When dating someone new, getting approval from those closest to you is an important step and can even make or break your future as a couple.
Everyone wants their parents and friends to love the person they see as much as they do.
However, have you ever stopped to think about what your dog might be thinking? Turns out, your furry friend could be spotting the warning signs before you do.
New research has revealed that a whopping half of UK singles would abandon a date if their pet scorned them.
The UK study by Burns Nutrition for Pets highlighted that more than two-thirds (69%) of single women believe their dog is a good judge of character and capable of detecting the “bad guys.”
New research has revealed that a whopping half of UK singles would abandon a date if their pet scorned them (file image)
A survey of 2,022 dog owners suggests thousands of Brits trust their dogs’ instincts, similar to ‘Puffy’ from the hit 1988 film ‘There’s Something About Mary’.
In the film, men desperate to date Mary, played by Cameron Diaz, must contend with a bad-tempered Border Terrier belonging to their neighbor Magda.
More than half of women (59%) admitted they were willing to cancel a date if their dog didn’t like them.
Despite being “man’s best friend,” the number is lower for men: 41% say they would leave someone based on their dog’s preferences.
Millennials are the generation most likely to calm down with a new lover if their dog doesn’t approve: 54% of 25- to 34-year-olds and 53% of 35- to 44-year-olds.
But at least half of dog owners agree that their dog is a good judge of character, and almost two-thirds of people between 45 and 65 even say they have more faith in their pet’s opinion.
Meanwhile, about 73% of all dog owners probably wouldn’t see someone who didn’t like pets, and eight in 10 women would probably avoid a date who didn’t really like their animal.
And it turns out that dogs are a hot topic on dating apps, with 71% of 18- to 24-year-olds expressing a desire for a pet-specific filter to be included, compared to the average of just under two-thirds. (62). %) of dog lovers surveyed.
More than half of women (59%) admitted they were willing to cancel a date if their dog didn’t like them (stock image)
Generation Z was also the age group most interested in seeing profiles that mentioned what a person likes or dislikes about pets.
Now, Burns Pet Nutrition is asking dating apps to add a profile filter to help daters distinguish pet lovers from pet haters, with the goal of avoiding any heartbreak down the road. .
Samantha, a single dog owner, said: “I’ve wasted a lot of time chatting to men who turn out not to be dog fans – and I have three!”
‘If someone has selected dogs as their interest then great, but not all dog lovers do that. It would be so much easier to find love if I could just see the profiles of men who love dogs as much as I do.’
Burns nutrition director Laura Crotch Harvey added: “Some people are dog lovers, some people like cats, and some people prefer not to have pets at all – I don’t trust those people.”
‘But one thing’s for sure: if you’re looking for a life-long partner, you want someone who loves your pet as much as you do, or who doesn’t want a furry companion like you.
‘The dating world is tough enough, and it seems like someone not loving pets is clearly something dog owners won’t compromise on, and why should they?’
“That’s why we hope dating apps will listen to our plea and make it easier for dog lovers to find their perfect match.”