The Reason We Find Dogs So Cute | The Science of Cute

Delve into the enchanting world of canine cuteness where we unravel the evolutionary journey of dogs' adorable features from their wolf ancestors. Explore the hypothesis that certain traits in dogs, like big eyes and floppy ears, may have been borrowed from baby features, enhancing their appeal to humans.
Watch the full documentary: curiositystream.com/video/3195
Bright Now: The Science of Cute
Domestication shaped wolves into dogs and transformed both their behavior and their anatomy. New discoveries show how dogs produce a very specific eyebrow movement more often than wolves do. But how and why did “puppy dog eyes” develop in domesticated dogs?
#CuriosityStream #Puppies #Dogs #Wolves

[@MissBlueEyeliner]

Huskies never needed to use puppy eyes to communicate with humans because they always had gigantic lungs to help them scream.

[@Britta_no_filter]

😂

[@nettewilson5926]

😂

[@cesarvidelac]

Yes, they are convinced they can speak 😂

[@MissBlueEyeliner]

@@cesarvidelac correction; they _can_ speak… we’re just too dumb to know what insults they’re hurling at us.

[@kirstenmarkham2746]

Yesssss!!! As a husky owner, this comment is 100000% true

[@Dwilso621]

Lol huskies don’t waste their energy moving their eyebrow muscles. They sing the songs of their ancestors any time they are less than thrilled with a given situation.

[@YourMajesty733]

If all dogs go to heaven, huskies go to Valhalla

[@MrLittletube]

😂😂

[@AA-wc3tw]

I'm a dog person but I don't find ALL dogs cute. Some are ugly af (which obviously has nothing to do with their deserving of love, happiness, and a good home.) Adopt, don't shop!

[@kevinbunn7915]

I agree totally. I don't find flat faced dogs appealing. Also don't like how people have bred them despite having breathing problems.

[@Fomites]

​@@kevinbunn7915Same here.

[@jessicakoch2331]

i have a husky and foster huskies and they lose their minds if they are alone…my husky would attach himself to me if he could…if he can’t see me at the dog park, he starts frantically looking everywhere and then if i call him he immediately bolts to me. They have all been super pack oriented, I know dogs are individuals but having had tons of huskies in my house, ALL of them have wanted to be together…they don’t demand constant pets like a golden retriever might, but they want to be with you all the time.

[@tildeboo1448]

But I don’t find human babies cute at all? But I LOVE puppies

[@thecontentcreator2513]

Same

[@NIKEISNICKY12345]

Babies used to be furry and cute until humans lost hair

[@cmo5807]

Same..

[@johnmortison5763]

Another unique musculature some dogs have (pittie type dogs particularly) is the ability to pull the corners of their mouths back into a smile. Many find this endearing like the raised eyebrows.

[@FukaiKokoro]

My cattle dog smiles. It's a goofy half smile. She's done it since she was a like a couple weeks old.

[@leongliyang6946]

After been 7 years had cat , and done my responsibility. Now I can't wait to adopt dog in the future soon. Adopt save life.

[@elisemiller13]

I would have to agree with that last statement..."maybe dogs and humans domesticated each other" ~~~ I'd say the humans need a Whole lot more work at it. As says Cesar Milan, the Dog Whisperer : " I train Humans..." Whatever craziness the humans are doing, PLEASE spay and neuter your dogs & cats. A world without kill shelters, just imagine! If you have a dog be responsible and do your part.

[@brynnmorriganpollard8757]

Babies are okay... as long as you can give 'em back after you're done!

[@carnivalcharm7148]

“We love babies. Can’t help ourselves.” Speak for yourself, lady. Kitten and puppies on the other hand…

[@vampirecat4250]

It’s definitely the same with cats and kittens too you look into those big eyes of theirs and your heart melts

[@evan7743]

Someone who finds all babies cute is more the exception than the norm. This makes evolutionary sense in the harsh, resource-limited world of our caveman ancestors, where finding others babies ‘cute’ risks compromising the ability of a parent to care for the survival of their own babies, if they also feel the pull of caring for the cute babies of others. Finding all dogs cute is easier, as they can more quickly contribute to the survival of the human and require less human care in order to survive. The evolution of the strictly companion lap dog of today is a function of the evolution of our modern society, where the living is easier, with more abundant resources to share with them.

[@SeidenKaczka]

If someone doesn't find babies cute at all or is even repulsed by them, might it be because their brain doesn't produce oxytocin ?

