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Study Reveals That Dogs Resemble Their OwnersAs a Result of Selection (Doggie Lovers Alert)
Psychological Science ^ | March 29, 2004 | news release

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.


TOPICS: Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: doggieping; dogs; owners; science; selection
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This news release is old, but I came across it today and thought some of the many freeping dog lovers could relate.

My setter Lucy is much better looking than I am.

1 posted on 02/10/2006 10:18:33 AM PST by girlangler
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To: girlangler

Now I understand why my cat is ornery.


2 posted on 02/10/2006 10:20:14 AM PST by MarxSux
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To: girlangler

I took part in such a study once. Asked to match six owners and dogs, I got all six wrong. The study still showed that owners and dogs resembled each other. Makes me wonder about the statistics of the study.


3 posted on 02/10/2006 10:21:38 AM PST by razoroccam (Then in the name of Allah, they will let loose the Germs of War (http://www.booksurge.com))
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To: girlangler

So I guess we can assume Harry Reid owns a weiner dog.


4 posted on 02/10/2006 10:23:00 AM PST by gov_bean_ counter (It is easy to call for a pi$$ing contest when you aren't going to be in the line of fire.)
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To: razoroccam
spitting image:


5 posted on 02/10/2006 10:27:45 AM PST by Hildy (The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth)
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To: girlangler

Don't mess with me. I look like a German Shepherd!

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrowl


6 posted on 02/10/2006 10:27:49 AM PST by Brad’s Gramma
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To: girlangler

7 posted on 02/10/2006 10:29:24 AM PST by pookie18 ((Hillary Rotten) Clinton Happens...as does Dr. Demento Dean, Bela Pelosi & Benedick Durbin!!)
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To: girlangler
Even their cats, in some cases:


8 posted on 02/10/2006 10:29:33 AM PST by Lady Jag ( All I want is a kind word, a warm bed, and world domination)
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To: Hildy

Are you on the right or the left? :-)


9 posted on 02/10/2006 10:30:02 AM PST by Obadiah
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To: girlangler

10 posted on 02/10/2006 10:31:34 AM PST by HuntsvilleTxVeteran (“Don't approach a Bull from the front, a Horse from the rear, or a Fool from any side.”)
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To: gov_bean_ counter


Yep, pretty close..
11 posted on 02/10/2006 10:32:28 AM PST by mnehring (Perry 06- It's better than a hippie in a cowboy hat or a commie with blue hair.)
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To: girlangler


12 posted on 02/10/2006 10:33:34 AM PST by Neenah
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To: pookie18

This is going to cost Freepers some keyboards.


13 posted on 02/10/2006 10:37:36 AM PST by gov_bean_ counter (It is easy to call for a pi$$ing contest when you aren't going to be in the line of fire.)
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To: Hildy
spitting image

LOL!

They are VERY cute.

14 posted on 02/10/2006 10:47:36 AM PST by Wolfstar (Someday when we meet up yonder, we'll stroll hand in hand again, in a land that knows no parting...)
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To: HuntsvilleTxVeteran

Awwwww...


15 posted on 02/10/2006 10:48:48 AM PST by Wolfstar (Someday when we meet up yonder, we'll stroll hand in hand again, in a land that knows no parting...)
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To: gov_bean_ counter

A martin fierro creation...couldn't resist posting it in this thread ;-)


16 posted on 02/10/2006 10:56:01 AM PST by pookie18 ((Hillary Rotten) Clinton Happens...as does Dr. Demento Dean, Bela Pelosi & Benedick Durbin!!)
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To: LongElegantLegs

Which of your dogs (Pippin or Tango) do you look like?


17 posted on 02/10/2006 11:24:30 AM PST by Vor Lady (Doesn't expecting the unexpected make the unexpected the expected?)
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To: HairOfTheDog

FYI...and we need more pics


18 posted on 02/10/2006 11:44:56 AM PST by ken5050 (Ann Coulter needs to have children ASAP to pass on her gene pool....any volunteers?)
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To: Hildy

I love the hound on the right's Very Regal Expression.

< |:)~


19 posted on 02/10/2006 11:47:59 AM PST by martin_fierro (I signed up in 1997 to post *this*?)
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To: girlangler; Flyer; technochick99; sinkspur; 88keys; DugwayDuke; sissyjane; Severa; RMDupree; ...
These were done a long time ago now... but still good :~D

dog1.jpg

dog2.jpg

dog3.jpg

dog4.jpg

dog5.jpg

Ping!


Other articles with keyword "DOGGIEPING" since 12/29/04

20 posted on 02/10/2006 11:50:38 AM PST by HairOfTheDog
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