Like owner, like dog! You and your pooch probably have the same personality, study claims

By William On Feb 14, 2023

They say that owners can start to look like their dogs, but the similarities don’t end there.

A study has found that owners with good relationships with their furry friend actually have the same personality as them.

These doting dog parents match with their pup on levels of warmth, enjoyment of outdoor exercise and selflessness with possessions.

Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Germany reviewed 29 published papers on dog-owner relationships.

This revealed that strong bonds were also fostered when the dog was actually more open, agreeable and neurotic than their human.

A study has found that those that have the best relationship with their furry friend actually have the same personality as them (stock image)

The authors wrote: ‘Openness and agreeableness of the dog could represent traits which enable them to facilitate these social interactions especially well.

INDICATORS OF A STRONG HUMAN-DOG RELATIONSHIP

This study regarded a functional relationship as complimentary, where both dog and owner are similarly friendly, but are opposite in dominance and submissiveness.

‘Although the combination of a dominant dog and a submissive owner appears to be challenging in practical ownership,’ the authors wrote.

Functional relationships are formed when dog and owner match on their warmth, enjoyment of outdoor exercise and selflessness with their possessions.

They are also fostered when the pooch was more open, agreeable and neurotic than their human.

‘Particularly in cases where the owners do not possess these traits, they might benefit greatly from their presence in their dogs.’

Forming a functional relationship with a dog has both physical and psychological benefits for humans.

However, particularly post-COVID 19 and in the current cost-of-living crisis, there has been an uptick in owners giving up their pets.

As well as financial reasons and no longer having the time to look after them, many former owners cite behavioural problems as their motivation.

For the new study, published this month in Applied Animal Behaviour Science, researchers wanted to discover what personality traits lead to positive dog-human relationships.

They hope that this could lead to potential owners buying or adopting the best dog for them, and reducing cases of relinquishment.

The study regarded a functional human-dog relationship as ‘complimentary’ – where both are similarly friendly, but are opposite in dominance and submissiveness.

‘Although the combination of a dominant dog and a submissive owner appears to be challenging in practical ownership,’ the authors wrote.

Strong human-dog bonds are formed when they match on their warmth, enjoyment of outdoor exercise and selflessness with their possessions (stock image)

The three main styles of attachment

Anxious – Anxiously attached people are often needier in relationships and need more reassurance, as they fear rejection or the loss of a relationship. Around 20 per cent of the population have an anxious attachment style.

Avoidant – Avoidants are much more likely to avoid intimacy altogether and keep other people at a distance. They are wary of closeness and can feel trapped in relationships. Approximately 25 per cent of people have an avoidant attachment style.

Secure – Securely attached people have little trouble communicating in relationships. They don’t shy away from intimacy, but they are also comfortable on their own. They find it easier to form long-lasting and fulfilling relationships.

A complimentary relationship was found to be associated with high attachment, and therefore a longer, more caring and more fulfilling relationship.

Dysfunctional relationships, however, were marked by behavioural problems in the dogs, like aggression and separation anxiety.

The researchers analysed literature to see which personalities and attachment styles were associated with functional and dysfunctional human-dog relationships.

They found that dog personality traits that are associated with the former include energy, affection, intelligence, openness, agreeableness and responsiveness to training.

However, those that are antisocial, territorial, do not engage in training and have a tendency to destroy objects were associated with problematic relationships with humans.

In addition, neurotic and avoidant attached owners who do not care what others think of them tended to have more aggressive pets.

While one may think that it is impossible to love their pet too much, highly attached owners were found to be prone to having a dog with separation anxiety.

This was more often the case with people who are divorced, widowed or living without a child, suggesting it’s a result of a ‘humanistic orientation towards the dog’.

The authors wrote: ‘That highly attached owners often owned dogs with separation related problems might be because the owners themselves are very worried about the imminent spatial separation, which in turn creates a negative feeling in the dogs.’

Despite these findings, no owner involved in any of the 29 studies said they considered personality or attachment compatibility when getting a dog.

‘In contrast, the look of the dog was often reported to be an important acquisition motive, although cuteness as one aspect of looks is actually related to unsuccessful ownership,’ the authors wrote.

They say that those who display these traits should look for a dog with a personality that is associated with positive relationships.

Dog breeds attract owners with certain personality traits, study finds

There are links between some of the UK’s most popular breeds and the dominant personality traits shown by their owners, according to a study from The Kennel Club.

Those who have border terriers are likely to be charming, lively and exuberant, while Staffordshire bull terrier fans are trustworthy and the most affectionate.

Jack Russell owners, such as King Charles and the Queen Consort, are the most loyal and faithful, with 88 per cent of them displaying these traits.

Those with cocker spaniels, like the Prince and Princess of Wales, top the list for being the most curious, creative and family-orientated.

Owners who ranked most emotionally stable, stating they were positive and happy, had Golden Retrievers, like Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner.