If you’ve been to a dog show, you probably know there are these strange creatures that “assess” and “evaluate” pooches and give them sub-par scores. I don’t know what criteria they’re using or even who they are, but the rascals must be mad—I’ve seen dogs and in my book, they’re all immeasurably cute!
Luckily, there’s an online project that agrees with me. It’s called WeRateDogs and it does exactly what the name says. Started by Matt Nelson, it attaches witty captions to fan-submitted pictures of their pups, giving those fluffy ears, stubby paws, and pointy tails the praise they deserve. Oh, and a “grade” that exceeds the perfect 10, of course!
We at Bored Panda love this pure-hearted internet delight, and have already written about it here, here, and here, but Matt and his team keep themselves busy, so we have to keep up with them. Here’s a new collection of their latest posts!
More info: WeRateDogs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
#1
Final score:
809points
The Penguin Bandit 10 months ago
This doggo understands about unicorns 
133
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#2
Final score:
602points
Caro Caro 10 months ago
Hahaha that face. What a sweet doggie OMG
109
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Nelson initially started WeRateDogs on Twitter just to brighten up people’s feeds. But the account gained thousands of followers overnight, and that figure has kept climbing ever since. Currently, it stands at a whopping 9 million. Nelson was even able to turn the account into a business, selling merchandise and posting branded content.
“[I] got addicted to trying to make people laugh in that constrained character space,” he told CNBC Make It. At that time, a tweet could contain only 140 characters.
As Nelson tweeted, he noticed that “every time I would post a picture of my dog or any content that had to do with dogs, it would do much better than my other content… That signaled that the internet loves dogs just as much as I did.”
#3
Final score:
595points
Johnny Rodriguez 10 months ago
This is gold!
127
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#4
Final score:
539points
Alicia Butterfield 10 months ago
What the hell is wrong with people. How could they get any type of pleasure from seeing that suffering? Here’s hoping there’s a special place reserved for them one day..
305
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Nelson launched WeRateDogs back in November 2015, when he was a college freshman at Campbell University in North Carolina. In fact, he released the account’s first post from a local Applebee’s, featuring the pup of the friend he was having dinner with.
By that night, Nelson received hundreds of messages from dog owners asking for their pups to be featured. At first, he also promoted WeRateDogs from his personal Twitter account, which had about 10,000 followers at the time but by the end of that week, it already passed him in followers.
#5
Final score:
530points
read041 10 months ago
The beginning of the good life. Sleep well sweet Sundae.
107
#6
Final score:
527points
Auntriarch 10 months ago
This post is for dogs, not bears!
178
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#7
Final score:
517points
Caro Caro 10 months ago (edited)
Ruxstin Bieber 🙂
170
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Nelson became overwhelmed with juggling college, a job at a golf course, and his social media newborn pretty quickly. However, instead of selling his side hustle, he decided to drop out of college before his junior year and moved in with his parents in West Virginia to focus on WeRateDogs full-time.
Fortunately for Nelson, his parents and close friends were very supportive of this bold decision and believed he could continue growing WeRateDogs. His dad, an executive director of a law firm in Charleston, even helped Nelson manage the business’ growth once he started raking in significant revenue.
#8
Final score:
515points
Michelle M 10 months ago
Woah. That is one old boy. I just love senior dogs
87
#9
Final score:
511points
Fiery Llama 10 months ago
They are THE BEST
64
#10
Final score:
506points
DUN DUN (she/her) 10 months ago
From when did we start bringing pup teddies to life!? This is too adorable
89
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#11
Final score:
502points
Red Hair Blue Soul 10 months ago
Bless him and his rescuers
140
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But the project is more than just smiles and awws. Nelson is also focused on raising money for dogs in need, posting links to crowdfunding campaigns each Friday. In 2020, for example, WeRateDogs helped raise $1.3 million!
In addition to encouraging his millions of online followers to contribute to these noble causes, Nelson also regularly donates to such campaigns.
#12
Final score:
498points
ᴠᴀ̈ɪɴᴏ 10 months ago
OMG THIS IS THE CUTEST PUP I’VE SEEN IN MY WHOLE SAD LIFE
87
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#13
Final score:
493points
Auntriarch 10 months ago
Gimme both, I can take it!
85
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#14
Final score:
480points
Scott McLeod 10 months ago
how an elderly pup should be pampered. Wish my boy had lived long enough to be pampered like that. Lost him at 15 with leukemia. Vet thought he was 8 or 9. Still miss you Whiskey
123
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#15
Final score:
474points
Starflight of the Nightwings 10 months ago
This needs to be higher
64
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“Since we only post one or two per week to the audience but are sent hundreds of others, we typically pick another one, in which either I will personally donate or WeRateDogs will donate as an organization,” he explained.
