Miniature Australian Shepherd Can't Contain Excitement As Mom Returns After 6 Weeks Away

Two of the things I love most in the world are travel and my pets, and unfortunately, for our family, the two don't mix. There are plenty of people who are able to travel with their furry friends with ease, but that's not how things happen for us — my dog has never been a big fan of traveling, and she prefers to stay put at home, which means anytime I go somewhere, I'm going without her. And no matter how much fun I have while I'm gone, I'm always missing her and wondering what she's doing!

There is a positive to traveling without her, though: The reunion we get to have when all the humans return home is always so sweet, and she's always so excited to see us again. You just can't get that kind of welcome from another person, no matter how long you've been gone, and this video below proves it.

Recently, @mountainmarshall on Instagram shared the sweetest reunion between a mom and her dog, a mini Australian Shepherd, after six weeks apart. She was worried that her dog wouldn't recognize her now that she's home, but as it turns out, that couldn't be further from the truth!

When her dog first saw her, though, Marshall was a little hesitant — maybe even in disbelief that it was really his mom — so I totally understand why he was a little hesitant. But it was only a matter of seconds later before he was excited to the absolute fullest.

There was full body wagging, there was excitement, and there were, of course, zoomies. This is one happy pup!

"I read somewhere that when a dog sees a loved person leave, they assume that they are out getting food," one commenter wrote. "I don't know how true this is, but when I see an amazing reaction like this, I think it's possible."

How Long Will a Dog Remember You?

While I never spend more than a couple of weeks away from home, there are plenty of people who will be out of their dogs' lives for much longer — like months or even years. But don't worry: the chances that your dog will forget you when you are finally reunited are slim to none.

According to Whole Dog Journal, experts have concluded that dogs have excellent long term memories when it comes to people, especially those they love and associate with positive feelings.

It's reasonable to conclude that a dog will remember you — your face, your voice, and how you smell — for their entire lives, so even if you have to be separated for an extended period of time, rest assured that they will know exactly who you are when you return.

We really don't deserve dogs, do we? They're the best.