Pets as Reflections of Inner Space

I am a firm believer that dogs and dog owners really do look alike. From my understanding, this ensures that their integration into the family unit correlates with similar hairstyles, skin colourings, and makeup of the individual members. Similarly, cats also reflect the daily activities of our lives, requiring a balance of time alone, time to explore, and time for love through pats and affection, like its owner. New research has shown that one’s pet also reflects the strongest characteristics of the owner in their personality. Suddenly Fido’s need to chase possums along the back fence seems oddly reminiscent of its owners need for adventure and risk taking.

Over the years the pets of countless friends have challenged my perception of them as an animal lover. The docile cat of a friend that sleeps on your lap lashes out when attempting to place kitty in a cage for a vet visit. Similarly, that normal quiet friend goes ballistic when the last pair of size 7 shoes are being tried on by a “fat mole clearly in need of fashion help but too fugly to do the shoes justice.” In less radical examples, a former stressed-out flatmate caused such extreme anxiety to their dog’s personality that she attempted dog therapy and re-training rather than address underlying issues herself. As a pet owner myself, my dog best reflects my desire to be more zen – often meditating in the sun most mornings. On the flipside, we’ve both had days where we roll around on our backs on the floor, scratching those hard to itch places, as well as chasing each other around the house to release pent-up energy on a rainy day.

If pets are set to reflect our strongest characteristics in their personality, how does this gap of understanding occur? Is it an evolutionary DNA error where their spatial soundscape is simply more evolved than ours, or do we lack the spark to expand our best traits outward into the world for all to see? Those who fuss fluffing their pet’s fur and attending to their enjoyment could be quietly understanding how to formulate self-care, and practice extreme self-compassion through external interaction. Their pet may therefore share their inner vibration, omitting a sense of peacefulness during this intimate interaction with their owner to learn from.

Our experience of the world is directly influenced by our lifestyles and daily experiences. Pets therefore experience a secondary extension of our learned conclusions. If we enjoy a crisp evening gathered on our balcony, our pets are also likely to value the night-time hours and cooler weather. Similarly, if we were to slowly rotate in front of a warm fireplace during winter, our pets may enjoy a nap on the floor beside this warming device. The concept of puppy preschool for dogs is a distinct example of our ability to fuse the socialisation traits of an owner with their animals. Encouraged to seek out and explore other dogs of a similar age, as an owner we too must also make close connections through a series of friendships. As we grow to navigate the multitude of personality types out there, our pets also learn which animals are positive influences on our lives, and ones with the potential to detract us from our favoured course.

Pets are complex creatures that share a unique bond with their owners. A trill from one bird may mean dinner time, while to another it could mean a visitor approaching the door. This language, unique to each owner and pet, reminds people of the time when the veil of communication between the two was a little less defined. Anyone who encounters an animal in the wilderness experiences a different meaning from one behind a cage at the zoo, so a pet’s personality must fuse the historical lineage of their history alongside the requirements of modern living. This continual renegotiation of an animal’s spatial arrangement of history, reminds owners to continually reflect on what is needed from their past to maximise their present and future personality traits. Perhaps this is what we need to most learn from our pets.