The weekly tradition started in 2016 after Nelson realized a dog he featured needed a wheelchair. The dog’s owner asked for about $500, but after sharing the fundraiser, $700 was raised in just 45 minutes.
#16
Final score:
450points
DUN DUN (she/her) 10 months ago
What a beautiful model! Just look how poised s/he is!!
56
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#17
Final score:
450points
ᴠᴀ̈ɪɴᴏ 10 months ago
🙂
44
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#18
Final score:
427points
theswallowii 10 months ago
That is one terrorist I’m definitely willing to negotiate with! <3
79
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#19
Final score:
427points
chi-wei shen 10 months ago
Even the cat agrees.
152
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“It was very clear that my audience was looking for a way to give back,” Nelson said. And they still are! Consider this: each campaign that appeared on WeRateDogs has been fully funded within an hour of being posted.
#20
Final score:
410points
Floof 10 months ago
What amazing owners… They have my deepest respects
115
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#21
Final score:
397points
Fiery Llama 10 months ago
my hair has never looked that good
92
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#22
Final score:
389points
DUN DUN (she/her) 10 months ago
It’s a 20/10 out of body experience!!!!
38
#23
Final score:
386points
Fiery Llama 10 months ago
the casual elbow
79
Nelson hopes to continue to share these campaigns with his audience and raise more money, as he found that many pet owners struggle to cover medical expenses, especially when most of them do not have pet insurance.
#24
Final score:
384points
Kirsten Kerkhof 10 months ago
That smile!
106
#25
Final score:
358points
Michelle M 10 months ago
This is the dog from that meme. Royalty!
90
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#26
Final score:
355points
GoddessOdd 10 months ago
Its pure love.
51
#27
Final score:
350points
Lizzie Smith 10 months ago
For a moment, I thought the legs were fingers and she was a teensy tiny dog!
75
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“Part of the reason [WeRateDogs] has been so successful is because our audience trusts us with the curation of these stories, and now, our audience trusts me,” Nelson said. “So, that consistency of posting every Friday and getting our audience used to it has really helped it become what it is like now.”
#28
Final score:
350points
Floof 10 months ago (edited)
Stunning background and beautiful Silly Seaside T-Rex. who else is risking their lives to get to pet it?
72
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#29
Final score:
350points
The Penguin Bandit 10 months ago
Therapy dogs for high stress occupations is SUCH a godsend, speaking from experience.
95
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#30
Final score:
342points
The Penguin Bandit 10 months ago
Stop, drop, and nap!
85
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#31
Final score:
340points
The Penguin Bandit 10 months ago
That is the cutest “rug” I’ve ever seen
70
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#32
Final score:
339points
Julia Atkinson 10 months ago
Even pups are expressing solidarity with Ukraine
101
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#33
Final score:
328points
Nunya Business 10 months ago
I couldn’t say no to that face ever.
70
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#34
Final score:
319points
Floof 10 months ago
Her eyes are stunning!
58
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#35
Final score:
317points
The Penguin Bandit 10 months ago
Always in disguise; love it!!!
45
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#36
Final score:
317points
Susan Green 10 months ago
That face!!!
52
#37
Final score:
306points
ᴠᴀ̈ɪɴᴏ 10 months ago
lemme get a HOIYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
42
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#38
Final score:
302points
Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! 10 months ago
Perfect name!
58
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#39
Final score:
296points
Flare 10 months ago
What a cute guard dog!
35
#40
Final score:
295points
Weim Central 10 months ago
Of course it was!
43
#41
Final score:
295points
The Penguin Bandit 10 months ago
Rofl what’s with his expression, so cute but I’m not convinced he’s not photo bombing
36
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#42
Final score:
292points
Red Hair Blue Soul 10 months ago
That face!
46
#43
Final score:
290points
alwaysMispelled 10 months ago
That side eye!! You need to make it up to him pronto!
63
#44
Final score:
288points
Floof 10 months ago
I seriously need a dog like this to call Ewok! also because they are soooo floofy!
51
#45
Final score:
278points
chi-wei shen 10 months ago
He looks like he is able to steal your daughter’s heart without much effort.
61
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#46
Final score:
278points
Susan Green 10 months ago (edited)
This would be the best flight ever!
62
#47
Final score:
273points
Rijkærd 10 months ago
May she have 20+ more hats…
91
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#48
Final score:
272points
Natalia 10 months ago
Omg she is such a cutie 
44
#49
Final score:
272points
Susan Green 10 months ago
Sploot.
42
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#50
