I hope I never look like this.
Or this.
Or these.
Or, for that matter, this.
Posted on 02/10/2006 10:18:31 AM PST by girlangler
News Release March 29, 2004
Study Reveals That Dogs Resemble Their Owners As a Result of Selection
Do people really resemble their pets? A resemblance in a movie or on TV between a pet and its owner has occasionally tickled our funny bone. The results of a recent study suggest that a resemblance between owner and dog may be actually determined by the pet lover's selection.
The research, by Michael M. Roy and Nicholas Christenfeld, both of the University of California, San Diego, found that when people pick a pet, they seek one that, at some level, resembles them. These findings will be published in the May issue of Psychological Science, a publication of the American Psychological Society.
The study investigated two possible scenarios that could produce similarity between people and their dogs. One would involve some convergence in features over time, meaning the similarity had grown with the length of ownership. The other would involve people selecting dogs that are like them. (This second situation suggests greater similarity between people and their purebred dogs than between people and their mutts, because a mutt puppy's final appearance is unpredictable, and its selection might also involve less foresight and deliberation.)
Forty-five dogs (25 purebreds and 20 mutts) and their owners were separately photographed. Owners were photographed from the waist up, wearing whatever clothes they had chosen that day and whatever facial expression they chose for the picture. Dogs were photographed facing forward, with the whole dog visible. (The dogs also made whatever facial expression they chose, though often with more emphasis on a steadily lolling tongue.) Judges were shown a picture of one owner and a picture of that owner's dog and one other dog, with the task of picking out the true match.
The judges were able to most often able to properly match the owner and dog. The judges found no resemblance between mutts and their owners, providing evidence that owners tend to choose a dog that looks like them, rather than owners and dogs grow alike over time.
For more information, contact Christenfeld at nchristenfeld@ucsd.edu, or for a complete copy of this article, visit the APS Media Center at www.psychologicalscience.org/media.
Psychological Science is ranked among the top 10 general psychology journals for impact by the Institute for Scientific Information. The American Psychological Society represents advocating science-based research in the public's interest.
LOL! It never ceases to amaze me that anytime there is a thread mentioning a dog, Helen Thomas's photo pops up!!
ping
That picture is from September. He is so much cuter now....and bigger. In the photo he is about 4 pounds. Now, he is 28 pounds. I have a roll of film that needs developing....I just keep forgetting to do it. When Pug owners meet him, they are jealous. He has the curly tail and a slight bulge to the eye, but his snout is longer so there is no snoring and he has longer legs & a muscular chest. If you have ever seen a Patterdale terrier, he looks like that with a brindle coat. He also looks like a miniture Presa Canaria.
What a beautiful dog!
How old is he?
American Black & Tan Coonhound.
At least I’m an American dog!
I don't know . . . that's a pretty handsome beast there.
He is so cute!
Was he a Christmas present?
Aw,
I can smell the puppy breath.
I read an article once where George (??) Ryman's (breeder of the famous Ryman setters) wife stated: "A puppy's breath is like warm bread fresh out of the oven."
He is SO CUTE.
And don't go getting the idea I'm softhearted or anything.
I'm fearsome and mean and that puppy was in very real danger there.
So, he is the one sending me all those great posts/messages :)
He's adorable.
Does he retrieve ducks?
I ain't touchin that one. ;)
If'n you keep postin' them thar hot pictures of yerself, I cain't answer for what they'll do!
LOL!
Dude, it is just my imagination, or does Post 66 look a lot like Hap's bro? The guy, I mean.
Those of us on the inside know you ate that puppy ten seconds after the flash went off.
Kinda
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