Ever wonder why, exactly, we find dogs cute? Deborah Wells with the School of Psychology at Queen’s University Belfast writes in The Conversation that dogs just look cute to us due to their large, round heads, big eyes, soft, floppy ears, and clumsy movements.
She says a lot of these characteristics (with some exceptions) are very similar to those of a baby—another thing that makes us feel mushy. In fact, some studies have shown that looking at a picture of a baby and a picture of a puppy makes our brain respond in the same way—the brain floods the body with feel-good chemicals. Those chemicals, in turn, help put us in a good mood.
Also, if we find something cute we are much more likely to take care of it—that’s why we likely find puppies so attractive. And if you think your pet dog is the cutest—it definitely is, but only to you, as you’ve bonded with your pet.
