The other day as I looked at my dog, an English Black Labrador, I wondered what made him so cute and lovable. Was it his floppy ears? Or big brown eyes? Was it the way he sat so close to me while I made food, hoping he would get a scrap? Was it the way he followed me around sometimes? What made me love this creature so much? After doing some research, it turns out there are many factors as to why humans love dogs. 

The first question should be: What makes something cute? According to Psychology Today, soft, rounded features, large cheeks, large eyes, shortness, clumsiness, and helplessness are what we as humans see as “cute”. This phenomenon was deemed with the name kindchenschema (also known as baby schema), which was termed by Konrad Lorenz, zoologist and ethologist from the 1900s.

Kindenschema makes people want to care or protect whatever is causing it (ex. babies, puppies). Baby schema has a positive effect on human emotions, like seeing a cute baby or an adorable dog. This phenomenon explains why people get so excited seeing a baby or animal.

Another study done by Konarad Lorenz was the study of imprinting. Imprinting refers to the time early in an animal’s life where they form a parental attachment, usually to their mothers. Imprinting can work its magic in as little as thirty minutes, depending on the animal. 

Even if their mother dies, the animal would find another mother figure to bond with, so when a puppy is given to a new family, it imprints on whoever it decides to be its mother figure (usually the person who takes care of it the most). This strengthens the bond between a human and a pup even more, making both parties attached to each other. 

Dogs are naturally social and friendly creatures who want to show affection regardless (unless you’re a threat). They follow you around, greet you happily everytime they see you, and stay close to you for comfort. They really are a man’s best friend.

Our hormones also have a play with why we love our dogs so much. Oxytocin is the hormone released when people bond socially or romantically, giving off feelings of joy. It is an important factor in mother-child bonding and it works the same way with our dogs. No wonder there are so many dog moms out there! When we spend time with our dog, our body releases oxytocin which gives us feelings of happiness and strengthens our love for our dog.

One of the other multitude of reasons to love dogs is their innocence. Dogs are constantly happy, especially to see their owner, and doesn’t it just melt your heart to see your puppy wagging their tail by the door to greet you? They are cuddly, close to you, and playful. They tilt your head when you talk, as if deciphering what you’re saying. Their whole life depends on spending time with their owner, the center of their world. Their innocence is not only cute but valuable, and people can learn things from their dogs, such as taking time to slow down to cuddle and play with your dog and reminding ourselves about what truly matters. Never take for granted the value of having a dog.