Researchers at the University of California, San Diego produced a study showing that people and their dogs often look alike. In the study, a panel of student judges was able to match 16 out of 25 purebred dogs to their owners. The reason for this, researchers say, is because dog owners tend to choose a pet bearing their resemblance in some way.

The panel didn't do as well matching mutts. Researcher Nicholas Christenfeld explained that is because owners select dogs with the knowledge of what an adult purebred will look like. Since there are no guarantees about the eventual appearance of a mongrel, it becomes more difficult to pick a dog that resembles you.

The study identified similarities between pets and people as physical characteristics or personality traits or both. Happy, outgoing, and affectionate dogs tend to be owned by warm and friendly people. Hairless, pop-eyed, pug-nosed pooches are…...you get the idea.

When the Chicago Sun-Times ran this story, they included photos of several people and their dogs. It was amazing. Actress Fran Drescher's dog, Chester, has big hair. The photo of J. Edgar Hoover and his boxer failed to identify which was which. They needed to.

A quick evaluation of my border collie brought mixed results. She's good looking, obedient, and in shape. This momentarily boosted my self-esteem, but there were other troubling signs. It wasn't the hairiness, shameless begging, or doggie odors that bothered me. It was the realization that my dog tends to be grumpy and snarly when what she's told to do doesn't match what she wants to do.

Then I remembered that technically, the dog still belongs to my daughter.

This story made me wonder something else. If I stood in a group of people from all religious faiths and belief systems, would a panel of judges be able to match me up with Jesus?