After a tough day, you might head to YouTube. The reason being, the site is filled with adorable dog videos — and there's no better way to dissolve stress or frustration. Dogs have a wonderful ability to cheer us up.
It's actually psychological. Psychology Today reports that dogs help people have an optimistic view on life. "The human-animal bond bypasses the intellect and goes straight to the heart and emotions and nurtures us in ways that nothing else can," animal expert Karen Winegar told the publication. Dogs can also lower your stress, and they're the perfect ice breaker when it comes to being social. If there's a dog in the room, people automatically have something to talk about together.
Watching dog videos is a great reminder that tomorrow is another day — and that life can't be too terrible if dogs are still out there pulling off funny stunts. If you own a dog, you're also more inspired to get out of the house and get some fresh air. It's incredible what a walk around the block with your furry buddy can do to your mental state.
Even if you don't own a dog, adorable dog videos are a great way to get some of the benefits that canines bring. But there are so many videos out there. It can be overwhelming to wade through the videos that just don't cut it.
More from LittleThings: 6 Doggy Sleeping Positions That Tell Us A Lot About Our Beloved Pup
That said, here are 15 of the most adorable dog videos of 2020 — at least, so far.
"Dog Goes Sledding"
After watching this video, you may hope for even more snow. When you watch cute dogs outside enjoying the weather, you're more likely to forget about the hazards and traffic that cold weather can often bring. This athletic dog does sledding right. He's able to keep going down the hill all by himself, and he's been trained to carry his sled back up the top of the hill.
Police Dog Reunion
OK, so this one technically came out near the end of 2019, but it's just getting traction now. Police dogs are incredibly trained and a huge help to the community. That said, there's no bond like the one between police dogs and their handlers. This pup can't handle his excitement after seeing his partner for the first time in weeks. The emotional bond that forms is like no other. If you own a dog, just remember — the moment you come home to them is the highlight of their day.
Stray Dog Orders Food
This stray dog from northeastern Thailand is just trying to order some food the right way. "The dog has been taken well care [of] by food sellers on campus," the student who took the video reportedly said. "Everyone loves him and feeds him every time he orders food." It's hard to resist a face like that.
Chico the Police Dog
Meet Chico. He once escaped his home and went to the nearby police station. With a smile on his face, he became quite the sensation. According to Chico's human, Edward Alvarado, Chico had never been there before. But he was probably the friendliest individual that the staff ran into during their night shift.
Dog Can't Fit Stick Through Small Gap
For a dog, finding a giant stick is a huge accomplishment. Think of the possibilities! Unfortunately, sometimes it's hard to maneuver such wonderful finds. This dog runs into some issues after taking on more than he could carry. (But at least his humans seem to be supportive.)
Dog Missing Nearly 14 Years Shows Up in Fort Worth
When you lose a dog, your heart breaks. If the dog was a puppy, it's even more of a sad situation. Smaller dogs might not be able to defend themselves in the wild as well as dogs who are bigger. This family reunited with their once-lost puppy after 14 years of being apart. The video will remind you that miracles do happen.
Too Many Puppies
Any mom will be able to relate to this adorable puppy video. In it, a good boy named Winston is trying his best to just get a moment alone. But his litter of puppies is making it impossible. He tries everything he can, but the puppies are attracted to him like a magnet.
Lullaby Dog
Dogs can also be comforted by the sound of their human's voice. This pup was sung a Korean lullaby, and it obviously had some effect. Warning: This video will make you want to cuddle your pup and go to sleep. That's not necessarily a bad thing, unless you happen to be reading this in the middle of a workday.
Dog and Pigeon Become BFFs
Friendships can be formed anywhere — just look at this disabled puppy and bird. The two met while undergoing rehabilitation at an animal nonprofit called The Mia Foundation. The dog's name is Lundy, and due to a condition called swimmers syndrome, he's unable to walk on his own. Regardless, these two have proven that they're still able to love.
Dog Gets Head Stuck in Basket
One of the best things about dogs is that they all have their own personalities. And many of them are total goofballs. This dog named Berkeley happened to get into quite the adventure when he knocked down a potted plant and ended up getting his head caught in a basket. Luckily, his owner has an incredible sense of humor.
Dog Duets
Musical pups are always fun to have in the family. They can also make road trips a lot less dull. This dog, named Honey, seems to be especially fond of the Michael Jackson song "Will You Be There" from the movie Free Willy. It's unclear if Honey's ever seen the film before, but it's definitely a classic.
Ain't Nothing But a Hound Dog
On the topic of singing dogs, here's one who can't help but join in on a duet with a 94-year-old World War II veteran. Everything about this video is sweet. The stuffed bear, the hat, the song, and especially the friendship between man and dog.
Dog Plays Piano
Liam Thompson has over 400,000 subscribers for a reason — he's very funny. He also has some pretty good ideas for videos, including this one. He teaches his dog, Max, to play the piano. Sure, some modification is necessary. But Max ends up learning a few notes a lot quicker than you may think.
Dog Plays Connect 4
Not to be outdone, this cocker spaniel and poodle mix from Canada has mastered the game of Connect 4. Your dog might also learn how to play if she can resist swallowing the game pieces. Not only does this dog know how to maneuver the pieces, but he happens to be very, very good.
Malamute Bath Time
This pup named Phil seems ashamed after rolling in something a little stinky. Unfortunately, Phil's professional grooming appointment is four weeks away, so his owner has to take action now. While he obviously hates it, it's very cute watch — especially when he tries to hide behind a newborn. Maybe he'll learn his lesson next time.
A teeny tiny Chihuahua named Lundy meets his match when he comes into contact with a cute and sociable pigeon named Herman. The unlikely pair become fast friends and this video shows them playing and showing some sweet affection. They also have some surprising things in common that make it easier for them to spend time together.
Watch the video to see the cute pair doing some adorbs bonding!