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We know the scenario all too well—your parents are against getting a pet, but when you do, they're the ones who spoil the little furry friends rotten. Someone online has even coined a term for "grandparents" of pets—"grandpawrents." Soon enough, the term went viral online, thus prompting a so-called "grandpawrents challenge." To participate, people are tagging adorable pictures of their parents or grandparents with their pets with the hashtag #grandpawrentschallenge, usually accompanied by a heartwarming story of their friendship.

Scroll down below to see the adorable photos and read the heartfelt stories (we can't promise your eyes won't get watery). As always, vote for the entries you liked the most and share a story of your "grandpawrents" in the comment section!

#1

Adorable-Grandpawrents-Challenge

This is my Dad and his Grandpugs, Harvey & Layla. This is one of my favorite pictures in the world. Quick story behind the photo, it was midnight on St Patrick’s Day a few years ago and had just moved back in with my parents due to a failed relationship. My dad comes into my room after getting home from work late and asks if I am awake because he has something “really important” for the dogs. And then he pulls out these little St Patrick’s Day hats for them, picks them up and asks that I take a photo with him and the pugs as if they are partying together. This picture will forever bring a smile to my face. My dad loves his Grandpugs.

Krystie Pironti Report

#2

Adorable-Grandpawrents-Challenge

This is my grandpa and my brother’s dog, Ace. Both my grandpa and Ace have passed since (both of old age), but I still remember this day like it was yesterday.
I was home from college for Thanksgiving and was meeting my brother’s new puppy for the first time. My grandpa was also over for Thanksgiving dinner. We are sitting in the backyard and my grandpa insists that the puppy is cold and must be tucked into his jacket. (Mind you, this was Texas, and it wasn’t cold that day, lol). It was so sweet though seeing how caring and gentle he was with the puppy.

Chelsea Parten Report

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Bridget Price
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

very sorry for you loss :( I can tell they both had kind hearts.

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#3

Adorable-Grandpawrents-Challenge

from the grumpy man that didn't want me to get a puppy AT ALL .... to the pawpaw that calls us when we're out saying, "where did you take my baby 😠" oh how the tables have turned !!!

Beck Riley Report

#4

Adorable-Grandpawrents-Challenge

My mom died 5 years ago after a battle with melanoma. She thought I was crazy for wanting a big, hairy dog, but she loved my Daisy. ❤️ She would take her for afternoons while I worked, and she would send me videos of all the shenanigans they’d get into together. From dropping a cheeseburger on the ground and Daisy getting it, to her taking the whip cream can and spraying it straight into Daisy’s mouth... they were always doing something to piss me off together 😂❤️ Oh what I would give to take more pictures of my mom with my first born, Daisy.

Lauren Woods Report

#5

Adorable-Grandpawrents-Challenge

We have 5 dogs. And I can promise you that majority were his idea. Especially this girl. We were two hours away from home for my cousins wedding and we had to stop at Walmart for a card. While we were in the store he texts a picture of this white tiny puppy with pretty blue eyes. And asked if we could have her (she was free lol). My mom said NO. But we went over there to find tons of different breeds of dogs. My dad tried to leave with two and my mom said NO but did let him take the white one. He stayed outside the whole wedding holding her. Her name, Elsa, her age now, 7. Who gave her life? My dad apparently 🙄😂

Makenzie Weaver Report

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#6

Adorable-Grandpawrents-Challenge

The three best friends that anyone could have.

Krstn Deely Report

#7

Adorable-Grandpawrents-Challenge

My mom would kill me if she knew I was posting these but I couldn’t let the woman who taught me how to love dogs

Christy Kirkland Report

#8

Adorable-Grandpawrents-Challenge

Flynn loves his Grandma!

Jennifer Los Report

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#9

Adorable-Grandpawrents-Challenge

My dad just had a major abdominal surgery, but as long as 110lb Fred is gentle he’s welcome in Grandpa’s lap 🥰

Jennifer Wilson Report

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L.j. Bus
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Aww, so sweet that they found the spot to both be comfortable and still as near as possible 🥰

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#10

Adorable-Grandpawrents-Challenge

As soon as my dad met Edgar, they became best friends. He always said that if he had a pet bulldog, he’d have named him “Spike,” but I suppose a grandbulldog named Edgar (with a human neighbor named Spike) would have to do.
My dad would drive up to my house once a week, pickup Edgar for a “road trip,” and then drive him back to his house to hang out for the day while I was at work. I’d pick Edgar up on my way home, like I was picking a child up from the sitter’s.
Dad would feed Edgar string cheese, peeling the mozzarella and asking for a handshake or a high five for each strip. He’d sneak corned beef hash under the table for him at brunch because he was being “a good boy.” He’d always top off Edgar’s water bowl with extra ice cubes.
My dad found our second bulldog, Alice, annoying, because she wanted his attention so badly, but he would still give in to her googly puppy eyes. (In fact, when I told him my husband and I were getting another dog, his immediate response was, “I feel bad for Edgar.”) When my dad got sick, he couldn’t see them as much because the chemo made his immune system weaker and his skin thinner. When he did visit, he wore long sleeves and washed his hands vigorously after each pet. The picture with Edgar and Alice is probably the last time he saw the pups.
He was the best grandpawrent. I know Edgar must miss him tons.

