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Want to find the love of your life, but the pub scene and work romances aren’t your thing? Don’t worry, you have more options than you think, including online dating. From sites specifically for seniors and highly educated people to platforms for single parents, the offer is huge. But wait a minute, there’s a new wind blowing through the dating world: ‘doggy dating’. What is that and is it successful? We’ll tell you more about it.
What is doggy dating?
Imagine you’re walking your dog in the park and, poof, there’s ‘the one’. Yes, you heard that right: doggy dating is actually a fancy term for meeting people while walking your four-legged friend. Usually, this happens in special dog play areas where you regularly bump into the same faces (human and canine). Your dog is busy with his new best friend, and you? You just struck up a great conversation with that cute dog owner across the field.
It may not guarantee eternal love, but it is certainly a fun and casual way to meet people. But leave the collar at home if you are only looking for love; you may be disappointed. Nevertheless, it is certainly not impossible.
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Doggy dating is timeless
Long before the age of TikTok and Twitter, people were using their dogs as a social lubricant. For seniors in particular, getting a dog was a smart move; it helped them stay active and brought them into contact with people. Your four-legged friend essentially works as a kind of ‘social subscription’, but without the monthly costs.
While it may not always lead to romantic fireworks, it is proven that having a dog can boost your social life. Plus, it’s a psychological trick; with a dog, you have to go outside, rain or shine. Therapists even recommend it as a form of therapy.
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Finding true love?
If you’re going doggy dating, you know one thing for sure: your date isn’t a dog hater. Imagine meeting someone amazing and then finding out they’re allergic to dogs. To avoid that awkwardness, it’s smart to mention your pet early on in the conversation.
No one wants to start a relationship with someone who’s afraid of or allergic to their dog. If your date isn’t excited about your four-legged friend, chances are your relationship is doomed. And let’s be honest, this doesn’t just apply to dogs, it applies to cats, fish, or any other pet you have.
The doggy dating app
App developers have seen a gap in the market in doggy dating. There are special dating apps that dog owners can use to meet people who also have a dog. For example, there is the Doggy Dating App of Dutch manufacture. Here a dog owner can register to meet other dog owners. You can create a Doggy Date that people can join. You can also register as a participant in a dog walk organized by someone else. You will automatically receive a message when a dog walk is going to take place in your area.
The Doggy Dating App is not specifically intended for dating but rather to bring dog owners into contact with each other. Of course, the intention is that your dog can behave correctly in a group. With a dog that is aggressive towards its own kind, you should of course not do this. It also often involves longer walks, which your dog should be able to handle. Or take a cart with you so that your four-legged friend can rest on the way.
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Don’t forget the dog
It is very important that your dogs get along well if you decide to build a relationship with another dog owner. Two dogs that can’t stand each other? That won’t help much. In that respect, dogs are just like children and you really have to take their presence into account.
Of course, it is not the intention that one of you will eventually have to rehome your dog because otherwise the relationship will end. Whether two dogs get along well, you will find out soon enough if you regularly go for walks with the dogs. Sometimes it can take a while before two dogs accept each other. Two uncastrated males together can often lead to rivalry. A male and female can often get along fine, as can two females together.
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Are there other ways to date?
Of course, there are other ways to date like-minded people. Besides doggy dating, there are also special dating sites for people who like to travel, walk or cycle. For example, there is Runnersdate for runners. Here too, you can register and join an activity that is being organised or organise an activity yourself that others can register for.
Of course, this website also does not guarantee that you will find true love. But the chance is greater if you hang out with people who have the same interests. This is no guarantee for success, but having a shared hobby does create a bond. If you do not find a partner through it, then perhaps you will find a good friend with whom you can hang out.
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Is doggy dating safe?
Doggy dating is just as safe as any other form of dating. It is always wise not to immediately share all kinds of private information such as your place of residence or address with people you have never met or spoken to before. Of course, exchanging phone numbers is possible if you meet someone during a dog walk that you would like to meet again. Then there must be a possibility to get in touch with each other.
In any case, make sure that you have enough information about the other person if there are mutual feelings. It is not at all strange or suspicious to check someone out, for example via social media. If you then find out something that you are not happy about, you can immediately break off contact, without having invested extensively in a relationship or friendship first.
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