Half of UK singletons would ditch a date if their prized pooch turned their nose up at them, according to new research commissioned by healthy pet food company Burns Pet Nutrition.
And, more than two-thirds (69%) of single women believe their dog is a good judge of character – able to sniff out ‘bad guys’ like ‘Puffy’ from ‘There’s Something About Mary’.
In the hit 1998 film, the men desperate to date Mary, played by Cameron Diaz, must contend with a bad-tempered Border Terrier belonging to her neighbour Magda.
The poll of 2,022 dog-owners suggests thousands of Brits feel the same way –- with 59% of women prepared to bin-off a date their dog didn’t like compared to 41% of men.
Millennials are the most likely to cool things off with a new lover if their dog disapproved – 54% of 25 to 34-year-olds and 53% of 35 to 44-year-olds.
At least half of all dog owners believe their pet is a good judge of character, with nearly two-thirds (60%) of people aged 45 to 64 putting the most faith in their pet’s opinion.
Around 73% of all dog-owners would be unlikely to see someone who didn’t like pets, with eight out of 10 women likely dodge a date who was less than fond of Fido.
When it comes to dating apps, Gen Z were the age group most interested in seeing profiles that mention a person’s like or dislike for pets.
In total, 71% of 18 to 24-year-olds expressed a wish for dating apps to include a specific filter for pets, compared to the average of just under two-thirds (62%) of dog-lovers polled.
Now, Burns is calling on dating apps to add a profile filter to help daters discern the pet lovers from the pet loathers out there – to prevent any heartbreak down the line.
Single dog owner Samantha said: “I’ve wasted so much time chatting to men who turn out not to be a fan of dogs – and I have three!
“If someone has selected dogs as an interest then great, but not all dog-loving guys do. It would make finding love a lot easier if I could only see profiles of the men who love dogs as much as me.”
Burns Nutrition Manager Laura Crotch Harvey said: “Some people are dog-lovers, some like cats and some prefer no pets at all – I don’t trust those people.
“But one thing is for sure, if you’re looking for a life-long partner, you want someone who will love your pet as much as you do – or has no desire for a furry companion just like you.
“The dating world is hard enough as it is, and it seems that someone who doesn’t love pets is clearly something dog owners won’t compromise on – and why should they?
“So we hope the dating apps will hear our plea and make it easier for dog lovers to find their perfect match.”
