The Barking Lot is a regular weekly feature of This Just In…Written by my lovely wife, Jennifer and me. It opens with the weekend dog walking forecast followed by the main blog from dog lover, Jennifer. Then it’s DOGS IN THE NEWS and our close. Enjoy!
THE WEEKEND DOG-WALKING FORECAST: We grade the weather outlook for taking your pet outdoors.
TODAY: Cloudy. High of 73. “A”
SUNDAY: Cloudy. High of 54. “C”
Now, here’s my lovely wife, Jennifer, with this week’s main blog.
When I first met the love of my life, Kevin didn’t have a dog. I didn’t have a dog either.
We got married and here we are, week to week, collaborating on a blog about dogs.
You’d think we had one. Or two. But no.
Alas, as I’ve sadly written so many times in the past, there is no family dog. No family pet of any kind, save the dozens of Kyla’s plush toys (even a llama and while interesting, it’s still just stuffed).
Years ago a friend commented on one of these blogs, calling Kevin (in jest) my “dog-hating husband.” Kevin has gently put his foot down, and I agree, that with no one home most of the day and sometimes into the evening, having a dog just wouldn’t be right.
I keep feeling we’ll have a dog someday, and everything will be hunky-dory.
But let’s go back to our courtship days. Let’s suppose that I had a dog because well, I just love dogs, and Kevin didn’t because, you know, he’s got this thing about dogs (just kidding sweetheart).
Shortly after we meet Kevin finds out I have a dog, and he’s not at all thrilled with Fido which I pick up on immediately.
A potential hot romance just got blasted with a bucket of ice water.
Turns out dogs can make or break a deal when it comes to love.
Wag! just did a poll of 3,500 dog owners. Wag! is a company that provides dog owners on-demand access to dog handlers in their communities that can be hired for dog-walking, dog-sitting, or dog-boarding.
According to their research if the scenario I described happened today I might have dumped Kevin.
Wag! found that 86 percent of dog owners would break up with their significant other if they weren’t into their dog. That’s a whopping four out of five.
You don’t like my dog? That’s an instant turnoff, worse than not wanting kids, tipping poorly, or having no fashion cool points.
Don’t underestimate how serious that four-legged creature can be to the fate of a relationship.
Three out of 10 dog parents admit they’ve used their dog in a plot to attract a potential partner. Why? Because it works.
More than 60 percent said they’ve been flirted with when they were out walking their dog.
When dog owners try to capitalize on making a catch, get this…it works.
Turns out the pup-magnet is strong – when people use their pooch to attract a potential love interest they were successful 84 percent of the time.
There’s more.
- When it comes to dating apps, 73 percent of dog parents are more likely to “swipe right” on a person’s profile pic that includes their pet.
- 78 percent of dog parents are more likely to go home with someone if they say they have a dog versus someone who doesn’t have a pooch at home.
And how about this nugget?
- More than 16 percent of married dog owners said they would choose to celebrate their pup’s birthday over their spouse’s.
No wonder Kevin gets all jumpy.
Finally, I wrote a few weeks ago about how our lovely niece Kari just got a dog.
Kari is on the right.
Not that she needs any help, but I’m sure if this research is correct that she’ll become even more popular very soon.
—-Jennifer Fischer
Thanks Jennifer!
Time now for DOGS IN THE NEWS, canines that made headlines the past week.
