• A new study using the ‘golden ratio’ has crowned Dalmatians as the cutest dogs in the world, followed by Irish Water Spaniels, Wire Fox Terriers, Labradors and Basset Hounds
• The research by pet insurance comparison site MoneyBeach.co.uk also found that the cutest pet in the world is actually a cat, followed by ferrets and rabbits
• The golden ratio is an ancient algebraic equation that determines how aesthetically pleasing something is, and is commonly used within architecture and design

Regardless of whether they are gorgeous golden retrievers or cute corgis, weknow that all owners think their own dogs are the best looking, no matter whatthe breed. However, new research from pet insurance comparison siteMoneyBeach.co.uk has revealed which breed is officially the cutest accordingto science, crowning the spotted Dalmatian as the easiest canine on the eye.

One hundred of the most popular dog breeds were ranked using the golden ratio,an ancient algebraic equation said to determine how aesthetically pleasingsomething is to the human eye. The ratio between key points on a dog’s facesuch as ears, eyes, nostrils and tongue were calculated and then a percentagewas given of how close the measurements were to the golden ratio. The higherthe percentage, the more ‘perfect’ the pooch’s face is.

With 67% of its face adhering to the science of the golden ratio, theDalmatian stood above all other breeds, including favourites like pugs andhuskies, which didn’t even make the top 10! Perhaps best known as the stars ofthe Disney film 101 Dalmatians, the black-spotted breed originated in Croatiaand has since become popular around the world. In stark contrast toDalmatians, the Irish Water Spaniel placed as the second cutest dog breed inthe world. The largest in the spaniel breed, Irish Water Spaniels have anotably curly, mid-brown coat.

Wire Fox Terriers, with their long faces and folded ears, complete the topthree, while family favourite Labradors ranked in fourth place, best known fortheir loveable temperament. The breed was followed by the Basset Hound infifth, perhaps a surprising entry as they famously have droopy eyes and ears –but were still 64% ‘perfect’ according to the golden ratio.

The Top 20 Cutest Dog Breeds, According to the Golden Ratio:

Breed | % Adherence to the ‘Golden Ratio’
—|—
1. Dalmatian | 67.03%
2. Irish Water Spaniel | 66.26%
3. Wire Fox Terrier | 65.53%
4. Labrador | 64.67%
5. Basset Hound | 64.43%
6. Samoyed | 64.33%
7. Jack Russell | 63.86%
8. Rottweiler | 63.65%
9. St. Bernard | 62.94%
10. Golden Retriever | 62.52%
11. Newfoundland | 62.07%
12. Pug | 61.44%
13. Schnauzer | 59.01%
14. Leonberger | 58.99%
15. Cavapoo | 58.79%
16. Springador | 58.69%
17. Siberian Husky | 58.48%
18. Bernese Mountain Dog | 56.76%
19. Old English Bulldog | 56.30%
20. Bloodhound | 56.05%

Interestingly, MoneyBeach.co.uk also analysed other popular household pets todiscover which is, scientifically, the cutest and while dogs are undeniablycute, it was their feline foes that came out as number one. Cats claiming thecrown as the cream of the crop for cuteness, while surprisingly, man’s bestfriend only placed in fifth out of all other pets, with ferrets, rabbits andhamsters being shown to be more aesthetically pleasing.

The Top 5 Cutest Pets, According to the Golden Ratio:

Pet: | % Adherence to the Golden Ratio:
—|—
1. Cat | 46.51%
2. Ferret | 46.20%
3. Rabbit | 40.30%
4. Hamster | 31.46%
5. Dog (averaged across 100 dog breeds) | 29.64%

Mike Rees, CEO of MoneyBeach.co.uk, commented: “There’s often a lot ofdiscussion about which pet is the cutest, so we were keen to leave it up toscience to settle the debate once and for all. The ‘golden ratio’ is anequation that has been used for hundreds of years, so it’s hard to argue withthe results and it was fascinating to see breeds such as Rottweilers or theBasset Hound being favoured by the laws of science. While Dalmatian ownersmight be feeling a little smug with the news, I’m sure cat people will be themost thrilled, as they now have the evidence to back themselves up, whentelling dog lovers that their pet is in fact the cutest”.

To read the full research visit: https://www.moneybeach.co.uk/the-boardwalk/the-cutest-pets-according-to-science

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