NEW YORK — Our best friends often know what’s best for us, especially when it comes to dating. Perhaps that’s why the vast majority of dog owners won’t stay in a relationship if their beloved pooch doesn’t get along with their new main squeeze, a new survey finds.
Four out of five dog owners say — according to the survey of 3,500 dog owners by the dog-walking service Wag! — that their dog’s reaction to a potential partner affects their feelings about the relationship. In fact, a whopping 86% of respondents said they would actually break up with their romantic partner if they weren’t into their dog.
Not liking their dog was proven to be a serious turn-off for owners. Survey respondents found it worse than a potential mate not wanting kids, being a bad tipper, and having bad fashion sense.
“It comes as no surprise to us at Wag! that dog parents place a premium on their dogs’ opinions of other humans and that this plays a deciding factor in their love lives,” says Hilary Schneider, Wag! CEO, in a statement.
Of course, having a dog can also play a role in landing a partner, too. About 30% of dog owners say they’ve used their best pal to try and attract a love interest. Six in 10 respondents said they had been flirted with while walking or exercising with their dog. The study even found that when people try to use their dog to attract mates for themselves, they’re successful 84% of the time (or so they say).
Singles with dogs were found to be more successful on dating apps than those without, as well. The survey showed that 73% of people with dogs were more likely to “swipe right” on a profile of a person whose pet was in their pic. And 78% of respondents said they’d be more willing to go home with someone who had a dog, versus one who didn’t.
One particularly bizarre statistic found that 16% of married dog owners would rather celebrate their dog’s birthday instead of their spouse’s.
The survey was conducted by OnePoll in March 2018.
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