Jordan Gilletti Report

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#11

Adorable-Grandpawrents-Challenge

a proud grandpaw 😍😍😍

Tabitha Francis Report

#12

Adorable-Grandpawrents-Challenge

This photo was taken shortly after my Mom was diagnosed with heart failure and dementia. As she kissed our Basset, Bane, she said, “This is so I’ll always remember you.”
She didn’t always remember his name but right up until the last time I saw her before heart failure took her she would ask, “How are the boys?”

Laura Muench-Thomsen Report

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L.j. Bus
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’m crying my eyes out now but good of you to post this. Such sweet and heartbreaking stories are worth far more than sensational movies or something like that. My condolences btw, however long it has been

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#13

Adorable-Grandpawrents-Challenge

As you can see my mom is smaller than my dog. He outweighs her by a good 30lbs. She loves him. She will get on the floor to play with his so he doesn’t knock her over.

Herbie Broden Report

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L.j. Bus
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Aww so sweet 🥰 it seems the bigger the dog the kinder the dog but that’s an insult to some small dogs. But those big ones often know just how gentle they’d best be 💖

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#14

Adorable-Grandpawrents-Challenge

So I begged my parents when I was like 13 to let me get a husky because I've always wanted one and my dad was like "no we dont need a dog" but my mom was all for it so of course happy wife happy life. I saved up some money and got my boy Blizzard. Well now I'm 21 and I cant even have my dog with me at my house because my dad says that Blizzard is his little buddy and that he isn't going anywhere lol. Blizzard always lays under my dads feet when he's home and they definitely bonded more. Even though I'm salty my dad has my boy, they love each other too much lol.
P.S. He can never know I did this, he hates his picture taken 😂😂

Brooke A Shelton Report

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#15

Adorable-Grandpawrents-Challenge

My dad when I said I was adopting Nola (then my 3rd dog): No.
My dad now: I'm making her a rack for all her medals. 🤣❤🤣❤🤣❤

Kristin Kay Report

#16

Adorable-Grandpawrents-Challenge

This is Luna and my Gpa only a few weeks after I got her. Luna is a rescue and has already had 5 owners in her short 3 years of life. She was abused badly and terrified of men when I first got her. Wouldn’t come close to any males and definitely wouldn’t let them touch her. This was the first time I brought her over and I turned around to talk to my Gma and next thing I know... Luna jumps up on his lap happy as can be. I cried and every time we talk on the phone he always asks how his grand puppy is doing and when we’re coming over next. Him and Luna are now best friends and pretty inseparable when they are together 🥰

Brittanie Chambers Report

#17

Adorable-Grandpawrents-Challenge

My mom takes a family photo for her Christmas cards every year. This year, my dad asked for a picture with his "granddog".

We never had pets when I was growing up. When I got Stevie, my parents thought I was crazy. My dad said he "didn't get why people are so weird about dogs". Cut to now, they spoil her rotten, buying her treats and toys - I think they get more excited to see her than me! 😊

Courtney Agnew Report

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#18

Adorable-Grandpawrents-Challenge

My dad in August: “ YoU gOt A pItBuLl?!”
My dad now: “Jenny, she looks cold”

Jenny Sanford Report

#19

Adorable-Grandpawrents-Challenge

A little back story, my wonderful parents (who split a long time ago but remain great friends and still married!) were not ready for their 20 old year old nomadic child to make them grandpawrents. And they were not going to like that dog (shepherd puppy I found while backpacking in mex). Nor were they five years later ready to again become grandpawrents and they DEFINITELY were not going to accept this dog (this time because how could he in anyway be as amazing as his sister & coming from generation they did they were not going to trust a bully breed ((bubs is great dane×mastiff but basically looks like a 175 lb pitty)).
A little side note, we've never lived together with them, this is just the kind of treatment they get anytime we visit ❤

Katelyn Nicholson Report

#20

Adorable-Grandpawrents-Challenge

My mom came to visit and Willow was obsessed

Tonya Tanney Report

#21

Adorable-Grandpawrents-Challenge

This is my dad, Jed. He is a formidable man of 6 feet 6 inches tall. He's the son of stern and strict Dutch immigrants. He was strict growing up and continues to be aloof to this day...until he met Lulu! ❤️

