Do Dogs Look Like Their Owners
Welcome back!
It’s the topic of one never-ending conundrum — do dogs look like their owners? If this is indeed true, do dogs grow to mimic their owners, or do owners choose a dog in their own image? It’s great when science confirms something we already instinctively know. According to a U.S. study, it’s official — dogs do look like their owners.
Those who believe purebred dogs look like their owners are barking up the right tree, but when it came to matching a mutt to its owner, the pattern went to the dogs.
When people select a dog, they look for one that bears some resemblance to them at some level, and when they get a purebred dog, they get what they want. But it’s more of a crapshoot when it comes to choosing a mongrel, as you never know what they’ll look like when they mature.
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego explored the myth that owners look like their dogs by testing if judges could match photographs of dogs with their owners. Psychologists Michael Roy and Professor Nicholas Christenfeld reported their findings in an issue of Psychological Science, a journal of the American Psychological Society.
45 dogs and their owners chosen at random were photographed separately at three San Diego dog parks. The judges — 28 undergraduates taking psychology classes at UC San Diego — were shown pictures of the owners and 2 dogs and asked to match the correct dog with its owner. The pictures were taken so that the background was different for dog and owner.
A dog was deemed to resemble its owner if more than half the judges matched them correctly. The judges correctly matched 25 purebreds with their owners nearly 2 out of 3 times.
Of the 25 purebreds, there were 16 correct matches and 9 misses. For 20 mutts in the study, there were 7 matches, 4 ties and 9 misses.
“When you pick a purebred, you pick it specifically because of how it’s going to look as a grown-up.” said Nicholas Cristenfeld, UCSD professor of psychology and co-author of the study. He added that mutt owners make their choice on the spur-of-the-moment at a dog pound, not knowing what a puppy will look like.
“There is a certain stereotype of person from each breed.” said Tracy Cavaciuti, a French Bulldog breeder in Connecticut.
So what kind of person likes the pop-eyed, pointy-eared, pug-nosed French Bulldog? “Actually, they’re quite trendy and good-looking.” Cavaciuti said. But Afghan Hound people are a different story. “You can spot them a mile away.” she said. “They’re very doggy.”
How the Afghan Hound or the French Bulldog resemble their owners is unclear since the study found judges didn’t use any single characteristic to make the matches. There was no significant correlation between dogs and owners on the basis of size, attractiveness, friendliness and energy level when considered separately.
“People are attracted to looks and temperaments that reflect themselves or how they perceive themselves.” said Gail Miller, a spokeswoman for the American Kennel Club. Miller, who has owned several bearded collies, described her ‘beardies’ as gregarious, active dogs. “I’m definitely like them — very outgoing, likes to have fun and get active.”
But the study was unable pinpoint what factors were responsible for this resemblance. “We can’t tell whether it’s a physical resemblance or a stylistic resemblance.” Christenfeld told New Scientist. “One gets a sense that it is a mix of these different things.”
But some pairs were more obvious than others. “There was a goofy guy, smiling with slightly shaggy hair and a golden retriever with a goofy smile, the same hair — everyone said ‘these 2 go together’.”
The researchers also explored whether any resemblance had developed while the person had owned the dog, in the same manner that a 1987 report suggested the facial appearance of married couples converged over time.
They discounted the ‘length of ownership’ theory when they found no correlation between the degree of resemblance and the time the dog and owner had been together.
The researchers said that a person was also likely to spend more time choosing a purebred puppy and thus be more likely to get what they want. The study was unable to establish if owners choose dogs on the basis of hairiness, size, sharpness of features, attractiveness, perceived friendliness or perceived energy level.
“The judges did not make correct matches by simply matching hairy people with hairy dogs, or big people with big dogs.” the authors wrote. “It may be that the judges used some other more subtle trait.”
“It’s not people coming to look like their dogs when they live together. Instead it’s that people pick a dog that resembles them.” explains Christenfeld.
