Have you ever
wondered how people form such close relationships with their dogs? According to
the article "Why We Love Our Pets: They're Just Like Us!", Melanie
Greenberg explains that humans become close with their dogs because we tend to
choose ones that are most like us, whether it be subliminally or intentionally.
In order to objectively study the similarities between owners and their dogs,
Greenberg looked at scientific findings and found out that some stereotypes
about pet ownership turned out to be true.
One stereotype that
was proven valid by the studies was that the more aggressive dogs belong to
aggressive owners. Studies showed that aggressive dog breeds such as
Rottweilers were most commonly owned by people who scored high on personality
assessments that tested anger, aggression and hostility. The author of this
study noted that a possibility of this could be that people who live in bad
neighborhoods are more aggressive and tend to choose guard dogs such as German
shepherds.
Another stereotype
that was proven true in a study is that dog owners and their pets look alike.
In the study, researchers found that people were able to correctly match pictures of owners to their pets two-thirds of the time. The researchers believe that this
may be an unconscious choice because humans have an "automatic distrust of
dissimilar others." In the past, humans have had a tendency to trust other
people who are similar to them and are "of their kind." Perhaps
humans have a tendency to surround themselves with familiar nonhumans as well.
The reason behind
all these similarities is simple. People tend to choose dogs that are like themselves just like we choose friends who we have similarities with. If people surround themselves with other people that are similar every day then why wouldn't
they do the same when it comes to choosing a pet? What do you think? Do you
think people tend to choose pets that are similar to themselves? If you have a
dog, do you think you chose your particular dog based on possible similarities? Do you think you are anything like your pet?
I think people do choose pets that are like themselves. I do not have a pet, but I always wanted one when I was little. My friends who have pets, all have pets that are similar to them.
ReplyDeleteFor example, my friend has a havanese dog. Her dog, Lexie, is energetic, fast, small, and very affectionate. This reminds me of my friend. My friend is a very good basketball player, she could beat me in a race any day, and she is on the short side.
I think Greenberg's idea makes sense. I know that I am just like my best friend and people always say that a dog is mans best friend.
Now learning that there are concrete studies proving that people choose pets similar to themselves, I can think of many real life examples of friends and family members whose pets resemble them. Even when I see strangers on the street walking their dogs, the animal's breed or temperament always seems to match that of the owner. For example, it's common to see an old man walking his little, calm white Maltese or a young, sporty mom going for a run with her energetic golden retriever. It would be shocking to see a frail old woman with a frightening rottweiler, probably because of these innate similarities we look for in our choices of pets.
ReplyDeleteWhile I don't have a pet, I know exactly the kind of dog I would want. I think we all have an idea of the pet that would fit our personalities the best, as we do with friends.
I think that people do choose pets that are similar to them. I think this is because a calm person, doesn't want to have to deal with an energetic dog or a violent dog. People tend to pick a dog breed that is similar to them in attitude. I think that this is true for my dog which is a shih tzu. My dog is very calm and relaxed just like my family.I think that my family decided to get a shih tzu because of there gentle-nature and calmness. I think that people decide on a pet that will fit into their lifestyle, and therefore the pet is often like them.
ReplyDeleteI think that this is true for all animals. When I used to ride horses, I noticed that people used to pick a horse that reflected their personality. One girl rode a horse that was wild and always fast. She was a very tough and energetic person, so I think she picked a horse that was similar to her. It does not surprise me that this study shows that pets are similar to their owners.
