Dating guys who like puppies are nice

Q: What roles do pets play when I’m trying to date someone?

A: They may play a pretty strong role. Women tend to like pet owners, especially dogs. However, there are big differences between “cat people” and “dog people.”

INTRODUCTION

• This study was published in the journal Anthrozoos in 2015. It examines the effect of pets in the dating and courtship arena.
• Previous research suggests that pets are increasingly viewed as “kin” or family.
• Since immediate family does have an influence on dating, these researchers felt that maybe pets had the same kind of influence.
• The researchers also noted that cats and dogs have different social effects.
  • Cats are seen as less social, more independent, and requiring less care.
  • Dogs are seen as more social and requiring more attention and care.
• Therefore, they hypothesized that taking care of a dog is a stronger indicator that a person is nurturing, responsible, and caring.
  • These are traits in men that are seen as attractive to women.

EXPERIMENT

• The first experiment involved sending out a survey to 1210 people on Match.com.
• The survey involved 21 questions aimed at determining a person’s dating preferences and pet ownership.

• These included questions like:

• Whether they have a dog or a cat (or another pet)

• Whether they find pets attractive in a mate

• Which pets they considered to be the “hottest”

RESULTS:

• The respondents ranged in age from their 20s all the way up to their 50s and beyond.

• • Women were more likely to be attracted to
    • Pet owners.
    • “Dog people.”
    • People with pets in their dating profile.
  • Women were less likely to date a man who:
    • Says they’re a “cat person.”
    • Says they’re “not a pet person.”
  • Women were also more likely to say that a man’s pet says a lot about their personality.

Second hypothesis: are “cat people” and “dog people” different?

• It’s already shown that women were more likely to say they can’t date a “cat person.”

• How important is the difference between cats and dogs in dating?

RESULTS:

• Cat owners are less likely to:

• See pets as relevant in dating.

• Use their pet to obtain a date.

• Judge a date on how they treated the cat.

• Judge a person for having a pet in their dating profile.

• Judge a person for what kind of animal they have (or don’t have).

• Dog owners are more likely to:

• Say they can’t date “cat people.”

• • • • Judge a person’s personality on their pets.
      • Judge a person for having a pet in their dating profile.
      • Judge a person for how they treat their pets.

CONCLUSION/INTERPRETATION

• What can we learn from this survey?
• Women are more attracted to pet owners, especially dogs.

• • • Women are more likely to say they won’t date someone if they’re not a pet person.
• Also, it matters whether a person is a “cat person” or a “dog person.”
• The old saying is that cats and dogs fight – but maybe it should be “cat people” and “dog people!”

• “Cat people” are less influenced by pets. Women who are cat people are less likely to use pets in their dating judgments.

• “Dog people” are a different case. Women who are dog people are less likely to be attracted to “cat people,” and judge potential dates on their personality based on their pet.

• Thus, having a dog seems to have a positive effect on women. It makes you seem nurturing, responsible, and attractive.

• • Having a cat is less of a benefit – it won’t really matter to cat people, and women who call themselves “dog people” will be less likely to find you attractive.

Reference

Gray, P. B., Volsche, S. L., Garcia, J. R., & Fisher, H. E. (2015). The roles of pet dogs and cats in human courtship and dating. Anthrozoos, 28(4), 673-683. Link: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08927936.2015.1064216