There is a popular notion that pet owners (dog owners in particular) choose pets for themselves that have visual characteristics in which they share. In fact you may have heard last year of a study that was undertaken by two psychologists, Michael Roy and Nicholas Christenfeld of the University of California at San Diego. The results of the study suggest that when people pick a pet, ãthey seek one that, at some level, resembles them, and when they get a purebred, they get what they want.ä While the study examined both purebred dogs as well as non-purebred, the results showed that ãthe resemblance between dogs and their owners was confined to purebreds.ä
   Now while this story made national headlines last year, just what does it say about the dog you own or are contemplating owning? Well at best it might provide some helpful guidance in picking a pet for someone who is waffling between different breeds or a mutt. Choosing a pet is a distinctly personal experience and the decision of which pet to bring into your home is one that is born of vastly different reasons.
   While some might seek out a pure-bred animal, there are thankfully those who feel a sense of duty to take in pets that are cast-offs or abandoned at animal shelters. Shelters and animal rescue groups also take in pure-bred animals and are an excellent resource for finding a pet that might fit your particular needs if you do not feel a need to have a registered breed.
   If, however, a pure-bred dog is what you seek, donât put a lot of faith in that study mentioned at the start. Of the 25 purebreds in the study, there were 16 matches, 0 ties, and 9 misses. So selecting a dog to match your appearance is not a sure-fire way to go. I breed Miniature Schnauzers and even though I have a salt and pepper beard, mustache and hair, I am anything but miniature! If I picked a dog based on my appearance I probably would have ended up with a Bull Mastiff! In fact, I selected Miniature Schnauzers because I find their temperment and friendliness are much closer to what I imagine those qualities are in myself. Selecting a pet based on such criteria as temperment, sociability, alertness and ease of training are likely to produce a better match for you. After all, beauty or looks is only skin deep and the essence of the pet is not what you see but what is within.