Last Friday, my boyfriend and I rescued a precious puppy from the Atlanta Humane Society. Our 10-pound little bundle of joy, Maki, was full of character the moment we saw him. Upon bringing him home, we realized that Maki's mannerisms were unmistakably similar to those of some little people I grew up around. There is no denying the fact that puppies are uncannily similar to toddlers, so here are some of the reasons why.

1. The world is their playground.

Maki has plenty of toys of all shapes and sizes, yet every time I turn around, he has some obscure object in his mouth. Whether it be the cap to my shaving gel or a favorite throw pillow, it's almost never a designated toy. Both toddlers and puppies seem to get into everything.

2. They are your shadow.

They will follow you to the ends of the earth, often right under your feet. The amount of times I've tripped over our little pup is ridiculous. I could be brushing my teeth or doing homework and my puppy will be right underneath me. He is just like my little sister when she was five: a constant companion .

3. They're hyper when you're tired.

All I want to do is lie down on the couch after a long day and all of a sudden Maki comes barreling towards me. He attempts to propel himself onto the couch, but he's too little. Instead, he settles on licking my face and bringing me all of his toys, just like a toddler who wants to play when mom is asleep.

4. They're tired when you're hyper.

You've had a great day and all you want to do is play with your baby, or in my case, fur baby. Your top priority is to get some Vitamin D and exercise with your love. Maybe you just want to show off how cute your baby is. Sadly, he or she just will not get out of bed. Some days, the baby just isn't in the mood. Maybe tomorrow?

5. Potty Training

Two dreaded words that speak for themselves. Such words should not be named or else the unspeakable may happen. Side affects may include paranoia, nightmares and stress. It's something everyone goes through, but that doesn't make it enjoyable. It's the paranoia of too much sniffing or a smell that seems a bit too suspicious.

6. Unconditional Love

Let's face it. Puppies and toddlers are adorable and full of unconditional love. Puppies are there at our worst and best moments. Puppies never fail to show their love and support. When in doubt, puppy out.