Why we find them cute is easy enough to understand. Most mammals are, by the nature of their hormones, bound to like baby mammals. Yep, scientifically, you think they're cute because your body thinks it's a baby, and you're wired to want to care for babies. (Seriously, don't take my word for it, here's a linky)
But, and I hope this is obvious, getting something because your hormones are screaming at you that it's a baby and you want to protect it and keep it safe is a pretty stupid thing to do. This is true of human babies (but thank the lucky stars our hormones do that, since babies really try their parents' patience), but it is especially true of puppies (or kitties, or bunnies, or fishies, or any animal that will be dependent on your benevolence and care for the duration of its life).
The thing is, that cute puppy grows really quickly. By five months, your adorable puppy is teething with all its might, and that little bite to your toe is now a needle-fanged piranha preventing you from walking barefoot, in socks, or even with loose laces. It's all fair game. Sure, it ends in a couple months, even if you teach them nothing (but teaching them helps a lot! ... oh, and is actually really important to avoid bite risk in the future ... another linky for you!).
By 8 months, we have entered adolescence, were their brain melts and runs out their ears. You, and your interests, take a second seat. That puppy that always came when you called is now running across the busy street at full tilt chasing a kid on a skateboard - something Fufu (what do you name bassets nowadays? Captain America? Bruce Wayne? I digress) has never done before. This is when you usually discover a new fitness regime, and either grow a patience muscle the size of a theoretical Olympic athlete specialised in the patience event or buy a crate (or toss the dog outside for the rest of its life, sigh).
As adolescence wanes (which, for small dogs, takes a couple months. For big dogs, you're in for another year or even two) and your dog takes on a young adult's persona, things become easier. Well, sort of. Did you get a husky? Congratulations on your running partner. An hour or more, a day, every day. Sound good? Awesome! You are one in a million people (I over exaggerate, but I am honestly frustrated by this) who actually got a dog you can adequately care for.
Every dog, even a pug (perhaps, especially a pug) needs 30 minutes of intense cardio, two to three times a week. Heck, you do too, but you're considered a human, and so can decide for yourself how much you care about your own health. This can be a rowdy game of tug, fetch or flirt-pole chasing. This can be swimming, or sprinting, or zoomies. This can be anything, as long as that heart rate gets up there and stays up there. Strong bones, strong muscles, and a happier dog. Some really athletic dogs (australian cattle dogs, collies, pitt bulls, huskies ... most working dogs would fall into this category) will need much, much more than this. I'm pretty sure Aussies can do this all day and still be ready for more.
This has not yet occupied your pet's mind. Yes, your dog has a brain, and in some cases, they may even be smarter than you. I know Talos has me outsmarted often, and her brain is the size of two thumbs squished together. Take that, ego!
One of the easiest ways to occupy their minds is to take them for a walk. New sights, but most importantly, new smells, really gets them thinking. With smaller, less fit dogs, this walk can sometimes provide enough exercise too - given a good hour and a daily frequency. With bigger dogs, and more athletic dogs, it won't. Other ideas include nose-work, training, puzzles, climbing (both a physical and a mental challenge - "find a way up this boulder, Piddles"! (Piddles is, of course, a rottweiller. Maybe 'Mayhem' or 'G.I. Joe' would be better?)
That was the fun part. Your pup will need bathing (if you're me, this is weekly), nail clips (this should be weekly, and yes, dog owner over there that hasn't done it in a couple months, I'm looking at you!), parasite protection both internal and external, both manual (tick removal is fun, yo...) and chemical. They will need specialised care according to their breed (wrinkle wipes, face wipes, butt squeezies (sigh, alright, emptying anal sacs) ear cleanings, paw cleanings, fur brushings, and so on). They will need food, and it will cost more than you thought to get them the even moderately good stuff (which you really should. The bad stuff is really, really bad). They will need to go to the vet. They won't like it, they will be harder to manage than you could ever have imagined, and all your training will fail and fail and fail before you succeed. Vet bills will be astronomical.
Then there's the sad part. Your pup will get old. They'll need your care in the last years of their life. The fun stuff slowly shrinks and is replaced by sleep. They will get old, and fragile.
Dumping them in the pound is never an option simply because they are old. There are always better alternatives, even putting them to sleep (which will happen anyway in the pound, just with your dog scared, lonely and abandoned).
I think we should sell puppies with old dog faces. Here! Get this adorable dog! He adores humans but has a death wish around big dogs, pees pretty much where he likes (including women's legs), barks at things that don't exist, can't hear, can't see very well, and is likely a little demented. He has a dodgy hip and he really can't walk half a block before you'll need to carry him. He will love you more than you can ever understand, and you will never be the same as before he came. Dog pictured may take over 13 years of dedicated assembly.
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