Your pet does not have your chromosomes, but if you choose a dog, he or she may resemble you.
Are you and your pet alike? Midnight and his male master were both astute risk-takers. With a twist, questions about nurture. Your family pet does not carry your chromosomes, but if you choose your pet (rather than getting him by coincidence), it’s possible that you chose a dog or cat that looks a lot like you on purpose or unintentionally.
It’s also possible that the two of you have become more similar in personality over time, regardless of how you received your pet. You share certain personality characteristics.
Midnight, a mixed breed who appeared to be the most sluggish of the litter, slept as his littermates played. Despite the fact that the mother and two children who adopted him had very different personalities, the dog took on the shaggy appearance and powerful attitude of the child in the family. Perhaps it was because they were the only boys, or because the son had always been troubled, and the dog knew who needed him the most. This is another case of nature against nurture. Both would rather go on their own trips. And both appeared to have an angel on their backs after escaping life-threatening accidents.
Cats use their personality traits to get what they want.
Then there were the cats, Magritte and Cassatt, two tabbies that were social and lively as kittens when they were adopted. Cassatt, on the other hand, reportedly concluded that in order to receive the attention she craved, she needed to become like and compete with the three small children in the family as they aged. She had a deep bond with her mother. (This behavior repulsed Magritte.) If a child crawled in bed with Mom, Cassatt insisted on squeezing between them. This cat also figured out how to make her meows seem like “Mom,” which was quite upsetting.
When the kittens came to see Grandma, Magritte must have seen an opportunity. He was generally the more mature cat, but in his new setting, he took on the personality attributes of his new friend. Without the distraction of children, he could thrive as the calm, intelligent cat. This cat charmed Grandma by striving to emulate her. He’d sit at her computer pretending to work, browse through her file drawer pretending to hunt for a document, and sit next to an open book pretending to read it. He wished he could do everything she did. Attempts by this cat to pick up a glass of iced tea, on the other hand, usually resulted in a big mess.
What experts have to say about pet personality traits
We are aware of at least two scientists who have undertaken research on the personalities of owners and their pets. Professor Richard Wiseman of the University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom conducted an online survey of pet owners and discovered that both dog and cat owners shared psychological traits such as happiness, intelligence, independence, and sense of humour with their pets.
Dr. Sam Gosling, head of The University of Texas’ Human and Animal Personality Lab, assessed dogs’ human personalities using scientific methods. He, like many other scientists, believed that animal personalities were merely what mankind assigned to them. He observed that certain personality traits in dogs can be accurately discerned. His hope is that his findings will be used to better match shelter dogs with owners, as well as to help people choose the best canines for specific duties, such as working with police or supporting the disabled.
You probably have more in common with your cat or dog than you know. However, ask a close friend or relative whether they notice any similarities in your personalities. You and your pet could be a perfect match!
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