What Your Dog's Personality Says About You, According to Pet Behaviorists
Happy dog with bold, fun personality taking selfies with owner
If you’re a dog mom or a dog dad, you know that your furbaby is more than just an animal. To you, they are part of your family, and are in some ways like your child. Because of that, you have a connection with your pet that is unbreakable and they will forever have a piece of your heart. After all, you’ve cared for them since they were a few weeks old, you’ve raised them, taught them right from wrong and have been by their side as they have grown up.
However, because you’ve been such a big part of their life, does that mean some of your behaviors, likes and personality have rubbed off on them? If you’ve ever wondered that, you’re not alone. It’s completely normal to think about the similarities between you and your pet and the impact you’ve had on who they’ve become.
To find out more about this topic, we spoke with three different dog behaviorists: Victoria Stilwell of Positively, Vladae Roytapel of SoCal Dog Training and Jacqui Zakar of Dog Sense Training and Behaviour. Keep reading to see what they all had to say regarding dogs and personalities, below!
Related: 30 Cutest Dog Breeds of All Time
Do Dogs Reflect Their Owner's Personality?
When it comes to dogs and their owners, Roytapel says it’s likely that an owner’s personality will influence their pet’s personality over time. “Monkey see, monkey do!” he exclaims. “Dogs can mirror their owner’s personality to a degree because they are a leader-oriented species and social creatures.”
Roytapel’s not the only one who believes that. Stilwell agrees, noting, “There is definitely a correlation between a dog’s personality and their owner’s personality because of social learning, which means dogs learn how to do things from the adults raising them, just as children do from a young age.”
Zakar explains that dogs and humans have a connection that goes way back, which is why she’s not surprised that these lovable pets tend to shadow their owners. “Dogs are very unique in that they are the only species that have evolved because of us,” she points out. “Humans didn’t domesticate dogs, dogs domesticated themselves as they evolved from wolves because over time, humans have provided resources for them, like food, security and social bonding. So, it makes sense that dogs are very in tune with people. Nowadays, dogs are so connected to people that some research has shown that when given the choice, dogs actually prefer the company of humans over their own species.”
Related: What Your Dog's Sleeping Position Says About Its Personality, According to a Vet
What Can You Tell About a Person by Their Dog?
You’d think that if a person were a stranger, it’d be really difficult to find out anything about them without getting to know them first. However, our experts beg to differ. They say it’s actually much easier to learn about someone you have never met before if they happen to have a dog.
“One way you can get to know someone before actually meeting them is by finding out what dog breed they have,” Roytapel tells Parade. Stilwell agrees and reveals, “You can tell a lot about a person based on their dog. For instance, if someone has a German Shepherd, you can probably assume they are an outdoorsy person who likes to exercise and that they are pretty energetic. While a person who owns a Chihuahua might be more settled in their personal life, less outdoorsy and be a homebody.”
Besides being able to get a feel of what kind of person someone is based off of their particular pet, Zakar mentions that once you meet a person’s dog, you can also get a sense of someone’s personality as well.
“It’s easy to tell how an owner is living with a dog before meeting the owner because dogs certainly pick up on their owner’s moods, mannerisms and personalities,” she reveals. “Research also supports this with not only owners reporting their dogs share similar personalities, but friends and family will often report the same thing.”
Related: Do You Have a 'Velcro Dog'? Here Are the 15 Clingiest Dog Breeds, According to a Vet
What Your Dog's Personality Says About You, According to Pet Behaviorists
An Adventurous Dog
“If a dog is very adventurous and has a highly outgoing personality, their owner is probably that way too,” Roytapel shares. “They might be that way because their owner brings them on hikes, spends a lot of time outside with them and explores nature with them instead of leaving them at home and doing those things without them.”
Related: These Are 11 of the Healthiest Dog Breeds, According to Veterinarians
An Anxious Dog
A dog who is a little on the cautious side and who may be anxious when it comes to doing new things, being in a new environment or meeting new people, could be mimicking some of their owner’s feelings.
“Nervous people tend to be jumpy and will also smell differently when stressed due to chemical changes in the body," Zakar shares. "Dogs can smell these changes which can alert them to potential threats and make them more highly strung.
Related: The Real Reason Why Dogs Like To Sleep in Their Owners’ Beds
A Lazy Dog
Even though some dog breeds are known for being less active than others, Stilwell tells Parade their personalities can also be a reflection of their owner, explaining, “Dogs can mirror their owner’s activity levels, so if a person is a couch potato and likes to stay home and be more chill, their dog can be that way too and have a more lazy personality.”
Roytapel adds, “Dogs who are on the lazier side and don’t enjoy doing physical activities or who would rather lay down than play, tend to have an owner who isn't very active and doesn't encourage their dog to be either.”
Related: 10 Little Ways To Show Your Dog You Love Them
A Travel-Loving Dog
Not all dogs enjoy traveling from place to place, but those who do and aren’t phased by car rides or plane trips and don’t mind constantly being in new locations tend to get those personality traits from an owner who is always on the move and brings their pup along for the journey.
“Dogs that are adaptable and comfortable in any environment are often a reflection of an owner that gets out and about a lot and spends a lot of time away from home,” Zakar tells Parade. “These dogs go everywhere with their owner and spend all their time taking in the world around them, so they are used to watching the world go by and less likely to be startled by new and novel things.”
Related: The 13 Most Important Tips for Flying With a Dog, According to Veterinarians
A Bashful Dog
If a dog is on the shy side, Stilwell says it could mean their owner is as well.
“If a person prefers to spend most of their time at home and isn’t super social, their dog can be that way too because dogs are incredibly sensitive to their owner’s moods and feelings and that can reflect in their personality,” she shares.
Related: Why Is Your Dog Licking You So Much? Here's What Vets Say
An Athletic Dog
Dogs who are all about physical activities and like to go on long runs with their owner, play sports with them and spend a lot of time outdoors, tend to have a pet parent with those hobbies.
“I find that dogs can physically resemble their owners in some circumstances,” Zakar states. “A lot of people in their twenties and early thirties who spend a lot of time getting fit will also have a more athletic, powerful type of dog breed as a pet, like Staffies or Rottweilers. You can even see that in the condition of the dog because they will be leaner and more muscular from the active lifestyle they enjoy with their owners.”
Related: 8 Surprising Things Your Dog Could Be Trying to Tell You When They Roll on Their Back
An Intellectual Dog
While most dogs are smart, Roytapel says if you come across one who is a very good listener, patient, a quick learner and can do a lot of tricks, it’s also a reflection of their owner.
“People who are intelligent, usually like dog breeds, like Goldendoodles or Labradors, who also love to learn new things and soak in information, just like they do in their own life,” he tells Parade.
A Social Dog
When it comes to super social dogs, our experts say they can have owners who are just like them, or ones who are totally different.
“Sometimes a dog’s personality can be the complete opposite from their owner, such as with a dog who is very social,” Stilwell notes. She explains that’s often the case when it comes to socially awkward people.
“A lot of times, people who are socially awkward will have a dog that they encourage to be social as a way to help increase their own social activity,” she reveals. “Even though the owner might be more of a homebody, they bring their dog to parks and socialize them as a way to encourage themselves to step outside of their own comfort zone and be more communal. Their dog’s friendly and outward personality can help bring them out of their shell and encourage them to interact more with people than they would normally do if they didn’t have a dog.”
Next: 6 Signs You're Actually *Too Affectionate* With Your Dog, According to a Pet Behavior Specialist
