I put this in IMHO because I’m have my strong opinions and I know others do as well. But I would like someone to give me a more rational explanation than the only one I can think of. I don’t want this to devolve into a flame war, so let’s all agree up front to respect that other people have different taste than we do.
So… certain breeds of dogs and cats… I love all animals and I certainly don’t blame the animals themselves when I think they’re hideous. We created them that way. But some breeds make me wonder… what in hell people are thinking. I’ve heard the occasional quote: “It’s so ugly that it’s cute” or things to that effect. But I still don’t get it. To me, ugly is ugly. I don’t ever think something is so ugly that it’s cute.
Some examples: Sphynx cats, which have no fur. Why breed something with no fur only to have to then put clothes on it so it doesn’t freeze to death? (Even worse, I see in those Google Images that some people tattoo the cat’s skin.)
There are some cute Pug dogs, but lots of them tend to be horribly wall-eyed and they turn into fat little wall-eyed balls. Eww.
So if you think any of these are cute, can you give a rational explanation for it? I’m asking about the esthetics, not anything like “I feel sorry for them and someone has to love them” (which I can understand).
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder; I found most of the pics you posted attractive and/or cute in one way or another. Especially the pugs (and I will fight you on that one)
I think for Sphynx cats, at least, they are good for people who want cats but are allergic.
Pugs…man, they are just fucking cute. Even the wall-eyed ones. Which ones on the page you linked to do you not like?? My brother had a dog who was a mutt and she was a bit bug-eyed and she made me laugh every time I looked at her. Adorbs
I dunno about those Chinese Crested Dogs, though. Wondering if there’s a hypo-allergenic aspect to them, too.
Right, absolutely. But can you explain what details appealed to you? Sort of break it down for me. Like if you were trying to sell me a Sphynx, how would you convince me to want one? It’s just a mental exercise, but I find that when I can’t empathize with something it helps if someone explains their point of view and then sometimes I can find some level of agreement.
Levdrakon, I am in agreement with you, but I don’t want this to devolve into an argument about animal abuse or exploitation. (The tattooed cats made me shudder, the poor things!)
In the case of Sphinx cats, IMO, there’s a stark beauty to them. Chinese crested dogs don’t necessarily appeal to me, but a Pug? They have the same appeal as a chubby little toddler (for me, chubby little toddlers are appealing too). Maybe not the brightest puppy on the Xmas tree, but nonetheless, cute as a button.
As far as the phrase so ugly they’re cute, I think that’s more or less acknowledging that, while not beautiful or handsome in the classic sense, there’s something appealing about the critter.
I really think that the breeding of some of these is cruel. Pugs and other brachiocephalic dogs are awful- when these dogs undergo surgery, you’re instructed to leave the endotracheal tube in as long as possible, until the dog is practically awake and chewing on the tube- with every other dog breed, you take the tube out as soon as possible.
This is because an intubated pug is breathing better than he’s ever been able to breathe in its life.
Google “bulldog skull”, or worse- “pug skull” to see just how hideously deformed these animals really are. It’s really unfair to breed a dog whose eyes bug out of their head and can’t breathe properly because its snout is so shortened. In some cases their tongues can’t even fit in their mouth.
For the Sphynx and the Chinese Crested, they both have an elegance that I find appealing. They’re not cute, per se, but they have a sort of alien, otherworldly air about them that I can see really appealing to some folks.
This Chinese Crested looks like something out of a Star Wars movie. Cool! The one you posted looks like a Dr. Seuss critter.
I just want to point out that I did NOT pay ZipperJJ to say this.
I remember once reading an article about how humans viscerally respond to “baby” features with feelings of protectiveness. Relatively big eyes and big head for the body, the baby fat and rolls. Those pug puppies hit those buttons, plus the furrowed brow is endearing, as are the floppy ears. They are chubby little chunks that look like they need to be hugged. Adorable.
I don’t find the Chinese Crested dog adorable looking, but they look kind of like some fairy tale creature which is kind of cool. I’ve never been around one that I recall, but if I did get to know one, it would probably quickly trigger the good feelings that I have about dogs, and probably make me see its sweetness. With dogs, the sweetness is probably what people respond to just about as much as the cuteness. You can see it in their eyes, pretty or not, and it is so endearing.
With cats, to me, the fluffier the better. Those hairless ones look pretty pitiful. Maybe they are particularly nice cats and that’s the appeal, but I don’t know.
I think a lot of people are attracted to the unique and unusual and it is an acknowledgement that even though, from an esthetic point of view, the critters linked are ugly, they are still endearing and worthy of love. Up there with “a face only a mother could love”, with a bit of the appeal of rooting for the underdog thrown in.
This snippet explains my feelings on it. I don’t think pugs are cute, and I wouldn’t buy one (too small), but their weird little faces appeal to me because they’re so strange; they don’t even look like dogs. They’re like little aliens, or something. Unusual things are often interesting to look at or own.
I think “so ugly it’s cute” only works with some forms of ugliness.
Anything with a round face and big eyes is going to be some shade of “cute”, because these are infantile traits, and we are sorta-kinda programmed to feel “awww” when we see a baby.
But for me, it’s not just these things that make my heart melt a little. It’s when the face has some sadness to it. IMHO, this animal is cool ugly, not cute ugly. But this face is cute ugly. It’s like he knows he’s ugly and he’s sad about it, and I just want to take his little face in my hands and tell him he’s still lovable.
