Dog Trainer Explains What Cats Actually Do to a Dog’s Personality
Newsweek · C · trust 56/100
0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. If you have ever caught your dog sitting on the back of the couch like a cat, becoming more cautious around certain things or even rubbing against furniture the like family's feline, you may have wondered whether your canine is picking up its housemate’s habits.
There is some truth behind owners noticing their dogs acting like a cat, but canines aren't necessarily becoming more catlike in the way people might think. Dogs are highly social animals and can be influenced by the animals around them, but the way they learn from cats is more complicated than simple imitation.
"Dogs don't mirror very well at all in the way humans do," Brian Galea , a professional dog trainer and behaviorist, told Newsweek . "What dogs are more likely to pick up are emotionally based behaviors, by watching the emotional reactions of other animals around them."
Age is one of the biggest factors in how much a dog may be influenced by a cat.
According to Galea, puppies are far more likely than adult dogs to absorb behaviors from the animals around them because they are still developing their social understanding of the world.
"When they're less than 8 weeks old, dogs will absolutely identify with cats and mimic some of their behaviors," Galea said.
A puppy raised around cats may sit with its paws tucked underneath its body like a cat, perch on top of the couch or rub against objects in a way that resembles a cat bumping its head against items or people to show them affection.
This type of early exposure is part of why socialization is so important during puppy development. The experiences dogs have when young can influence how comfortable and adaptable they are around other animals later in life.
Beyond cat-like behaviors , owners might also notice their dog responding to the emotional environment created by the cat.
A cat’s calm, confident—or even intimidating—body language can influence how a dog behaves.
"You'll see cats, kind of jokingly, 'bully' dogs, just because their body language is very intimidating to dogs," Galea said.
A playful puppy that constantly tries to engage with a cat may eventually learn to slow down if the cat responds with a stare, a warning posture, or simply refuses to participate.
The dog is not necessarily copying the cat. Instead, it may be learning boundaries and adjusting its own behavior based on the cat’s reactions.
In some cases, that can make a dog appear more relaxed or independent.
"What I've seen is a cat's cool, calm nature rubs off on a dog, especially combined with that intimidating body language," Galea said.
Living with a cat can also influence what a dog considers normal or unusual.
For example, if a cat consistently reacts cautiously to certain situations, a dog may learn from that response.
"If a cat is outside and doesn't want to walk on wet grass, the dog may pick up that wet grass is something to be leery of and not want to walk on it either," Galea said.
In these situations, the dog is not necessarily learning a new physical behavior from the cat. Instead, it may be observing the cat’s reaction and forming its own association.
The same can happen with fear or alertness. If a cat becomes nervous about a sound or environment, a dog may become more aware of that situation as well.
That influence can go both ways, with dogs also capable of becoming riled up by watching other animals bark or react excitedly to something.
The reason dogs are so capable of adjusting to life with other species comes down to their history alongside humans.
Dogs have been selectively bred for thousands of years to understand social cues, cooperate with people and adapt to different environments and roles.
"Dogs are extremely socially flexible," Galea said. "We've bred them to be very socially attuned to us, to work with us, and to take cues from us."
That flexibility extends beyond humans. Dogs raised around other animals are often capable of forming strong social bonds and adjusting their behavior around different species.
Early exposure can be particularly important. Galea said the critical socialization period generally runs from about 6 to 16 weeks of age, and dogs exposed to different animals during this period may be more comfortable and adaptable around other species later in life.
However, some dogs may naturally be more likely to resemble cats in temperament. Independent breeds such as the Shiba Inu are often jokingly described as "a cat for dog people" because of their more self-sufficient personalities.
A dog that prefers alone time or seems less eager to constantly seek attention may not have learned those traits from a feline companion—it may simply be showing its own personality.
A cat isn't necessarily changing a dog's personality so much as influencing how it behaves in its shared environment. A puppy may pick up feline habits, while a more mature dog may become calmer, more cautious or simply more respectful of its cat housemate.
In that sense, what looks like a dog "becoming a cat" may actually be an example of just how socially adaptable dogs can be.
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