10 Wiggly Golden Retriever Puppies Shower A Baby With Kisses

Who doesn't love a pile of puppies? In an Instagram video posted in May 2026, a rowdy mob of 10 unleashed golden retriever puppies surrounded a baby girl named Kennedy and bombarded her with snuggles and kisses. Two even made a beeline for her head, licking her ears and leaving traces of puppy breath behind. 

This isn't the first time Kennedy has helped to socialize puppies. The caption says, "Ms. Kennedy is back at it again, she is socializing pups and also getting plenty of puppy love!!!" and the internet is here for it! The adorable video received more than 2 million likes and inspired thousands of comments, including "This is why I pay my internet bill," "Problems I want in my life," and "Cuteness overload!"

Little Miss Kennedy is doing important work! It's recommended to introduce puppies to different people during their first three months of life, which the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (pdf) calls "the most important socialization period" for a puppy. 

Socializing one puppy correctly is just as important as socializing 10. Enrolling a puppy in classes as early as seven or eight weeks of age is great, but socialization can start much earlier. Gentle handling should begin during those first few days after birth, and puppies should be exposed to people, animals, and various situations while they are still very young. One owner even introduced their nine Labrador puppies to a brood of ducklings for some socialization! 

While socialization is a must, it's also important to teach puppies to play independently to help them get used to spending time on their own. Setting aside time for solo play can help reduce the chances of separation issues down the road. Adorably, sometimes it's the kids that become attached to their pets, like this toddler who won't take a nap without her cat sister. 

It's not always possible to ensure a puppy is properly socialized, such as when you adopt an older dog — but hope is not lost! In many cases, dogs and humans form beautiful bonds even when the dog's early years are a mystery, much like this shelter dog who became a great brother to his new family's little girl. Getting an early start is ideal, but, happily, a dog's capacity to love their humans usually doesn't come with an age limit.