[@kiaras.6493]

Not entirely impossible but rather unlikely. Oxytocin is more important than it might sound on the surface. Your hypothalamus produces Oxytocin when you exchange love, warmth and cuddles with someone you like. It makes you feel happy, comforted and warm inside. If you are freshly in love it also makes you have this tingly feeling. Oxytocin will also be produced when you take care of babies, children or pets that have baby-like features in one way or another. It's important for any mammal to have this happen so they won't abandon the baby and take care of it. Now we know that everyone, except some really rare exceptions produce Oxytocin and we also know that it's super important for reproduction and childcare. So why is it that some people can't stand babies, children or adorable animals anyway ? Chances are high that it has something to do with our Dopamin production. Dopamin is also a hormon that makes you feel happy but this time more on a side ofnbeing rewarded to something. It makes you strife or grave for different things and actions. If you take care of a baby your brain normaly produces Oxytocin as well as Dopamin as in making you feel happy and attached to the baby and in making you feel rewarded because taking care of the baby makes you feel happy. However there are people that do produce the Oxytocin but lack the Dopamin and there are different reasons for that to happen. Of course, there are illnesses that reduce the Dopamin production. Parkinson is a good example for that. But those people experience a lack of joy and rewardlessness in every aspect in their life, not just around babies. Another reason for the lack of Dopamin production around babies and with human interactions at all are autistic people. Their brain just doesn't react strongly to human emotions and interactions, including the presence of babies or more even more with babies as they are more like objects to them. However the Dopamin will be produced normally with other things like fullfilling their special interests or interacting with pets. Last but not least and the most common reason as to why some people won't produce Dopamin when interacting with babies is they simply have formed a negative connection in one way or another. Instead of feeling drawn to them their body reacts with stress and, or disgust, maybe even fear. Their glandula renalis starts producing cortisol and adrenalin instead. Depending on how strong the negazive reaction is it can vary from thinking they are cute as long... to running away from every baby there is. The more aspects someone dislikes on a baby the more likely it is they start disliking even more because they aren't affected by the Oxytocin-Dopamin chain or the being blinded by love.❤ Sorry for the long explaination. I studdied that stuff a little but since I am not a native English speaker I don't know if I made it easy enough to understand. Also please excuse me for any grammar and spelling mistakes I might have made.😢 Not so funny Funfact: I myself dislike babies as well even though I really love pets and adorable things. There are just to many factors that make me feel repulsed by little humans until they reach a certain age. They are loud, they smell, they need nonstop attention, they way we have to give birth to them is scary, they are expensive and I don't know what to do with them. Give me a five year old child... they are still loud and all but at least I know what I can do with them. Worst thing is somehow babies and toddlers seem to really like me and I don't know why. In that way I feel like those people who don't like cats but the cats love them 😅

[@SeidenKaczka]

@@kiaras.6493 Thank you for the detailed explanation, I appreciate it ! I've been diagnosed with both autism and a dopamin deficiency (I don't remember the specific name), so it all makes sense.

[@kiaras.6493]

@@SeidenKaczka There you have it. There are other hormons that make you feel rewarded such as Serotonin but Dopamin is probably the one with the most impact. Combine it with the weak to non existent activation of the brains rewarding centrum an autist has when seeing or interacting with fellow humans and well, you know the rest better than most people could ever understand. Just know that you feeling repulsed by babies (and probably more) is not your fault and it's totally okay to be and feel that way - even if people around you tell you otherwise.

[@thecontentcreator2513]

I don't find babies cute but I don't love them or hate them

[@anastrixnoodles]

nope, our brain produce oxytocin, a lot of it in some situations, just not with babies. babies are rather gross and annoying, not cute at all. the feeling of protection towards babies is still there, because they need help, is just that the desire of interacting in a cute way with them just isn't there.

[@lovelymelanin9336]

Too much cuteness! I have to leave!!❤

[@puntrikayuktasevi9550]

I love puppies but I find small babies annoying 😅 My daughter feels the same. I only think my babies are adorable but other babies annoying 😅

[@roguephoenix]

i don't think that's true that we all love babies...

[@jessicakoch2331]

i was just going to say, i don’t think human babies or kids are cute and from a biological perspective, i think that’s really strange.

[@beyondview]

​@@jessicakoch2331some babies are cute. I don't understand how that's strange.

[@Vrin137]

Yep, not everyone thinks Winsten Churchill looks and drools to be cute! LOL

[@splashesin8]

😊 Not just the visual expressions.

[@RoBear-bv8ht]

When humans found that wolf-dogs could make communicative faces back at them, humans bred dogs who could communicate with the same faces humans make. Reportedly, dogs are the only animals that share this human trait… Though all mammals seem to have inherently cute infants… and similar roles for adult females and males… Basically, dogs are wolf puppies that never grow up into adults. Dogs do not think of survival and injuries, the same way animals in the wild need to, and so being domesticated dogs can be fearless, knowing humans have their back and will take care of them. Wolves have no such luck. Wolves as all wildlife avoid injuries while dogs not so much. Especially guardian dogs, etc…

[@voodoochild1975az]

Dogs used weaponized cuteness to domesticate humans. Jokes aside, I think dogs need to be acknowledged as a unique case. No two species interact, live together, work together and communicate like humans and dogs. They are genuine friends and adopted family. They are partners. And that partnership has been ridiculously successful. Both species are far better off together. This is still true, from the paleolithic to the 21st century.. The human/dog relationship is unique on this planet. Dozens of millennia together in bonds of love and friendship. This I seriously propose a separate legal category for dogs. They are NOT typical domesticated animals... Or even pets really. This is a much older and deeper bond. They are humanity's partner and true friend. All I propose is that we acknowledge that.

