Baby creatures are cute for an important reason – it helps them survive when they’re being really annoying. It gives us more empathy and compassion towards them so we don’t just decide life is easier without them.

Scientists have even tried to pinpoint the exact moment when a puppy is the cutest to humans.

According to Clive Wynne, director of Arizona State University’s Canine Science Collaboratory:

“Around seven or eight weeks of age, just as their mother is getting sick of them and is going to kick them out of the den and they’re going to have to make their own way in life, at that age, that is exactly when they are most attractive to human beings.”

Sounds about right!

And these 20 dogs are at their prime cuteness:

1. The Corgiest Corgi

Big floppy ears? Check.

A face that looks like it’s smiling? Check.

An adorable puppy that looks at you like you’re the greatest thing ever? Check.

It’s just too good to be true.

2. Bear cub, Pomeranian, or Ewok?

The fluff!

This might be the snuggliest puppy ever and all we can think about is how much we want to give it a big hug and some head scratches.

Unless it really is a bear.

3. Seal pup

This dog is only going to get cuter as the weeks go by, according to the study cited above.

We can’t even imagine what that would look like!

4. Nosey puppy

Those big Disney eyes make this little pup look like the leading character in “Ladybug and the Tramp.”

We’ll watch it AND buy the merchandise.

5. Whose head is that?

As the OP said, it looks like someone’s printer ran out of ink when making this puppy.

We’re just so in love with those soulful eyes!

6. Chow-der puff

Stop! This level of cuteness can’t be legal.

How could you sleep or go to work or get anything done if this puppy lived with you?

We’d have to stare at it all day.

7. Puppy dog eyes

This is too much.

Give this dog whatever it wants.

Those eyes are impossible to say no to.

8. I can haz out?

Oh, but the puppy is so cute INSIDE the crate too. How does one deal?

By snuggling it, of course.

9. Fierce forest floofer

This little Golden Retriever is at prime fluffiness and it looks like he/she knows it.

That’s a face that says “I know precisely how adorable I am and I expect to be treated accordingly.”

10. Those brows though

And the toes!

Have you ever just wanted to smoosh something because it’s so cute?

There’s a scientific explanation for that!

11. A two-fur

This is almost too much for our cute meter to measure.

We want to borrow one. Or both.

12. Which do we squish first?

This Great Pyrenees pup is definitely the cutest thing in this photo, but we’re ready to jump into this snuggle fest, teddy bear included.

13. Mr. Lazy Ear

We can’t get over this German Shepherd’s adorable gaze.

And the OP said the pic was taken at 8 weeks old – prime cuteness time, according to science!

14. Dashing Dachshund

Between those floppy, silky ears and the sweet little scarf, we can’t stop “aww-ing” at this Dachshund puppy.

And those markings!

15. Cutest co-worker

How could a person get any work done with this pettable pup nearby?

Those eyes alone would have us clearing our schedules for the day.

16. Ball of Bernard

Have you ever seen more fluff in one place?

That’s a lot of hair to shed but it sure is cute while it’s still on the puppy!

17. Ride or die

Ugh, we can’t even with this face.

How can you drive undistracted with those sweet eyes looking at you?

18. Windswept

Stuffed animal or live dog?

The latter, although we’re willing to smoosh-snuggle it like the former.

19. Too cute for words

Just take everything, little puppy.

20. Wait, who’s the cutest?!

This dog is insulted that you dared to declare one of the previous 19 the cutest before you saw her.

How could you not wait for the English cream golden retriever?!

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Do you have the cutest puppy in the world?

Prove it in the comments!

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