Brie Blaauw Molaison Report

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Botox
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh, my husband is Dutch. He is real dog person, no cats, no! But then street cat brought kittens and he rescued the smallest one, and his sister to not let first one be too scared. He had sleepless nights with potty training for little creatures "don't run away, pee first, don't, don't run, oh, where are you now". He is feeding them, grooming, teaching to sit, to give a paw. He even sings lullabies to cats. Yes, words are like "I'm not fond of cats, or no", but!... ))

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#22

Adorable-Grandpawrents-Challenge

My Amstaff cross Brutus (big grey), English staffie cross Tilly (red) and their cousin Max (lilac Frenchie) getting spoiled by their grandpa who also carries dog biscuits in his truck so he’ll always be prepared with snackos.

Georgie Robyn Report

#23

Adorable-Grandpawrents-Challenge

I seen the dont tell my mom I posted these threads and I HAD to share my absolute favorite pic ever of my momma and her guardian angels. She hates pics and claims she hates HER animals..but clearly, the lie detector test determined that is a lie!🤣
She has a tough exterior but is the biggest softie I know!💓
Luna, my old gal in the front and Larry on her side. Not pictured are Naughty and Joseph, Sir Chonk, the void and her 3 human children.

Emily Louise Svien Report

#24

Adorable-Grandpawrents-Challenge

this is my Papa and my old girl, Nibby!
They have been inseparable best friends since he reluctantly took me to the shelter on my 12th birthday to get her 😅🥰

Ally Jessika Report

#27

Adorable-Grandpawrents-Challenge

My dad 7 years ago: No you are not getting another animal. No.
My dad now....

Emily Mahaffey Report

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#28

Adorable-Grandpawrents-Challenge

This is my Dad with my baby girl Liesl. I adopted Leez five years ago, she's the love of my life (as is her naughty sister! Pic of that little diva in the comments 😂). When my Dad first came over to meet her, Liesl growled, cried, and hid behind me - but only for a second. I told her it was okay and to go and say hi, and instantly she adored her granddad! She throws herself at him whenever he visits now. She has some kind of trauma from her previous life, but nothing stops this sweet girl from snuggling up with those she loves!

Haley Byrne Report

#29

Adorable-Grandpawrents-Challenge

Here is Dolly with her best friend Michael, aka my dad. She has only ever howled for him.

Claire Eh Report

#30

Adorable-Grandpawrents-Challenge

We never had dogs growing up, I had no idea how my mom would be around my daughter when I got her (pictured here as a 4 month old puppy) but my mother could not love her more. She's always vying for granddoggy time and recently told me with intense severity that she's very attached. 😂 The feeling is mutual, Maude lights up when she sees her Momo and always comes back from their outings in the best mood ever. 💓

Jenny Ramsey-Rowe Report

#31

Adorable-Grandpawrents-Challenge

In March: “You got a puppy? Well, you need to make sure that dog is trained before he comes to our house.”

Meanwhile, at a sleepover at Oma and Opa’s house recently: While totally letting Bert jump up on them all the time, lick all the dishes clean, and chew sticks inside, “Aw, look how much they love each other!”

Becky Hartle Report

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#32

Adorable-Grandpawrents-Challenge

Freddie adores his Grandad ❤️

Amanda Rogers Report

#33

Adorable-Grandpawrents-Challenge

Old, but gold. ❤️

DON’T TELL MY MOM I POSTED THIS or she’ll kill me. 😂🤣 Anyways... This is my mother who allowed family pets throughout our childhood, but wasn’t near as obsessed with the dogs as my sisters and I. Didn’t really want them sitting with her or on the furniture. Preferred that they were outside, etc etc and you get the gist. This is her around this time a couple years ago with 1/3 of my babes. She fell in love with our dogs. And I guess decided she needed one too.. because she now has a dog of her own who she spoils more than she did us kids. Every store she goes to 99% of the time she buys something for her dog and not even herself. 🤦🏼‍♀️🤣

Kendahl Savannah Report

#34

Adorable-Grandpawrents-Challenge

This is my girl Lenore and my dad. Since my dad has had 4 strokes, has brain damage, showing early signs of dementia, and other complications due to strokes, she has been amazing therapy for him. She loves my mom and dad and because I have 2 boys she knows them as grandma and grandpa. All I have to do is say " is grandma here" when they pull up in front of my house. She will instantly get up grab her toy and go to the window with her tail wagging and her butt shaking. She is just a spoiled by my mom and dad as my kids are.

Stephanie Beth Heminger Report

#35

Adorable-Grandpawrents-Challenge

Angela Rinsem Report

Note: this post originally had 50 images. It’s been shortened to the top 35 images based on user votes.