What should you do if your dog doesn’t like your date?
If you’re single and in the market for romance, you probably know at least two things: Online dating is a viable and efficient way to find a potential partner, but dating sites cannot guarantee a perfect match.
While a third of all married couples started their romance online – including on social networks like Facebook, according to the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, only 23 percent of those who went on a date through a match-making site say it resulted in a long-term relationship, according to the Pew Research Center.
“Really, that’s not a bad success rate – I imagine it beats the club scene,” says Kris Rotonda, founder and CEO of www.YouMustLoveDogsDating.com, a website devoted to singles who’ve already found their canine companions, but have yet to find true human love.
“Still, that’s a lot of scrolling and dating before you find the right one. I think it’s important to narrow the search by letting users start with what’s most important to them.”
Rotonda, who has four beloved dogs including one he’s had since age 8, says his commitment to his furry family became a problem in his dating life. He’s happy to report he has now found true love – she loves his dogs and they love her back.
What should you do if your dog doesn’t appear to like the new love interest in your life?
So, you’re dog reacted negatively to a girl or guy you really like — Of course, how your dog reacts matters if you love your dog, but he or she may be picking up on something that’s nonessential to the character of your date, who may be nervous, not used to dogs or simply wearing the wrong perfume or cologne that day. While dogs are very intuitive – and, you want your canine companion to get along with a potential long-term partner – realize that the chemistry can improve. Give it a little time and proactively look for ways to help your dog and your potential love interest relax and get to know each other.
Different reactions can have different meanings — Did she bark for several minutes? Did he run and hide under the bed? If your dog barked in what sounded like a hostile or aggressive way, she’s likely just trying to protect you. While you may have had plenty of time to get to know your date over long dinners, he or she may still be a stranger to your dog. If your dog ran and hid, he may be afraid. That doesn’t necessarily mean that his fear reflects a real threat – something rotten about your new love interest. What else was going on at the time? If a plane was flying overhead or thunder rumbling outside, that may have been the source of anxiety. Don’t try to pet or sweet talk your pet while he’s in hiding as that will encourage the behavior. Instead, reward him when he emerges.
Mending fences between your canine and human companion — When you are planning to re-introduce your dog to your date, start before they actually meet in person. This can be done by introducing the person's scent with an unwashed article of clothing. You can also add your scent to the clothing by rubbing it on your arm and then placing in a spot where your dog spends a great deal of time. This will help your dog get used to the person's scent over time and you are not introducing the person to your dog by invading all his senses at one time.
About Kris Rotonda
Kris Rotonda is the founder and CEO of www.YouMustLoveDogsDating.com, a website devoted to singles who’ve already found their canine companions, but have yet to find true human love. Rotonda, a competitive body builder and successful real estate agent, had experienced a number of unexpected challenges as a bachelor and dog owner and saw the need for a dating site geared toward like-minded dog lovers.