Cholo anda como su dueña por la calle: despacio y tranquilo. Al contrario de lo que le ocurre a Ana con su cocker
de tres años, que es nervioso y tiende a enfrentarse al resto de canes
que encuentra durante el paseo por el parque. Las personas que conviven
con perros suelen relatar que sus compañeros de cuatro patas
se parecen a ellos en su comportamiento y carácter: dormilones,
sedentarios, activos, tímidos o tragones. Pero, ¿qué hay de realidad en
esta percepción? "De manera instintiva, escogemos animales con
características compatibles con las nuestras; y, por ello, al lado de
una persona nerviosa, suele haber un perro inquieto, o al contrario, un
can tranquilo convive con un dueño pausado”, explica la psicóloga
especializada en terapias con animales Carmen Castro. “Barry
era como yo: fuerte, corpulento y trabajador; no se rendía nunca”,
recuerda Gregorio Sánchez, dueño de este perro que murió hace unos años.
Ahora tiene otro animal, Gus, un pitbull de año y
medio que también es muy cabezota y despistado. "De hecho, alguna vez se
ha golpeado con una farola, como me ha pasado a mí", añade, entre
risas.
Pero esta decisión inicial no es la única causa por la que personas y canes se parecen, sino que también influye la capacidad de imitación de la mascota. La adaptación al entorno es clave para la supervivencia de un animal y los que dependen de los individuos para cubrir sus necesidades (alimento, cobijo, cariño) y viven en grupo, explotan a fondo sus habilidades imitativas y sociales para sentir empatía y agradar a sus dueños. "En realidad, personas y animales somos muy similares. Y este mimetismo que se produce entre los perros y seres humanos que conviven es comparable al que sucede con las parejas, que acaban por parecerse en el carácter y la forma de actuar”, afirma Miguel Ibáñez, psiquiatra de animales de la Clínica del Comportamiento de la Facultad de Veterinaria de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid.
Otros investigadores corroboran la capacidad de los perros para imitar a sus dueños. Es el caso de Claudia Fugazza y Adám Miklósi, de la Universidad Eötvös Loránd de Hungría, quienes indagaron en la habilidad de los canes para emular a personas, y descubrieron que pueden recordar y repetir las acciones de estos individuos, como dar vueltas sobre sí mismos, incluso transcurridos unos minutos.
Cholo, Dina y Amy son los tres perros adoptados de Eva María Blanco, que se muestra a favor de la idea de que los canes se mimetizan con la personalidad de sus dueños. “En mi caso, se parecen a mí en que son tranquilos, madrugadores y, como no me gusta que ladren, es raro verles hacerlo. Además, tampoco son peleones con otros perros: al igual que yo, evitan el enfrentamiento”.
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Cholo walks like his owner on the street: slowly and calmly. Contrary to what happens to Ana with her three-year-old cocker spaniel, who is nervous and tends to face the rest of the dogs he meets during the walk in the park. People who live with dogs often report that their four-legged companions resemble them in their behavior and character: sleepy, sedentary, active, shy or greedy. But what about reality in this perception? "Instinctively, we choose animals with characteristics compatible with ours; and, therefore, next to a nervous person, there is usually a restless dog, or on the contrary, a calm dog coexists with a slow owner," explains the specialized psychologist. in animal therapy Carmen Castro. "Barry was like me: strong, corpulent and hard-working; he never gave up," remembers Gregorio Sánchez, owner of this dog who died a few years ago. Now he has another animal, Gus, a pit bull of the year and a half who is also very stubborn and clueless. "In fact, he has ever been hit with a lamppost, as has happened to me," he adds, laughing.
But this initial decision is not the only reason why people and dogs are alike, it also influences the ability of imitation of the pet. Adaptation to the environment is key to the survival of an animal and those who depend on individuals to meet their needs (food, shelter, affection) and live in groups, fully exploit their imitative and social skills to empathize and please their owners. "In reality, people and animals are very similar. And this mimicry that occurs between dogs and human beings who live together is comparable to what happens with couples, who end up being similar in character and way of acting," says Miguel. Ibáñez, animal psychiatrist at the Behavioral Clinic of the Veterinary Faculty of the Complutense University of Madrid.
