Do You Look Like Your Dog?
Like father, like son! A cliché that runs for many generations but what about…like owner, like dog?
You may be familiar with the saying that people grow to look like their dogs, which is probably closely related to the one about people growing to look like their spouses.
Psychologists and sociologists have come up with a few assessments in response.
- The first observation is that the saying isn’t always accurate. Some long-time dog owners and long-married persons don’t look remotely like their dog or spouses.
- The second assessment of the phenomenon is that people, to begin with, choose pets or spouses who resemble them.
- A third observation is that over years of living together and empathizing with the other party (dog or human), one mimics the other’s facial expressions and behavior, and feels the other’s joy and pain, until both individuals’ features and personalities become shaped along similar lines.
So if you and your dog look and behave alike, it is possible that you chose a dog which reflected your own personality, looks, and behavior out of egotism, empathy or lifestyle needs.
The positive effects of such a choice are that you can initially build a connection with your dog on the basis of the similarities. This helps the bonding process—at least on your part because the dog may not think as highly of you! 
This must be nurtured so that you do not become one of those irresponsible owners who believe at the start that they and the dog are perfect for each other. Discard the dog once he needs more attention, financial investment, and/or losses his cuteness.
The other effect of choosing a particular dog is that you could grow to be more like the dog. The reverse is less likely to be so because humans are far more capable of changing their behavior and personalities in response to a situation than dogs are of changing their nature.
Do you REALLY look like your dog?
I’ll be very happy to hear or see a picture of you and your dog.
The Complete Series of Owner-Dog Match
- Do Your Look Like Your Dog?
- Does Your Personality Really Match Up With the Dog You Choose?
- Are You Choosing the Dog That Match Your Lifestyle?
Mar 6th 2007
5:01 PM
Misty, my alpha Poodle doesn’t look like me, but everyone who knows us says that we have identical characters and personalities.
Mar 6th 2007
11:28 PM
Jan, I know exactly what you mean.
One question, do you recall having these characters and personalities before you had Misty?
Y’know, how I wish my dogs would have just one of my traits….be organized. But if I would to compare them to my Goldies who are with my MIL, they win hands down. Ok, stop complaining! Be happy with them, Renée!!!