Gaby
It turns out taking selfies with your dog can make you more attractive — at least to people scrolling social media or dating profiles.
A new survey led by American veterinarians and published on Veterinarians.org found that having a dog in your photos draws more attention and makes a profile more appealing, especially to fellow animal lovers.
According to Newsweek, the survey polled 600 single U.S. residents. A striking 63 percent of respondents said they were more likely to like a profile that featured someone with a dog and would consider that person on a dating app.
Additionally, 47 percent of those surveyed said they were more attracted to people who own dogs than to those who don’t. Among people who prefer dog owners, 70 percent said selfies with dogs helped them receive more likes that indicated mutual interest. Half of respondents admitted they intentionally used such photos to connect with someone they liked. In other words, a canine companion can play an active role in bringing two lonely hearts together.
Dating expert Maria Sullivan says pet photos can signal positive qualities in owners — qualities people often look for in partners.
She says dog lovers are often seen as kind, caring, patient, responsible, and generally pleasant — traits many people want in a future partner.
The idea is that someone who shows those traits by caring for a pet is likely to show them in a romantic relationship as well.
Adopting a pet, especially a dog, requires financial, time, and emotional commitments, which can signal an ability to give love to another person, Sullivan says.
It’s no surprise that 20 percent of respondents said they’d borrow a friend’s dog to attract romantic interest. But Sullivan warned that honesty matters — deception can backfire.
How to Catch the Attention of a Dog Owner
Experts at the dating app Hinge recommend asking lots of questions about a dog if you want to charm a dog lover.
For many dog owners, their pet is a central part of daily life; they often see themselves and their dog as a unit.
By showing genuine interest in a potential partner’s dog, you might even suggest bringing the pet on a date. If the dog likes you, that can have a big impact on the relationship. Hinge’s experts say dogs often act as a litmus test for new partners — they help show whether an owner will feel safe with someone new.
It’s still unclear whether cats play a similarly pivotal role in their owners’ lives.
