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Blonde woman and blonde dog

28 March 2025

Fur-miliar Faces:

The science behind dog doppelgängers

Ever noticed how some dogs look paw-sitively like their owners? It’s not just your imagination, we’ve got research to back it up! From floppy ears to friendly eyes, dogs often share physical and personality traits with their humans. Here's the tail-wagging truth behind the resemblance.

Lady and Dog with Curly Hair

Fur-tunately, It's True!

Studies have found that owners and dogs tend to look similar. In a study by psychologist Michael Roy at the University of California, San Diego, observers were able to successfully pair pictures of owner and dog, especially when the dogs were purebred. (Source: Do Dogs Resemble Their Owners?)

Even more paw-some, Sadahiko Nakajima of Japan's Kwansei Gakuin University found that people were able to correctly pair dog and owner simply based on eye colour! (Source: Dogs and Owners Resemble Each Other in the Eye Region)

Woman with dog
AEM-HalfHalf - 3

Personality? It's Ruff-ly the Same

It's not only looks that owners and their dogs share, personalities are similar, too! Research has shown that dogs often mirror the personality of the owner. If you're a wild child, your pet is likely the life of the paw-ty. If you're relaxed, your dog might be looking for more chill time. (Source: Like owner, like dog – A systematic review about similarities in dog-human dyads)

Why does this happen?

  • Familiarity: People tend to like dogs that feel familiar to them, and what more familiar than having a face that resembles theirs?
  • Shared Lifestyle: Living together generates shared habits. If you are a fan of long walks, your dog likely is too. And if you happen to be an avid reggae enthusiast, there’s a good chance your furry friend is too. (Source: Pitchfork)
Dog and Man

The Bone-afide Truth

Whether it’s the floppy locks, soulful eyes, or a shared love of couch naps, dogs really do take after their humans. It’s not coincidence but rather the bond that’s been formed over time, a bond that’s really paw-some.

So the next time you spot a dog and owner couple who look like they could be twins, just keep in mind, they’re not barking up the wrong tree. They're just two peas in a paw-d.