Do dogs really resemble their owners?

For decades, people have joked that dogs look and act like their owners. This idea, long considered anecdotal, now has scientific backing. A systematic review of 15 studies explored the evidence for physical and personality similarities between dogs and their human companions. The results support 2 major hypotheses: people choose dogs that look like them, and over time, dogs and owners grow similar in personality.¹

Photo: Sandra/Adobe Stock

In terms of physical appearance, the studies consistently show that humans can match dog-owner pairs based on looks. One experiment even found that participants correctly matched owners and dogs using only their eye regions.¹ Researchers also identified matching features such as body weight and hair or ear length, especially between female owners and their pets. These patterns suggest that people often choose dogs who resemble them. This selection may result from psychological effects like the Mere Exposure Effect, where people prefer what feels familiar; or a Preference for Self-Similarity, which draws individuals to traits that mirror their own.¹

When examining personality traits, researchers found even stronger correlations. Dogs and owners often share characteristics such as extraversion and neuroticism. Many studies confirmed these personality overlaps. Notably, highly neurotic owners tended to have dogs that also showed signs of anxiety or mood instability. While some researchers argue that this similarity arises from initial selection, others believe it develops over time through shared experiences and emotional co-regulation.¹

Researchers have proposed several mechanisms for the development of internal similarities. Emotional convergence happens when close companions gradually align their emotional responses. For example, a neurotic owner may behave inconsistently, prompting the dog to act cautiously or anxiously. Co-regulation also plays a role. Here, the dog and owner continuously shape each other’s emotional states and behaviors. Some studies showed that the owner’s emotional instability influenced the dog’s obedience, while others found that the dog’s anxiety affected the owner’s mood.¹

Observational learning may further explain personality similarities. Dogs observe their owners’ behavior and mimic certain emotional and social cues. For instance, dogs of highly extraverted owners have more chances to watch social interactions and may adopt more outgoing behaviors. Over time, reinforcement strengthens these traits, as owners reward behaviors that reflect their own tendencies, sometimes without realizing it.

Future research needs to explore these dynamics further. Longitudinal studies could track how personality similarities evolve over time, according to the systematic review.¹ Scientists should also consider who selects the dog in each household, whether the dog is purebred or mixed breed, and how gender influences owner-dog similarity. Investigating narcissism might shed light on why people choose dogs that mirror their appearance. Additionally, analyzing live interactions or video footage could reveal more about the subtle behavioral parallels between humans and their pets.¹

In conclusion, this review supports the claim that dogs resemble their owners in both appearance and personality. People often select dogs that look like them, and as they live together, their personalities grow more alike. Whether through choice, co-regulation, or emotional convergence, dogs and humans form deeply connected and similar pairs. The next step is to examine what these similarities mean for their happiness, functionality, and compatibility as companions, according to the authors of the review.

Ava Landry is a 2026 PharmD candidate studying veterinary pharmacy at the University of Connecticut in Storrs.

Reference

1. Bender Y, Roth F, Schweinberger S, Witte S, Brauer J. Like owner, like dog: a systematic review about similarities in dog-human dyads. Pers Individ Dif. 2025;233:112884. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2024.112884