Spiritual Forum

• Polish photographer Agnieszka Gulczyńska, 34, wanted to document bond between her son and his canine friends
• The mother snaps her two-year-old son, Igor, spending time with adopted dogs, Vega, Pikey and Canon
• Based in countryside village in Poland Igor is seen sleeping, kissing and walking with his beloved dogs

The bond between a person and their dog is often very special.

And no one knows this better than Polish photographer Agnieszka Gulczyńska, who was touched by the tender relationship between her two-year-old toddler, Igor, and their three dogs.

34-year-old Gulczyńska, based in Kampinos, Poland, has captured the special bond between Igor and family dogs, Vega, Pikey and Canon, in a set of heart-warming images.

The beautiful photographs, many of which Gulczyńska has posted on her Facebook, see Igor as the main subject pictured interacting with the three family animals.

Walking, sitting or sleeping, the one thing in common in all these shots, is that Igor is inseparable from his canine companions.

In a few of the pictures, the young boy is sat in front of a windowsill, his legs splayed comfortably in front of him, embracing one of his furry friends.

In other snaps, he slumbers peacefully in front of a log-burning fire, with multiple dogs comfortably clasped under his arms.

Other images see the young boy with his arms wrapped around the obliging canines, and some of the heartwarming pics just see the boy enjoying the company of his best friends, as they play or sit together.

Three years ago, Igor's mother Gulczyńska took up photography as a way to photograph the movement of horses.

After Igor was born, they moved from the bustling city of Warsaw to countryside village, Kampinos, where the two-year-old boy became the ultimate subject of her photography.

Alongside the adorable photos posted on Facebook the mother adds captions, with one reading: 'He is Your Friend, Your partner, Your defender, Your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be Yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.'

Another image, where Igor and one of the dogs are sat on a dock with their backs to the camera, is posted with the caption: 'True friendship is sitting together in silence and feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had...'

When speaking about the bond between Igor and his dogs, Gulczyńska admitted: 'Igor and our dogs give each other a sense of emotional safety and an ocean of unconditional love. Looking at the relationship between my son and his dogs, I realise that no interactive toy would ever replace the touch of dog’s wet nose.'

She added: 'Every day I can see my child learning empathy, while taking care of his dogs. I love it when he shows affection towards them without being asked. He hugs them, delicately pets them and brings them treats, not because I ask him to, but because he feels an inner need to do it.'

The mother and photographer also believes that not only is the relationship between her son and his dogs heartwarming, but also essential.

Gulczyńska explains: 'I believe that contact with dogs is invaluable for child’s development. Dogs teach responsibility, empathy, compassion and trust. Nevertheless, we should always remember that dogs and children must be supervised, the dog should be well-known and well-mannered. I never leave Igor alone with my dogs, even though I know them very well.'