It’s a well-known idiom among dog people: “love me, love my dog”. But how does this affect how dog owners search for their perfect match? With Valentine’s Day approaching, Rover.com, the world’s largest and most trusted network of five-star pet sitters and dog walkers, has released its Anatomy of Dog Love report, presenting new data on whether owning a dog makes you more attractive and how being a dog parent impacts romantic relationships.
Rover trend expert Kate Jaffe notes that “Our research on dog owners revealed that pet parents see their dogs as great judges of character, a way they connect with their partners and as stepping stones to building a family. Overall, pets have a significant impact on who we date and how we feel about them.” Whether we’re single, searching, married, or partnered, one thing most can agree on is that a dog can make a difference when choosing a partner.
No Dog, No date
72% of dog owners are more likely to click on a dating profile with a dog in the picture. In fact, about half of Canadians surveyed admitted that even if the dog wasn’t actually the person’s pet, they’d probably still go out on a date. In other words, even a dog-by-proxy made a date more likely. This explains why dating sites like Tindog and Dog Date Afternoon are so popular. They make meeting a pet partner a walk in the park.
Perfect Pick-Up
Off-line and in real life, having a pet can make finding a partner a lot easier. Research shows that regardless of sexual orientation, people searching for love are drawn to those with dogs. Dog owners come across as more reliable, more caring and even safer. And if they’re good enough for their dog, they must be good people.
You, Me and Doggy Makes Three
Almost 75% of pet parents in relationships say they’re more attracted to their partner after seeing how they care for their dog. Especially if the pup is a rescue. Our pets can really bring out the best in us and enhance our relationships with our fur family and with each other. More than half of dog people believe that having a pet positively impacts the health of their own human relationships by enabling them to spend more time together.
Practice Parenting
Three out of four dog owners say they have more confidence in themselves as parents as a direct result of having a dog. And while they may trust their own parenting skills best, 69% believe that their partner is up for the job too, simply by owning a dog. Fact is, for the majority of Canadians polled, having a dog makes them feel more like a family.
Attracting a future mate is just one of many potential perks of dog ownership, but we all know that owning a pet can be hard. The good news is that you have a community of dog sitters and walkers that can help you manage the care of your dog, and Rover can help you easily find a loving and local sitter in your area.
For more findings from Rover’s Anatomy of Love survey, check out The Love Language of Dogs article and learn how your pooch shows their love for you.
