Uncovering the Mystery of Why Dogs Might Look Like Their Owners

Have you ever noticed that some dogs look a lot like their owners? The phenomenon of the canine look-alike has been well established by scientists — and says a lot about how we choose our companions.

By Alex Orlando
Aug 9, 2023 8:45 PMAug 9, 2023 8:37 PM
Dog looking like its owner
(Credit: Txema_Gerardo/Getty Images)

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This article was originally published on June 21, 2023.

Whether you’re at the dog park or just taking a stroll around the block, you’ve surely seen this before: A pup who looks — almost uncannily — like a miniature version of the human holding its leash.

Maybe it’s the muscular pit bull who resembles its similarly-buff owner. Or the prim-and-proper poodle whose coiffed fur is a perfect match for its human's stylish hairdo. You may have even suppressed a chuckle at the basset hound whose mellow demeanor mirrors that of its droopy-eyed handler's.

So why do so many dogs appear to be tiny, hairier versions of their owners? Perhaps surprisingly, the conundrum has been well studied by scientists. In fact, there’s a decent body of research supporting the notion that humans choose canine companions who look most similar to themselves.

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