a single-colored coat with spots. Even if the doggy only has one spot on her entire body, she's still considered a dapple dachshund.

Carlos, the Boxer

Boxers have some pretty interesting origins: It's believed that they're descendants from a now-extinct breed of dog called Bullenbeissers, which translates to "bull biters" in German. Sounds pretty tough, huh? Although their ancestors are dogs that were trained to hunt large game—think boar and bears—over time, Boxers were bred to be a smaller size, so they could be better utilized for cattle work.

Ava, the Chihuahua

From starring in commercials for our favorite fast food restaurant to hanging out in Paris Hilton's purses, Chihuahuas have had their fair share of fame. But these tiny doggies aren't just glitz and glam—they've got some serious brains, too. In fact, in terms of brain-to-body size ratio, Chihuahua's brains are bigger than any other dog's.

Taavi, the Australian Shepherd

There are a few basic physical features that make up a dog: Four paws, two ears, and one tail. But when it comes to some Australian Shepherds, you can take the tail off the list—many don't have a tail at all.

Back in the day, it was common for shepherds to dock their dogs' tails, so they wouldn't get in the way when they were herding. Over time, the tail was partially bred out of Australian Shepherds. Today, you'll find about one in five Aussies are born with a naturally docked tail.

Bebop, the Corgi

There's no doubt about it: Corgis are a seriously beloved dog. Just ask the Queen of England, countless celebrities (including Betty White), and the entirety of the internet how much they love these short-statured doggies.

It turns out, the elves and fairies of ancient Wales loved Corgis, too. According to Welsh legend, they were used to pull fairy coaches, herd fairy cattle, and even carry warriors into battle. Some say you can still see the marks from a "fairy saddle" in the colors of a Corgi's coat.

Lola, the Pekingese Beagle

Pekingese Beagles—also known as Peagles—are the adorable result of breeding a Beagle and a Pekingese. And there's a lot more to these dogs than just their cute looks: They're incredibly smart and easy to train, as long as the trainer is patient and consistent with the Peagle pup.

Rosie, the Pit Bull

Pit bulls are, perhaps, some of the most misunderstood doggies out there and the misconceptions begin with their "breed." Pit bull isn't a breed at all—rather, it's a synonym used to describe several breeds of dogs, including American pit bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, and other dogs with similar appearances.

Coalton, the Husky

Huskies are well-known for their ability to run for hours on end—they were originally bred to pull sleds across the frozen lands of Siberia, after all.

But here's something many people don't know—and scientists don't quite understand: Huskies can sprint for hours without food, and without tapping into their bodies' glycogen (carbohydrates) or fat stores. They accomplish this caloric miracle by regulating their metabolisms for performance. Pretty amazing, right?

Tarochan, the Australian Labradoodle

Back in the day, Labradoodles were simply a mix of Labrador Retrievers and Poodles. But in the 1980s, Tegan Park and Rutland Manor, the original breeders of today's Australian Labradoodles, started adding a few other breeds of dog into the mix—like the Irish Water Spaniel and American and English Cocker Spaniels. These days, many Australian Labradoodles can trace their ancestry to six different breeds.

Charlie, the French Bulldog

As their name implies, French Bulldogs are cousins to English Bulldogs—but did you know they were bred for a very specific reason?

Long before we had climate control, English artisans—particularly, English lacemakers—would use toy-sized Bulldogs as lap warmers while they worked in their shops. When the Industrial Revolution hit England, many of the country's artisans moved to France, where their skills were still in demand. It's likely that the toy-sized English Bulldogs bred with terriers in France, resulting in the Frenchies we know today.

Paddy, the Boston Terrier

Only 12 states boast an official dog, and Massachusetts' is none other than the Boston Terrier. These feisty doggies originated in the Bay State, so it only makes sense that they serve as its official canine mascot, right? They were named the official state dog in 1979 and still hold the honor today.

Vienna, the Dalmatian

Dalmatians are synonymous with firehouses, but do you know why?

Back in the day, when firetrucks (or, should we say, fire coaches) were pulled by horses, Dalmatians played an integral part in keeping the horses calm and composed and directing them to the fire they had to put out. What's more, Dalmatians make super friendly firehouse companions and are excellent ratters—so they can keep the house free of pests.

