Photo by Maksim Goncharenok via Pexels
Eight in 10 dog owners think it was genuinely fate that they were matched with their dog, according to new research.
And it may be more than just fate matching us with our pets, results showed our personalities very often match, too.
That’s according to a survey examining the connection between 2,000 owners and their dogs, which found a resounding 81% believe it was meant to be that they ended up together, with many saying their dog’s personality feels like a mirror of their own.
The new survey examined whether people choose pets that reflect their personality, and the results show a striking emotional connection.
Seventy-four percent of pet parents said their dog resembles them in key ways, especially when it comes to energy levels, social habits and emotional sensitivity.
Moreover, whether you consider yourself an introvert or an extrovert seems to have direct implications on the personality of your dog, according to the research conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Darwin’s Natural Pet Products.
People who describe themselves as “introverts” were more likely to say they have a shy, cautious or quiet dog. They were also more likely to describe their pet as stubborn, calm and easygoing.
Those who see themselves as extroverted were more than twice as likely to say their dog has an outgoing personality versus introverts (38% vs. 19%).
And extroverts were more likely to describe their pet as friendly, affectionate and energetic, as well as being more driven in their personality type overall.
Perhaps most convincingly of all, extroverts are far more likely to have an extroverted dog, with 82% saying this matches their dog’s personality, while less than a third of introverts (32%) say they have an extroverted dog.
Similarly, the majority of introverts (62%) say their dog is an introvert just like them, while just 16% of extroverts say their pup is an introvert.
“So many pet parents feel like it was fate that brought them and their dogs together, and it’s funny how often their personalities really do match,” said Gary Tashjian, founder and CEO of Darwin’s pet food. “Science backs it up, too: Studies have found that owners and their dogs often align across major personality traits. It’s a reminder that our bond with dogs is both deeply personal and surprisingly universal, and for those curious, there’s even more fascinating research into how human and canine personalities overlap.”
The survey echoes Darwin’s pet food’s internal findings, which surmised that owners who enjoy routines and structure often share their lives with what’s known as a confident controller — a personality type in dogs that thrives on consistency and attention.
While affectionate, outgoing owners often ended up with what the research calls affectionate socialites — dogs who love being around people, crave physical closeness and never miss a chance to tag along to a dog-friendly café.
Samson Katt
Meanwhile, the independent loner pup seems to gravitate toward calm, quieter households, where strong bonds are formed with just one or two people, a dynamic many self-described introverts said felt deeply familiar.
The 2025 survey also saw over two-thirds (68%) describe their dog as their emotional twin and over half (56%) go even further to describe their pet as their soulmate.
Three in four pet parents (75%) feel they share an unspoken understanding with their pet all the time or often and 83% say their dog instantly soothes their anxiety.
“What this research really highlights is the depth of the human–dog bond,” added Tashjian. “People don’t just see their pets as companions; they see them as reflections of themselves, even soulmates. Whether it’s fate, personality, or a mix of both, the connection is so strong that many owners feel their dogs understand them in ways no one else can.”
To learn more on how pet personalities resemble owners’ traits and to examine prior research on dogs and personality type.
TOP TRAITS PEOPLE THINK THEY SHARE WITH THEIR DOG
- Friendly (65%)
- Affectionate (50%)
- Energetic (39%)
- Easygoing (39%)
- Independent (31%)
Artem Beliaikin
Survey methodology:
Talker Research surveyed 2,000 dog owners; the survey was commissioned by Darwin’s Natural Pet Products and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between Sept. 4 – Sept. 10, 2025.
We are sourcing from a non-probability frame and the two main sources we use are:
- Traditional online access panels — where respondents opt-in to take part in online market research for an incentive
- Programmatic — where respondents are online and are given the option to take part in a survey to receive a virtual incentive usually related to the online activity they are engaging in
Those who did not fit the specified sample were terminated from the survey. As the survey is fielded, dynamic online sampling is used, adjusting targeting to achieve the quotas specified as part of the sampling plan.
Regardless of which sources a respondent came from, they were directed to an Online Survey, where the survey was conducted in English; a link to the questionnaire can be shared upon request. Respondents were awarded points for completing the survey. These points have a small cash-equivalent monetary value.
Cells are only reported on for analysis if they have a minimum of 80 respondents, and statistical significance is calculated at the 95% level. Data is not weighted, but quotas and other parameters are put in place to reach the desired sample.
Interviews are excluded from the final analysis if they failed quality-checking measures. This includes:
- Speeders: Respondents who complete the survey in a time that is quicker than one-third of the median length of interview are disqualified as speeders
- Open ends: All verbatim responses (full open-ended questions as well as other please specify options) are checked for inappropriate or irrelevant text
- Bots: Captcha is enabled on surveys, which allows the research team to identify and disqualify bots
- Duplicates: Survey software has “deduping” based on digital fingerprinting, which ensures nobody is allowed to take the survey more than once
It is worth noting that this survey was only available to individuals with internet access, and the results may not be generalizable to those without internet access.