To mark Valentine’s Day, we commissioned a survey to learn about the role pets play in their owners’ romantic lives and relationships.
We found that pet ownership doesn’t only change the way people date but could even determine who they fall in love with.
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It's me AND the pet - how pets affect relationships
A staggering 36% of pet owners said they would end a relationship if their partner didn’t like their pet. And 47% of single pet owners said that if a new partner and their pet were not getting along it could cause relationship problems.
But how well a romantic partner gels with our pets isn’t the only concern. For single pet owners, whether a potential candidate has a pet or not could be a decisive factor.
How single pet owners date and use dating apps
Our research found 60% of pet owners who use dating apps are more likely to choose someone who has a picture of their pet on their profile, with a whopping 81% of Londoners saying they’d be more likely to swipe right on pet pic.
However, only 30% of single pet owners have a picture of their pet on their profile. So adding a shot with your pet could be an easy way to make your profile more popular and increase your chances of getting a match. Luckily we've created a guide to taking the perfect pet selfie.
And if you do get a date, maybe you’d like the pets to tag along – if so you'll be among the 36% of dog owners and 42% of bird owners who would love to take their pets on a first date with them!
In fact, spending time with their pets is so important to owners that 45% of them say they would cancel a date to spend time with their pet, with 11% admitting they have done just that.
Who knows you better – your dog or your partner?
It seems that a lot of pet owners feel their pets are better at satisfying their emotional needs than their friends, family or partners.
Sixty-seven percent of our respondents said they turn to their pets when they are heartbroken, compared to 65% who turn to comfort eating, 53% who drawn their sorrows in alcohol and 23% who try to Netflix-away their pain.
Furthermore, pets are the best confidants for almost half of single owners', with 46% of pet parents in the UK saying they believe their pet understands them better than anyone else.
So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that many people shower their pets with gifts on Valentine’s Day, as 14% of our respondents said they do.
It turns out the old saying ‘love me, love my dog’ may not be about flaws but about an actual dog!
