In 2013, the Associated Press wrote that “the ideal designer dog” would be big on brains, small on bark, hypoallergenic, and enjoy health and longevity. “Most important, it would never lose its puppy face.” At the time, breeders were hoping the so-called “cava-poo-chon” would fit the bill, which would cost $3,500 to pay. The dog weighed between 10 and 15 pounds and had the sweetest little baby face. However, the American Kennel Club pooh-poohed the cava-poo-chon, refusing to recognize the tiny hybrid as a legitimate breed. Nonetheless, it represented an expensive fixation on finding “the dog-face fountain of youth and perfect pet accessory.”

But why do humans go gaga for pooches with puppy dog eyes and matching puppy dog everything else? Perhaps the answer lies in natural selection. Citing a 2019 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vice writes that behavioral evidence indicates that domesticated canines evolved to resemble babies. Why? Humans tend to be more attentive and nurturing toward baby-faced canines. When they raise their eyebrows their eyes look larger and hence more infantile. Cocking their brows make them seem sad, arousing sympathy. Combine that with a well-timed head tilt, and owners are putty in their paws.

In other words, adorable doggies are custom-made to manipulate us. Rewarding their cuteness with belly rubs and treats just trains them to manipulate us more. One might even say that by breeding them to look puppy-like, we’re basically begging dogs to exploit our emotional weaknesses. So breeds that already look infantile have a natural advantage. Here are some of the cutest manipulators in the canine world.

You've the cutest little baby face

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