It’s my favourite scene from the Disney-animated film 101 Dalmatians, which I rewatched with my toddler recently – a poodle trots along, a pink bow in its fluffy fur, and her owner follows, with a similar hairstyle and bow. It happens over and over, much to the amusement of viewers – dog and owner embody the same gait and style, whether it’s shaggy locks or lanky limbs. But does this happen in real life, too?
Click start to play today’s Word Search, which is all about our canine companions.
While dogs may not share physical similarities with their owners in real life, they may actually tend to share similar personalities.
According to a 2019 report in National Geographic, a social psychologist at US-based Michigan State University decided to find out if this was true. His study, which was published in the Netherlands-based Journal of Research in Personality in April 2019, involved 1,681 dog owners who evaluated their own personalities and those of their dogs through standardised questionnaires. The results indicated a definite personality resemblance.
The study found that people who were highly friendly and sociable were twice as likely to have a dog who was highly active and excitable (and less aggressive) than someone who was less agreeable. Similarly, anxious owners were likely to rate their dogs as more fearful.
Although the study didn’t address the reasons why this happens, researchers theorise that both 'nature' (inherent traits) and 'nurture' (life experiences) seem to extend to our pets, too. When adopting a dog, we are usually attracted to one whose personality naturally fits our daily rhythms. Once routines set in, our day-to-day interactions shape their behaviour, and as they change, we change. For instance, active people may take their dogs out on walks more than inactive people, providing opportunities for socialisation (for both themselves and their dogs).
Either way, 101 Dalmatians got it half right! Our dogs are similar to us – just not necessarily in the way they look.
Play today’s Word Search and let us know if you enjoyed it at games@gulfnews.com.
