Study: Having a Dog Makes You More Attractive

Angela Vuckovic
by Angela Vuckovic
Your pooch might not be just your best friend but a great wingman, as well! Research indicates that people with dogs appeared much more attractive to potential partners, who also viewed them as caring and responsible.


Ladies, be honest: when you see a guy walking a dog, doesn’t it make him at least a 100% hotter? If you’re silently nodding your head in agreement, you’re not alone. Dr. Helen Fisher, a senior research fellow at the Kinsey Institute and a chief adviser to Match.com, say that her findings indicate that people- men especially- are perceived as more attractive if they have a dog. The reason? Having a fur baby sends a clear signal to the opposite sex, and it’s one they really want to hear: you’re a reliable person who can make a commitment and genuinely care for someone.


When Dr. Fisher and her colleagues surveyed more than 1,200 pet parents that were using the Match.com website, they’ve noticed that pets are usually what makes it or breaks it for them, to put it bluntly. More than half of the interviewees said that they found people more attractive if they’ve adopted a pet and wouldn’t even date a person who doesn’t like pets. The math is pretty simple, peeps: no pets, no lovin’- at least if you’re courting a pet owner.


Dr. Fisher is not the only expert that gave her opinion for the detailed New York Times article. Daniel J. Kruger, a research professor at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor who studies human mating strategies says that the attractiveness factor is not increased for single guys only- gay men and women send the same signals to their potential partners.


In the end, it seems it’s not only about the flowers and the bees: canines definitely have a say in their owner’s love life. So, next time you’re shopping for pet supplies, grab an extra bag of dog treats, because your four-legged furry ball of cuddles is making you seem way cooler than you actually are. And thank the heavens that the cats are not involved.

Angela Vuckovic
Angela Vuckovic

A proud mama to seven dogs and ten cats, Angela spends her days writing for her fellow pet parents and pampering her furballs, all of whom are rescues. When she's not gushing over her adorable cats or playing with her dogs, she can be found curled up with a good fantasy book.

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