The pair also looked to see if specific features like hairiness and size were responsible for the resemblance. The only feature they identified that might have been useful to the judges was perceived friendliness, says Christenfeld.
Sara Ward, a spokeswoman for the UK’s Kennel Club, says there are “classic examples” of people looking like their dog, such as seeing bigger dogs with bigger handlers.
“And if you are showing an Afghan — often it is quite an elegant person running round with them.” she told New Scientist.
Christenfeld has yet to discover what it is that ‘resonates’ between a human and their dog. It could be a similarity of physical attributes or of personality traits. The matches were based less on specific obvious characteristics. But the researchers noted, “It does appear that, as in the case of selecting a spouse, people want a creature like themselves.”
According to Australian psychologist Dr. Eleonora Gullone, who studies human-animal interactions at Melbourne’s Monash University, the study may have been biased by judges’ preconceptions about purebred dogs. “People have preconceived notions of the personality of dog breeds.” she said.
The researchers did find a trend that people with a friendly outlook on life were more likely to choose friendly-looking dogs.
The U.S. team said other research had found a link between owners and their dogs, referring to 1999 research showing that women with long hair gave higher ratings of attractiveness, friendliness, loyalty and intelligence to dogs with floppy, rather than pricked ears.
Just as there are many different kinds of people, there are scores of breeds of dogs to choose from. The breed you select to own is often an outward representation of your personality. Dogs are companions, and people tend to select their pet dogs with similar personality traits as their own. Oftentimes dogs are considered a member of the family and owners and dogs spend a lot of time together. So why wouldn’t someone want their best companion to be like themselves?
You might note as others have that:
Highly strung people sometimes choose miniature breeds with the same personality.
Those with large families usually have larger dogs that can take playful children.
Many owners who wear a lot of jewelry have dogs that wear jewel encrusted collars, claw polish, and even doggie clothing and accessories.
Active people usually select active sporty dogs.
Many sophisticated people seem to select well mannered dogs that are sleek and fashionable.
Petite people oftentimes have small dogs or miniature versions of larger breeds.
Sometimes people with poofy hairstyles select fluffy-haired dogs.
Busy people frequently choose low maintenance dogs.
Country dwellers usually own mixed breed dogs.
Rough macho types usually have aggressive dogs, occasionally adorning them with spiked collars and heavy chains.
Attack dogs are typically owned by aggressive people.
Many less active and depressed people tend to select dogs with droopy ears and long faces that like to curl up on the couch for hours on end.
One owner might think they look like their dog because they love it so much, while another might deny that they look like their dog, just as married couples deny that they grow to look like each other, or because they don’t want to feel they look like a dog. Either way, the owner isn’t likely the most objective judge.
Each of us likes to believe we’re different, that we’re an individual, and that we’re unique. Then again, how do you think the dogs feel?
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If you feel that you and your dog look alike, send us a photo by email and we may even include it.
Sources: University of California, Psychological Science, and New Scientist
Related stories:
When Pet Owners Go Too Far – Part 1
When Pet Owners Go Too Far — Part 2
LOL, Deb! You *always* put together the most amazing photograph compilations. Weird (even scary?) that people look like their pooches. I’d absolutely *hate* to look like a Pug!
I like the first picture. Whats that for a big horse in the middle? Amazing…
some of those people really resemble their dogs! Its hilarious, I love the picture with the guy wearing the goggles and his dog is also wearing goggles, it kills me.
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I have a close friend who lives up in Oregon.
He is a Truck driver/Rock drummer he is built short and stocky, with an (honest to god, bulldog face) Armand and his dog Capone (yes Armand is Italian-french) they are both kind of gruff looking but real sweet hearts. James
P.S. I’ll try and get them to send me a picture, and share it
Thanks Matt
Hehe, I was actually debating posting my own pic with alongside my baby shitzhu but decided against it 
Actually Mundgeruch, it’s a Dalmation dog. They’re a relatively large breed
That’s one of my faves as well, Best
That would be great, Live, hope we get to see it, and I’ll post it if you manage to get one
I’ll give you a link back if you do as the contributor, or his site if he has one.
