Why do dogs look like their owners?

Studies that ask participants to match dogs with their owners reveal that pooches do indeed often resemble their people. One reason could be that familiarity breeds content.

We love our human family and so are drawn to dogs with similar features, but the phenomenon could also be a spin-off from the way we have evolved to choose our human mates.

People who select a physically similar partner may inadvertently be selecting for genetic compatibility, and although our canine relationships are purely platonic, we may subliminally apply the same standards.

Read more:

• Why are little dogs so much more annoying than big dogs?
• Why do dogs lick people?
• Do dogs have a concept of time?
• How do dogs see the world?

Asked by: Laura Rayner, via email

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