I definitely think that people pick pets that suit their own personalities, because in essence, pets are just extensions of ourselves. We take care of them, love them, and put a little bit of ourselves into raising them and training them. We don't want to have to deal with something so outside of our own personality spectrum, so we tend to find animals we relate to. I see it in myself and my friends all the time- cats for people who lead busy lifestyles and often consider themselves independent, bigger dogs for energetic and happy people, horses for those who ride and love the outdoors, etc. House animals are simple reflections of who we are, personality wise, which is probably what makes them so easy to grow attach to and love, which actually might be a little narcissistic of us, which isn't exactly outside human nature, in any case.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all of the comments thus far about the levels of aggression being the same with owners and their pets, but I also think there is another level to this concept than just picking a dog because he/she is like you. I know if I were to get an aggressive dog, I would be scared to go near it. If I were to get a dog that only hid in the closet all day, I'd feel bad for it. I think it's a balance between aggressions, not just a relationship. If you are an aggressive person, you can handle an aggressive dog. If you are a timid person, you would feel more scared by a threatened dog. Just like there needs to be a balance in relationships between people, I feel like there needs to be a balance between pets and their owners. If a conflict ever does arise between a dog and its owner, the owner needs to be balanced or maybe a little more aggressive than the dog. We pick a dog that we feel comfortable around due to our different levels of aggression.
ReplyDeleteThis article was interesting because, as Noelle also noticed, after reading this I can now find examples of people I know who are comparable to these stereotypes and share similarities with their dogs. I honestly would not say that my dog and I share many similarities, however,one thing that I know is similar about us is our laziness, but I'm not sure if that totally counts. Other than that, I would not exactly say that we have much in common or look alike. Although I can't relate in my own personal experience, I have encountered people who do seem to resemble their dogs in some way and share some similarities in the way they act. I believe that this occurs because people usually buy dogs in search for some company and because of their unconditional love for people. Just as in relationships, it can be beneficial to have a dog that you share similar traits with because it just makes for a more comfortable environment. Also, if an owner is a very aggressive person while his/her dog is very timid, the owner would probably not know how to respond to the timid dog's actions, whereas if he/she had an aggressive dog, it would be easier to care for and to form a relationship with.
ReplyDeleteI have noticed that dogs tend to resemble their owners. It makes sense to me that subliminally people would choose companions who remind them of themselves. However, I wonder if perhaps dogs sometimes begin to resemble their owners after adoption. Just as an aggressive person may choose an aggressive dog, an aggressive person may also form an aggressive dog.
ReplyDeleteI definitely believe that humans have a tendency to adopt pets that are like them. I chose my dog from her siblings because my parents let me choose, and as a rather shy middle schooler, I naturally chose the quiet Yorkie that was sitting alone in the corner of her crate, not fighting for my attention like her brothers. I'm not sure if it was my raising her or her natural disposition, but we are so much alike. Reserved, nonconfrontational, and receptive. I feel like she looks like me too- subtle blond pieces of hair framing her face, cut with layers, of course.
ReplyDeleteI think my dogs are both a lot like me because the entire point of owning a pet is to have a companion. If we had control over their dispositions, we would probably choose animals that could either keep up with or mix with our own personalities. Dogs are considered man's best friend, so as such, we are drawn towards the ones with which we have similarities.
As a dog owner for literally all of my life, I know that our pets tend to reflect who we are as people and sometimes, as the article stated, even look like each other (my mom says that my dog Tootles and I look alike). However, I wonder if part of the reason why our pets end up like us is because of the way we "train" them whether it be active or passive. When we bought my dog Ollie, he was a shy puppy that didn't like to cuddle or be held. Being the extremely affectionate family that we are, my mom, brother, and I all eventually got him to be the adorable cuddle-monster that he is today. On the other hand, my dog Tootles and I are alike in more than just looks- we like eating and sleeping, are very clumsy, introverted, and protective- and he's been like that from the moment I adopted him. So perhaps it is the result of a combination of being attracted to animals that are similar to us and how we train them once we own them.
ReplyDeleteI definitely believe that as pet owners, we tend to choose a dog that is more like us, just as we choose friends who are more closely related to us. Naturally, an energetic owner isn't going to pick a dog that sleeps all day and a more laid back owner isn't going to pick a dog who has an overwhelming amount of energy. What I find more interesting is the idea that this is minicked in human relationships as well. We are more inclined to choose a friend based on what we are used to. We have friends who look like us, have the same interests, and enjoy the same things- that idea of chosing friends based on "their kind". Whether this is a innate method of survival for humans or a social tendency that we picked up over time is an interesting thought, however right now, we can see this displayed the most through a person's preference for pets.
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