If Your Dog Looks Like You, There May Be a Psychological Reason

Disney fans probably remember the scene in the classic 1961 film “101 Dalmatians” in which the Dalmatian Pongo sits by a window, watching other dogs and their owners walk by outside.

Each dog that goes past looks uncannily like its owner.

Dogs who resemble their human owners has been observed in research, too. In one study, published in 2015, women with long hair tended to prefer dogs with similarly long ears, and women with short hairstyles preferred prick-eared dogs.

Experts say this psychological phenomenon is a result of us humans preferring pets, people or even objects that resemble ourselves. After all, we are exposed to our own faces daily in the mirror. If we choose a dog that resembles what we see in ourselves, it can be comforting. The dog’s features may feel familiar.