Do our pets do cute thing to win our love or do we see them as doing cute things because we love them?

probably the latter

My dog seems to do cute things because she learned that she can get a happy reaction from me and possibly a treat just for being adorable.

My cat doesn't usually do cute things, but she does find the time to make me remember that I made a great decision adopting her.

Because we love them. My little dog is so old that the cutest thing she does these days is lie and sleep ... but, over the years she's been a delight.

Hi Whistle6,

I think we love them, and that brings out the best in them...and then we take great delight and love them still more...and on and on and on.

My dog is a master manipulator.

I am putty in her paws.

I have little say in most matters involving her.

We see them as cute because infants (of most any mammalian species) Have disproportionally large round heads and blunder about in a random and entertaining way. Many kinds of dogs have been bred to retain such immature (cute) characteristics well into their old age.
ref: https://entertainmentaroundtheworld.wordpress.com/my-lists/top-20-cutest-dog-breeds-around-the-world/

i think its a little of both

Lulu is cute no matter what she does, and had my heart the moment I first saw her.

My fur baby, Dovah, is a very odd cat. She is the apple of my eye though.