Myth or Fact: Do People Look Like Their Dogs?

For today’s myth or fact, we’re exploring the answer to the curious question of "why do people look like their dogs?" Dogs do have famously been called a human’s best friend, but how long do you have to spend with your beloved pup before you start to resemble them?

In this article, we’ll dive into whether it’s possible for dogs to look like humans, examining the science behind the question to find out the all-important answer. So, get your thinking caps on as we discover if it’s fact or fiction!

What Do Studies Show?

Science tells us that there are a few reasons why some dogs and their humans seem to look alike. Studies have shown that people often choose dogs that resemble themselves. For example, in 2004, Roy and Nicholas discovered that participants could match dog parents to purebred dogs based on appearance alone. This was from 45 separate photos of dogs and their humans.

Then, in 2005, Payne and Jaffe found that the number of correct guesses of dog-human pairs was more than just chance, proving that there’s truth to the idea that dogs look like their humans.

These studies also show that, whether subliminally or just by happy coincidence, humans tend to choose dogs that are like them. Dog features such as facial similarity, eyes and grooming style are all things that people match to themselves. Even a dog’s posture and personality can play a role.

Other interesting findings include:

• Women with long hair were more likely to prefer dogs with long, floppy ears.
• Over time, the personalities of humans and dogs often become more alike. We influence our dogs, and they influence us too!
• Dogs tend to move and behave in synchronization with their humans. A strong dog and human bond means that when their human is engaging in certain activities, their dog will often mirror this behaviour and stay close by.

Psychological Factors

Now we know dogs do look like humans, the big question is—why? Well, after some more digging, we’ve found that there are many psychological reasons behind why dogs and their pet parents resemble each other.

Like the desire to have human children, people are naturally drawn to what’s familiar and may have a subconscious desire to have a smaller version of themselves living with them and sharing their life. So, whether it’s fur babies or real babies, the instinct is the same.

We’ve also learned that humans are likely to choose dogs that reflect how they see themselves, whether they realize it or not. So, rather than our pups being real life fur babies and growing to look like us, we often pick the dog breeds we think would be our perfect companions. For example:

• Personality match—Energetic people often choose active breeds while more introverted types might prefer calm companions.
• Lifestyle alignment—Urban dwellers may choose smaller, low-energy breeds suited to apartment living, while those in rural areas may prefer working dogs.
• Mimicking behaviour—Dogs are highly sensitive to human behaviour and often ‘mimic’ facial expressions and emotions as much as they can, which could help the appearance of similarity to develop over time.

The Perfect Dog and Human Pair

If you’re wondering what your perfect pup may look like, here are some of our recommendations for dog and human pairings that will have others thinking you were made just for each other!

• Long-haired dog parents with Afghan Hounds—Sharing a love for self-care and always looking your best.
• Athletic types with Border Collies—Both energetic, active and love to stay busy.
• Nature lovers with Australian Shepherds—Both thrive in outdoor settings and enjoy exploring nature.
• Fashionistas with Poodles—Often enjoying grooming and showcasing their unique style.
• Laid-back individuals with Basset Hounds—Tend to have a calm, easy-going vibe.

Although it’s great to choose a dog that’s your double, when choosing a dog, it should be about compatibility in lifestyle and temperament. A dog’s features may play a role, but shared values and habits matter more. The bond you have with your dog is what truly matters!

Dogs That Look Like Celebrities

Some of the most recognizable dogs that look like humans are celebrities and their furry friends. Are there any famous dogs that steal the show next to their celebrity parents?

• Amanda Seyfried and Finn—Finn is almost as big a celebrity as his Mum, with Amanda even sometimes referring to herself as Finn’s twin.
• Andy Cohen and Wacha—Andy Cohen’s first ever pet, beagle mix Wacha, are inseparable, with one Instagram caption reading ‘I fear that we’re starting to look alike.’
• Kristen Bell and Lola—Lola, a Welsh Corgi-Chow Chow mix, was rescued by Kristen at a shelter and they have been best friends ever since.

Share Your Doggy Doppelgänger with Us

This is the perfect chance to share your doggy lookalike with us! We’d love to see your pictures of you and your pup looking paws-itively identical. Tag us on Instagram @adaptilcanada or Facebook @ADAPTIL(CA) using the hashtag #DoggyDoubleCanada. If you want to snap the best angle possible, read our guide to taking the best pup pictures here.

To learn more facts about our canine companions, keep exploring the ADAPTIL blog online. And don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter to remain in the loop with all our latest updates!

References:

Roy and Nicholas (2004). Do Dogs Resemble Their Owners? Psychological Science doi.org/10.1111/j.0956-7976.2004.00684.x

Payne and Jaffe (2005) Self seeks like: many humans choose their dog pets following rules used for assortative mating. J Ethol doi.org/10.1007/s10164-004-0122-6

Coren (1999). Do People Look Like their Dogs? Anthrozoös doi.org/10.2752/089279399787000336

Duranton, Bedossa and Gaunet (2017) Interspecific behavioural synchronization: dogs exhibit locomotor synchrony with humans. Sci Rep doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-12577-z