Other researchers corroborate the dogs' ability to imitate their owners. This is the case of Claudia Fugazza and Adám Miklósi, from the Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary, who investigated the ability of the dogs to emulate people, and discovered that they can remember and repeat the actions of these individuals, such as turning around on themselves , even after a few minutes.
Cholo, Dina and Amy are the three dogs adopted from Eva María Blanco, who is in favor of the idea that the dogs blend with the personality of their owners. “In my case, they are similar to me in that they are calm, early risers and, since I don't like them to bark, it is rare to see them do it. Also, they are not fighters with other dogs: like me, they avoid confrontation ”.
Pero esta decisión inicial no es la única causa por la que personas y canes se parecen, sino que también influye la capacidad de imitación de la mascota. La adaptación al entorno es clave para la supervivencia de un animal y los que dependen de los individuos para cubrir sus necesidades (alimento, cobijo, cariño) y viven en grupo, explotan a fondo sus habilidades imitativas y sociales para sentir empatía y agradar a sus dueños. "En realidad, personas y animales somos muy similares. Y este mimetismo que se produce entre los perros y seres humanos que conviven es comparable al que sucede con las parejas, que acaban por parecerse en el carácter y la forma de actuar”, afirma Miguel Ibáñez, psiquiatra de animales de la Clínica del Comportamiento de la Facultad de Veterinaria de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid.
Otros investigadores corroboran la capacidad de los perros para imitar a sus dueños. Es el caso de Claudia Fugazza y Adám Miklósi, de la Universidad Eötvös Loránd de Hungría, quienes indagaron en la habilidad de los canes para emular a personas, y descubrieron que pueden recordar y repetir las acciones de estos individuos, como dar vueltas sobre sí mismos, incluso transcurridos unos minutos.
Cholo, Dina y Amy son los tres perros adoptados de Eva María Blanco, que se muestra a favor de la idea de que los canes se mimetizan con la personalidad de sus dueños. “En mi caso, se parecen a mí en que son tranquilos, madrugadores y, como no me gusta que ladren, es raro verles hacerlo. Además, tampoco son peleones con otros perros: al igual que yo, evitan el enfrentamiento”.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cholo walks like his owner on the street: slowly and calmly. Contrary to what happens to Ana with her three-year-old cocker spaniel, who is nervous and tends to face the rest of the dogs he meets during the walk in the park. People who live with dogs often report that their four-legged companions resemble them in their behavior and character: sleepy, sedentary, active, shy or greedy. But what about reality in this perception? "Instinctively, we choose animals with characteristics compatible with ours; and, therefore, next to a nervous person, there is usually a restless dog, or on the contrary, a calm dog coexists with a slow owner," explains the specialized psychologist. in animal therapy Carmen Castro. "Barry was like me: strong, corpulent and hard-working; he never gave up," remembers Gregorio Sánchez, owner of this dog who died a few years ago. Now he has another animal, Gus, a pit bull of the year and a half who is also very stubborn and clueless. "In fact, he has ever been hit with a lamppost, as has happened to me," he adds, laughing.
But this initial decision is not the only reason why people and dogs are alike, it also influences the ability of imitation of the pet. Adaptation to the environment is key to the survival of an animal and those who depend on individuals to meet their needs (food, shelter, affection) and live in groups, fully exploit their imitative and social skills to empathize and please their owners. "In reality, people and animals are very similar. And this mimicry that occurs between dogs and human beings who live together is comparable to what happens with couples, who end up being similar in character and way of acting," says Miguel. Ibáñez, animal psychiatrist at the Behavioral Clinic of the Veterinary Faculty of the Complutense University of Madrid.
Other researchers corroborate the dogs' ability to imitate their owners. This is the case of Claudia Fugazza and Adám Miklósi, from the Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary, who investigated the ability of the dogs to emulate people, and discovered that they can remember and repeat the actions of these individuals, such as turning around on themselves , even after a few minutes.
Cholo, Dina and Amy are the three dogs adopted from Eva María Blanco, who is in favor of the idea that the dogs blend with the personality of their owners. “In my case, they are similar to me in that they are calm, early risers and, since I don't like them to bark, it is rare to see them do it. Also, they are not fighters with other dogs: like me, they avoid confrontation ”.