ROFL Deborah !!!
you should definitely post a pic of you and your baby
GREAT POST!!
Hi Deborah,
I think there’s this unconscious nature among humans to select things that look like themselves. I’m pretty sure some of these pets are treated like humans, and the possibility that the animals think they are humans also exist. Sigh… the world indeed is going to the dogs.
–Durano, done!
Cool post – great pictures for documentations!
I think dog’s do if their owners return the favourer!
This was great material!
As a professional dog trainer I also take it a step farther in that your dog’s behavior also emulates your behavior. Many people are amazed at personality traits I bring up about themselves and I saw it through the dog.
As a society we are exposed to media that constantly brings fear to our minds… and thus I see a lot of fear aggression in dogs these days. Those people who have confident attitudes about everything form mental to physical aspects of life have confident dogs. Those who don’t listen have dogs that don’t listen and those that tend to not follow through on anything have dogs who cannot complete a simple “sit”.
It’s interesting and helpful to realize many things about yourself by studying your own dog’s behavior!
Thanks for a great post!
Jt Clough
K9 Coach
San Diego, CA
I love it! I think a picture of me and my dog should be on here… Even though we wouldn’t be nearly as humorous as these photos!
Hehe, I just might do that, Kim, and Thanks
Hi Durano,
I agree with you entirely, people tend to select pets that look like themselves, and I for one treat my pets like they’re my children
Thanks Renny
Thanks K9, I think you’re bang on with your analogy. You’ll often see bad tempered dogs whose owners are quick to anger and express it openly. It only stands to reason that it would be the same for mild tempered dogs. Great point about learning of yourself through your own dog’s behavior
I’d love to see that myself, Bukowsky
Send me your photo if you like, and I’ll be happy to post it.
i think dog owners look like their dogs sometimes but cat owners dont usually look like their cats.
I tend to agree with you Cohnsey, it’s not as though they have such defining features, fur types, etc.
Well I wish I looked like my dog, she’s got long legs, lean, muscular and toned. Me not so much
Hehe, it’s not usually an insult to actually look like your dog for the most part, is it Jali
A lot of those pics look like their owner, especially the one the young baby. I could see it is true. I used to live with this family, and what I considered my dog (it was theirs, I had no place to take him). The family left to Wisconsin, and just came back for the 4th of July. My “dog” looks just like their owners, overweight. I even made that joke the dogs do look like their owners.
Hehehe. My little shitzu and I could almost be included with this subject line, Mike
She’s a blonde color, and I keep her in a long coat.
Those pictures are pretty funny. Some of them don’t look much like there owners but there were a few that had me laughing out loud.
usually i would say no – but these pics proved me wrong! i gotta show ppl! thanks!
The pictures are very funny. I like the fourth one. The little girl and the dog, they both are so cute.
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Ach wie niedlich die doch sind…
this is the great photos of man and dog i have ever seen..!! wow super…how do adult dog housebreaking..??
this is the great photos of man and dog i have ever seen..wow super…how do adult dog housebreaking..
i saw more popular man and woman with dog.. it was so enjoy to my mind and my eyes.. i liked this site picture and dogs collection. it was puppy potty training tips
Well looking and acting are two different things. Take me me for instance… I am a gay dog and so is my dad. For me it’s a frame of mind and I LOVE BEING GAY!. Is your dog gay? Take the quiz at gaydogsunited.com and have some fun finding out. and if it so happens they are, take pride in your gay pet. a site devoted to gay petts and their owners.
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Once again you have put together a great article and awesome pictures. The ones with the kids are my favorites. I don’t suppose the look alike thing happens when the dog picks us, huh? That’s what has happened with me several times. The dog appears in the driveway and I can’t find an owner and end up keeping her. My current dog and I have been together for 8 years. I don’t think she looks like me but she is small, a minpin, and I am only 5’1″ so—. Thanks again for your tremendous site.
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