Why Is Dog Personality Linked to Human Personality?
One explanation why dog behavior and personality is so intertwined with that of their humans is a tendency for people to select animals who complement their own lives. A calm human will often choose a calm dog, or an anxious person will adopt a frightened dog, for example, says Jenn Fiendish, a veterinary behavior technician who runs Happy Power Behavior and Training in Portland, Oregon. She believes people do this on a subconscious level.
“When my husband and I went to pick up our new puppy 12 years ago, I immediately chose the one who was more active, feisty and a little scared of things, which is much like my own personality. My husband chose the laid-back, calm and not-bothered-by-things puppy, a perfect match for his personality. This also happened with my other two dogs that we own, both of whom I picked out because they were feisty and a bit out of control (me again!).” Through the years, she says that the dogs have maintained, and even strengthened, some of these personality traits.
Dr. Patrick Mahaney, a veterinarian who owns Los Angeles-based California Pet Acupuncture and Wellness (CPAW), Inc., says he’s seen clients with seemingly neurotic tendencies gravitate towards higher-energy dogs. “Such neurotic owners seem to seek out Weimaraners, Viszlas, herding dogs and other breeds and their mixes that often would feed off of the amped-up energy of their owners.”
Given that people and pups have shared a relationship for at least 15 thousand years (scientists debate this timeline), it’s no surprise that dog personality has been impacted.
Fiendish says that dogs have an ability to read and match human emotions. “When a person is very anxious, our dogs understand this and often become anxious as well. If the anxiety is chronic, the dog may also develop chronic anxiety,” she says.
Dr. Mahaney has witnessed this in his practice. “I have observed pets in households where the owners are under a lot of stress [who will] subsequently exhibit behavior problems which could be attributed to the owners’ lack of calming energy.”
Some of the behavior problems he sees include inappropriate urination and defecation, destructive tendencies, barking and howling, and decreased appetite.
Dogs are true empaths, says Dr. Lisa Pinn McFaddin, DVM, GDCVHM, CVSMT, CCOAC, CVA, CVFT, medical director at Independent Hill Veterinary Clinic in Manassas, Virginia, and host of a podcast called Vetsplaining. “They can sense minute physiologic changes in people and other animals and respond accordingly.”
The closer the human-animal relationship, the greater the response, adds Dr. McFaddin. “Dogs frequently try to comfort and calm upset owners. People do not always recognize these cues from dogs, as they may be subtle: laying down next to the person, putting their head on the person’s leg, making physical contact with the person or trying to distract the person with a toy.”
Personality Similarities Between Dogs and Their People
In a study published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science, researchers asked pet parents to rate themselves on five major personality dimensions (as well as on corresponding personality traits of dogs). “The Big Five,” as they’re referred to in the psychology community, are:
Pet parents overwhelmingly responded that they share all five personality dimensions with their dogs. To be certain the results weren’t mere projection by pet parents, independent peers also assessed the dog and human duos. The independent peers also rated them as sharing all the dimensions, except for openness.
They probably sleep when you do
Dogs naturally sleep way more during the day than their owners, but they also get used to your night-time schedule as well. Whether you allow your dog to sleep with you or not, your dog will adjust their sleeping habits to suit yours.
So, if you’re a stay-up-late, get-up-late kind of household, the dog will learn to do the same. And if you prefer to get an early night so you can be an early riser, chances are your dog will be asking to go to bed as soon as the News at Ten bongs strike.
Dogs have personalities based on how their owners treat them, research finds | GMA
Would you consider yourself extroverted, agreeable, open, conscientious, or neurotic? Whatever personality type you have, if you have a dog, then your beloved canine probably has the same one. According to a new study performed by the Kennel Club, which ranked over 1,500 past and present dog owners, people are most likely to pick a pet with personality traits that mirror their own, Earth.com reports.
After assessing 16 popular dog breeds in relation to the five main personality types, the team found that pet parents character traits often matched up with those of their chosen dog breed. When analyzing the data, they came to the below conclusions:
Unsurprisingly, most people surveyed did some compatibility research before choosing their dog—and 88% of participants said that this work paid off. They felt that their pet was a perfect match for their personality and lifestyle. “Each breed has distinct characteristics, traits, and care needs, which helps would-be owners understand more about whether they might be a good fit for them,” said Bill Lambert, a spokesperson for the Kennel Club.
“It appears that we can often tell a lot about a person from the type of dog that they own,” added Lambert. “It is quite striking to see how many people unconsciously select dog breeds with personalities that match their own character, showing that birds of a feather really do flock together.”