50 Dogs With Their Cute Mini-Mes

The desire to have a family is hard-wired in most of us, and animals are no exception. A mother dog bonds with her pups through her sense of smell, which is why it can be a bad idea to separate the pups from their mother; depending on the olfactory (smell) system of the breed, some mothers might not recognize her tykes.

According to one study, it's the maternal instinct which also makes female dogs more sociable than males. Dogs were presented with three, treat-filled boxes, only two of which could be opened on their own. The female dogs were far more likely to “ask” a researcher for help than males.

This list of dogs with their puppies is our tribute to these loyal canines. Do you have any photos of pooches with their pups? Post your own, or vote on your favorite below!