Luna, the Samoyed

Well-known for their sweet, "Sammy smiles," Samoyeds are one of the oldest dog breeds in the world. Originating in Asia, these fluffy dogs were bred by the Samoyede (located in Persia) to hunt, pull sleds, and herd animals. Many historians think that Samoyeds were beloved as furry family members, too.

Beans, the Maltese

It's believed that Maltese dogs are one of the oldest dogs in history, boasting an impressive 2,800 years, or so. And since then, they've acquired a long list of nicknames, like the comforter dog, Maltese lion dog, Maltese terrier, the Roman ladies' dog, and the Spaniel gentle.

George, the Miniature Dachshund

Originally bred in Germany to hunt badgers, Dachshunds are some tough little doggies. But their Germanic heritage brought Dachshunds a lot of strife—and a few name changes—during World War II. During those years, many people referred to Dachshunds as badger dogs or the highly patriotic "liberty pups."

Charlie, the Weimaraner

Their tall, lanky bodies and light-colored eyes make Weimaraners stand out among other dog breeds, but many Weimaraners' eyes change colors as they age. They're often a very light, bright blue during puppyhood and transition to amber or a grayish blue as they age. Regardless of their eye color, these pups are still pretty striking, right?

Gus, the Cocker Spaniel

If you love your boat shoes, be sure to thank a Cocker Spaniel for inspiring the original design.

When Paul Sperry watched his own Cocker Spaniel run across ice without slipping and sliding, he took a closer look at the dog's paws to understand how he had such good traction. The wave-shaped grooves in the dog's paws inspired Sperry's 1935 patent for shoe soles with the same pattern—that wouldn't scuff up a boat's deck, either.

Today, Sperry's shoes can be found across the globe and they have become synonymous with maritime lifestyles.

Kempton, the German Shepherd

German Shepherds are working dogs—they love to have a job!—so it's no surprise that they're often employed as search and rescue or service dogs.

The very first seeing eye dog was a German Shepherd named Buddy. After undergoing extensive training with American trainer Dorothy Harrison Eustis, Buddy became a service companion in 1928.

Jack, the Rottweiler

Rottweilers were bred to be extremely strong and robust, so they could easily herd large animals, pull carts, and serve as super-effective security dogs. And due to their history as powerful herders, today's Rottweilers have the charming habit of forcefully bumping into things—including other animals, people, and inanimate objects. Although proper training can reduce their bumping, Rottweilers generally aren't recommended for the elderly or families with tiny children.

Frankie, the Labradoodle

There's no such thing as a truly hypoallergenic dog, but Labradoodles—a cross-breed of  Poodles and Labrador Retrievers—come pretty darn close. Most Labradoodles have tight, curly, Poodle-like coats, so they shed less than most dogs. That's good news for your allergies and your black pants.

Maple, the Yorkshire Terrier

Although today's Yorkshire Terriers have a reputation as "lap dogs," they were originally bred in Scotland to keep the workspaces for miners, weavers, and other businesses pest-free. Their small size allowed them to squeeze into tight spaces and their Napoleonic personalities made them fearless when it came to catching prey!

Clifford, the Chocolate Labrador Retriever

From their sweet personalities to their big puppy eyes, there's a lot to love about Labrador Retrievers—and their ranking as the number one dog in America proves it. According to the American Kennel Club, the Labrador Retriever has been the top dog in the United States for a whopping 24 years—a reign longer than any other dog on the AKC's list.

Bernie, the Border Collie

It's thought that many of today's Border Collies can trace their ancestry back to a single dog named Old Hemp, who was born in 1893. His herding technique was extremely effective, and impressed cattle workers and dog breeders, alike. In an attempt to propagate Old Hemp's style, he became a stud dog—and fathered an estimated 200 puppies!

Mayo, the Pomeranian

Believe it or not, Pomeranians were originally used to herd animals and pull sleds across snowy landscapes! In the past, Pomeranians weighed around 30 pounds—a stark contrast to today's Poms, which weigh between four and seven pounds, on average. Sometime during the 19th century, Pomeranians were bred to a smaller size, so they could be kept as companion dogs.