Source (original paper)
Dodman NH, Brown DC, Serpell JA. (2018). Associations between owner personality and psychological status and the prevalence of canine behavior problems. PLOS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0192846
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license. You may share, reuse, and distribute it, including for commercial use, if you give appropriate credit.

1. Why did they do this research?

We often say that "dogs resemble their owners." On walks you might see a calm person with a calm dog, or an active person with an energetic dog. But whether that impression is just a feeling or something that shows up in data is another question.

This study looked at exactly that. The researchers used survey data to see whether owners' personality and psychological state were related to their dogs' behavior problems. The main question was simple: Is there a statistical link between owners' personality traits and dogs' problem behaviors—such as aggression, anxiety, or excessive barking?

2. How was the study done?

The study was based on surveys of a large number of dog owners. Owners were asked about their own personality and psychological state.

For example, questions included:

  • I tend to worry a lot.
  • I get nervous or irritable easily.
  • I enjoy being around people.
  • I tend to act in a planned way.

From these answers, the team analyzed owners' personality along several dimensions. They paid special attention to neuroticism (tendency to worry and feel anxious), extraversion, and conscientiousness. They also assessed recent stress and mood.

Owners were also asked in detail about their dog's behavior:

  • Is the dog aggressive toward people or other dogs?
  • Does the dog show excessive fear in new situations?
  • Does the dog show destructive behavior when left alone?
  • Does the dog bark excessively?

From these answers, the researchers scored the dogs' problem behaviors and compared them statistically with the owners' personality scores.

3. What did they find?

The analysis showed several clear patterns.

More neurotic owners

When owners reported more worry and emotional ups and downs, their dogs were more often reported to show problem behaviors. Aggression, anxiety, and fear-related behaviors often appeared together.

This suggests that owner temperament and dog behavior may not be fully independent. It does not prove that the owner "caused" the behavior.

More extraverted owners

Owners who liked being around people and were more active tended to report fewer problem behaviors in their dogs. An active lifestyle may give dogs more stimulation and social experience.

Stress and low mood

When owners reported high stress or low mood, their dogs' problem-behavior scores tended to be higher too. Again, this is an association, not proof of cause and effect.

4. Why might these links exist?

Dogs do not understand every word we say, but they read our facial expressions, voice, and body language very well. When an owner is tense, their body and voice can change in ways that the dog picks up.

Lifestyle can also play a role. Anxious owners may control the dog more or avoid new situations. Calmer owners may expose the dog to more varied experiences.

How we interpret the same behavior also differs. One owner may see a little barking as a serious problem; another may not. So both real behavior differences and differences in perception may be at work.

5. What this study does not tell us

This was a cross-sectional survey at one point in time. So we cannot say what came first or what caused what.

  • Did the owner's personality affect the dog's behavior?
  • Did the dog's behavior affect the owner's mood?
  • Did both influence each other over time?

More research is needed to answer these questions.

6. What we can take away

The study encourages us to see the dog not only as a training subject but as part of a relationship. When we look at a dog's behavior, it helps to consider the owner's emotional state and lifestyle too.

Regular walks, a predictable routine, a calm voice, and a steady attitude can help the dog feel secure. This applies to people of any age.

In the end, the dog and the owner live together as a team. They do not exist in isolation; they influence each other in a shared environment.

In a nutshell

Dogs are not simply "like their owners"—they are beings who live in an environment shaped by the owner's personality and emotions and who are influenced by and influence that environment. So understanding the dog is also connected to reflecting on our own attitudes and way of life.

Source (CC BY 4.0)
Dodman NH, Brown DC, Serpell JA. (2018). Associations between owner personality and psychological status and the prevalence of canine behavior problems. PLOS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0192846
© 2018 The Authors. Published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).