“Toby The 80-Year-Man Trapped In A Chihuahua Body”: 81 Hilarious Dogs Being Their Goofy Selves (New Pics)

Let's take a quick trip back in time to understand why dogs are such lovable goofballs and why we can’t get enough of them.

Researchers, who studied dog and wolf DNA, say it started when wolves realized that hanging around human camps meant free food — likely between 20,000 and 22,000 years ago.

The braver wolves got closer to people over time and became calmer and friendlier.

Our ancestors then realized that these freeloaders could help them with hunting and keeping watch around camps.

Archaeologists have even found dog bones at old mammoth hunting sites, which hints that early humans and their four-legged partners were teaming up on big hunts thousands of years ago.

The first dog identified is a 14,000-year-old pup found in Bonn-Oberkassel, Germany.

People also quickly became attached to these furry babies, and an ancient burial ground shows that. Discovered near Lake Baikal in Siberia, experts found that dogs from 5,000 to 8,000 years ago were laid to rest right next to their humans.

“You get dog burials, which show there was a lot of care and attention paid to the burial. And they include grave goods (valuable items placed in the grave for use in the afterlife), which really seems like there was a strong indication of affection,” says Clive Wynne, director of the Canine Science Collaboratory at Arizona State University.

There have been several studies to figure out why so many of us are smitten with dogs.

Over many generations, we kept breeding dogs that were easier to live with, smarter, gentler, and a bit more affectionate.

Some physical traits started becoming more common, too — big eyes, button noses, floppy ears, and playful energy. These features naturally make them look harmless, as well as appealing to us.

Another research says that puppies share many of the same physical characteristics as human babies.

We see their tiny noses, round eyes, and clumsy moves as something that deserves our care and affection. This makes us naturally feel the urge to cuddle and protect them.

Basically, dogs have the same effect on us as babies, kittens, stuffed toys, or those big-eyed cartoon characters. The moment we see them, something in our brain just lights up.

But dogs don’t rely on looks alone; their behavior plays a big role, too.

They’re expressive in ways that we can easily understand — tilting their head while we talk, or bouncing around when we grab a leash.

Then there are the everyday classics that always get us. Falling asleep in the most ridiculous twisted positions or stretching dramatically like they’ve just finished a 12-hour shift.

Even their chaotic bursts of energy, the sudden zoomies around the house, somehow feel more funny than annoying.

The emotional support our canine companions offer is undeniable, and several studies show just how important dogs really are to our health and well-being.

They have been proven to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, ease loneliness, encourage exercise, and improve our overall health.

More than 60% of dog owners reach the recommended weekly exercise levels, meaning they get at least 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes or more of intense exercise every week.

People who have pets also have a lower resting blood pressure than people who don’t have one.

Older adults who share a close bond with their pets often report lower levels of depression.

A study shows that dogs can also help manage long‑term diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia.

It’s no wonder then that dogs are the most popular pet in the US, the UK, and several other countries.

Around 65 million households in the US have at least one dog, while in the UK, around 36% of households report having a dog.

According to a recent survey in the UK, 99% of people said they see their dog as part of the family, and 89% consider them a best friend.

We all know the internet can be a pretty chaotic place, but posts about pets almost always cut through the noise. And social media has played a huge role in turning dogs into internet stars.

As of writing this article, for example, the hashtag #dogpics alone had over 1.2 million posts on Instagram, and honestly, we wouldn’t mind if there were a million more pics and videos.