Barking! Photographer creates series of images proving dogs really DO look like their owners…

A Swiss photographer has tested the often quoted theory that dogs look like their owners by cleverly splicing pictures of pooches onto the head and shoulders of their owners.

Photographer Sebastian Magnani, 27, produced the images as part of a series called 'Underdogs' which shows the pets and their owners in the same portrait style.

Using photo manipulation techniques the photographer has seamlessly transferred the canine faces onto human bodies.

Bern-based Sebastian explains: "I first started the project in August 2009. As soon as I had the idea, it had pretty much already been realised, namely to photograph dogs with their owners.

"So where does this striking resemblance between dog and owner come from? Does the "underdog" really rank himself lower, even visually?

"I like the idea of hierarchy in different ways like the system, politics and all this stuff in combination.

“That was really important for the name for this project; in both a psychological and philosophical way.

"Dogs are considered loyal, selfless, trustworthy, life saving, fun and proud companions in a world where these values are gradually disappearing.

"It is undisputed that the canines not only stir emotions and interest, but also our inner most needs.

Magnani, whose 'Underdogs' series has been published widely in the UK and the US, says the aim of the photographs was to "create a single moment of symbiosis - between man and beast - to be one."