Genes: Your Looks, Health, and Being a Dog Person? That’s a Family Story!

My great grandmother, Gertrude, with Rusty

I love dogs. And, I love to have at least one dog in my family. As of this writing, I’ve had seven in my adulthood, often two (and once three!) at a time. No question – I am a dog person. It’s part of my family story.

Genes are more than looks and health. They’re fun stuff, too.

Turns out I come by my dog person-ness genetically, at least according to an intriguing article published in May, 2019 in Scientific Reports, and cited by the New York Times.

“In this large twin study including 35,035 twin pairs, we show evidence of a strong genetic contribution to dog ownership in adulthood.”

Apparently, your family genetic legacy goes beyond just looks and potential health issues to fun stuff like being a dog person!

If you’re having trouble finding your family story, try this unique approach: is there a genetic role in your family’s fun stuff?

Family photos prove it – I was destined to be a dog person.

Looking at my old family photos, I discovered I was genetically destined to be a dog person. I’ve got dog-lovers on both sides – look at this:

My maternal grandmother with pup c. 1900s

My paternal grandparents with their labs c 1950s

My parents with their pointer c. 2000s

Moxie and me 2020

As you sort through your old family photos, look for similar interests or abilities you share with your grandparents and others in your family – fun stuff like being a pet-lover, a sailor, a lover of travel or an adventure, having green thumb or real talent in the kitchen. I bet you’ll find a story there.

Knowing your family story means knowing who you are.

In an earlier blog post, I talked about the “Do You Know Scale” and the 20 Questions to ask to learn about your family history and stories. I’m aghast – they don’t have one about family pets! I’ll have to let them know of their serious omission. 😉

Knowing your family stories—of struggle, success, and of similar likes and abilities—means knowing who you are. And photos, especially those candids, often illustrate those stories, letting you truly see your lineage and giving you a greater sense of you.

I come by my dog person status honestly. Take a look through your family photos and see where your fun stuff comes from. It may just be in your genes. What a story!