[@chrisaguilera1564]

That is sooooo cute!!!!! Where are the cat videos??

[@Kim_Miller]

The cat kept knocking the camera off the kitchen counter. 😀

[@elisemiller13]

@@Kim_Miller Lol!

[@alinaanto]

I thought there were studies showing that the dogs developed raising their eyebrows some 100-200 years ago.

[@ralphbaier7793]

God, I’m two minutes in and my heart is molten❤❤❤

[@TheHuskyAngel]

Husky’s don’t need eyebrows. They say everything they want with side eye and RBF 😂😂😂😂

[@dannil9878]

Babies are not cute but ugly. Puppies are cute and cuddly

[@callalilly1988]

I too want to be an expert in puppy eyes

[@Merle1987]

I'm watching this on Nebula and Magellan TV.

[@gretasimmons8987]

Survival by cuteness ❤

[@thehermitthetower1126]

I love my Roo, my best friend and furry son.

[@darrellludlow]

Never heard of The World Canine Organization.

[@anniestumpy9918]

It would be interesting too why some people do find dogs cute but some find them more on the appaling side (I can't be the only one).

[@jannetteberends8730]

Why is the lineage always about wolves, and not about wild dogs? That would be more interesting for me.

[@Wingedwolfstar67]

Like African wild dogs? Dogs simply didn’t evolve from them, dogs evolved from wolves directly. In other words, wild dogs come from a different line of k9s than wolves and are pretty much unrelated to domestic dogs. It’s like how humans and chimpanzees are related by a common ancestor, but we aren’t the same thing today.

[@AdeleiTeillana]

Reading cat body language and facial expressions has always come naturally to me - I've always been able to understand them and act in ways that encourage even new cats to interact and be comfortable with me. When I fostered an injured puppy a few years back, I had to study dog body language so that I could tell what she needed or wanted. I guess it makes sense if a lot of it is in the eyes for them, since I'm autistic. Even when I look back at photos of my beautiful and dearly loved now-departed cats of ten or twenty years ago, my eyes are drawn more to their surroundings than their faces. (Though I'm sure there are autistic people out there who get dogs the way I get cats, just for me cats come more naturally.)

[@FukaiKokoro]

I definitely click with cats more. I don't understand why people act like cats are impossible to read or they are unpredictable. They really aren't

[@laurat7232]

It also works for hedgehogs.

[@ihopethiscommentisntabusiv4670]

wolves are just as cute!

[@kloss213]

You can keep a wild wolf puppy. If you look at primitive human culture they have lots of wild pets. I bet someone just kept wolf pups and from that we ended up with dogs.

[@anastrixnoodles]

this video was very cute up to the point they introduced babies... not cute at all!

[@anglerlala]

Cat guy coming here for learning about dog.

[@pazechaurren3571]

Babies have already been “outcuted” by puppies

[@thecontentcreator2513]

Me: Sees a Dog Me: Cute!! Also Me: Sees a Wolf Me:Cute!! Me:Gimme×Gimme Me: Give me that Wolf Give me that Dog 🙌❤🐕❤🙌 🙌❤🐺❤🙌 🤣

[@vuldrae1638]

Why are dogs cute? Because they are. Now time to spend 20 min watching a video explaining that with science. Im more than ok with this :3

[@Gachalifenova263]

Uhh

[@spacechimp5141]

wolves are cute.

[@e.i.3077]

To me, Huskies are the prettiest breed ever and Pugs the ugliest thing that should’ve never been created in the first place, poor things.

[@1981menso]

Kristi Noem, disagrees with this whole video.

[@Fomites]

Lol 😅. Sad but probably true.

[@punjabeeplaya]

Babies aren't cute.

[@djphlange]

Dogs are bad but most owners of dogs suck and don't train their dogs just to let them bark or attack people

[@Mac2point1]

Cats are FAR cuter.

[@duanecarroll8255]

After she shot the puppy, she thought, ''Well, that was fun, what else can I shoot?'' It was then, that she remembered ... the GOAT!

[@yellowsmarties2]

Babies are cute but idk, the baby in this video was not as cute as the puppies. Sorryyy 🥲🥲🥲 I think many human babies are only cute to their parents. I hate going to kids events, cos gotta pretend to like the kids. Or when parents show pics of their babies, man...so hard to pretend that you find them cute. 🥲