{"id":10395,"date":"2015-02-09T16:00:22","date_gmt":"2015-02-09T05:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/puppy.kreatology.com\/?p=10395"},"modified":"2024-01-19T16:14:01","modified_gmt":"2024-01-19T05:14:01","slug":"canine-cupids-dogs-build-relationships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/puppytales.com.au\/canine-cupids-dogs-build-relationships\/","title":{"rendered":"Canine Cupids: How dogs build relationships"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Dogs teach their pet parents so much about loyalty, love, and respect that it\u2019s no surprise to find that dog lovers are such a great bunch of people. As a dog owner (and all round dog-nut) myself, I\u2019m naturally drawn to other people with dogs, even if I don\u2019t know them. You know what it\u2019s like: when there\u2019s a dog around, it\u2019s quite natural to strike up a conversation with a total stranger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This set me thinking about how a dog makes for a great \u201ccanine cupid\u201d. For those dog owners who are currently single, a dog has a knack of making you meet new people. And for those in a relationship, a dog provides a common interest that strengthens and enriches your partnership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Finding Love<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you register with a dating agency, imagine if there was a shorthand way to say: caring, responsible, kind, fun loving, and considerate. Oh wait! There is, it\u2019s called being a dog owner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meeting another dog lover is a great way to get clued-up on that person\u2019s priorities, not least because of the conclusions reached in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1080\/10888705.2014.988333?journalCode=haaw20#.VNgWJVWUfuU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">a recent University of California study<\/a> . They found that people who are afraid of commitment are less likely to be pet owners, and if they are, are less affectionate towards that pet \u2013 it&#8217;s not rocket science, but it could well be a useful tip when looking for Mr or Mrs Right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/puppytales.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/puppytalesphotography-valentinesday-1.jpg\" alt=\"A dog makes for a great \u201ccanine cupid\u201d. For those dog owners who are currently single, a dog has a knack of making you meet new people. And for those in a relationship, a dog provides a common interest that strengthens and enriches your partnership.\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><i>A Four-legged Icebreaker<\/i><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Getting out and about with your dog gives you a chance to meet new people. Simple everyday things like walking with a dog in the park increase the chance of someone saying \u201chello\u201d. We\u2019ve all done it, admired someone else\u2019s dog and then struck up a conversation.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp; <\/span>There\u2019s something about having a dog that makes it OK for strangers to approach and break through that wall of silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With a dog at your side it\u2019s much easier to walk into a room of people that you don\u2019t know. So if you\u2019re thinking of trying something new, why not broaden your pet\u2019s horizons at the same time? Perhaps register your dog with an agility group or join a training class, or even try out something unusual like a Dancing with Dogs class. With a canine cupid by your side, who knows what might happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Opportunities to get out and socialize with your dog sometimes take some lateral thinking. Read the local paper and be open to new ideas because there are some innovative opportunities out there. For example, one particularly successful event takes place during the Isle of Wight\u2019s annual walking festival. There is a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.isleofwightwalkingfestival.co.uk\/speed-dating-walk.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><span class=\"s1\">speed dating walk<\/span><\/a> (dogs welcome!) which has successfully engineered boasts five weddings and a baby to date! OK, so perhaps it\u2019s unlikely you live on or near the Isle of Wight, but the principle is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><i>Virtual Valentine<\/i><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you and your furry-buddy have trodden the same old park path for years and could do with seeing some fresh faces, take a look online. If you want to meet like-minded people, then investigate sites which aim to get dog lovers together for walks, hikes, barbecues, and hangouts. Most of these sites are not about matchmaking, but do create a means of getting together with people you have something in common with \u2013 a great starting point for any relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Browse around the web and see if there\u2019s a group near you. To get you started, a couple of the better-known groups are <a href=\"http:\/\/dog-walks.meetup.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><span class=\"s1\">Dog Walks Meetup<\/span><\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.dogtree.com.au\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><span class=\"s1\">Dogtree<\/span><\/a> Also, take a look at apps such as <a href=\"http:\/\/barklifeapp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><span class=\"s1\">Barklife<\/span><\/a> which is geared towards finding fellow dog walkers in your area and arranging meetups. Again, this isn\u2019t a doggy dating service, but the first step is to meet people whose company you enjoy with similar interests, and seeing what happens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/puppytales.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Canine-Cupids-Meetup-Melbourne-Dog-Walks.jpg\" alt=\"Canine Cupids - Meetup Melbourne Dog Walks\">Dog Friendly Meetups in Melbourne<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><i>Dating with Dogs<\/i><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Alternatively, there are dating sites that cater for the pet-minded person searching for love. Sites such as <a href=\"http:\/\/www.datemypet.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><span class=\"s1\">Date My Pet<\/span><\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.petspassions.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><span class=\"s1\">Pets Passions<\/span><\/a>, and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.leashesandlovers.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><span class=\"s1\">Leashes and Lovers<\/span><\/a>, make it so much easier to find someone with a similar interest and outlook on life. (Of course, when meeting someone from the virtual world in real-life, especially for the first time, be safety conscious and either take a friend or meet in a public place.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/puppytales.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Canine-Cupids-Date-My-Pet-Online-Dating.jpg\" alt=\"Canine Cupids - Date My Pet - Online Dating for Pet Lovers\">Canine Cupids ~ Date My Pet ~ Online Dating for Pet Lovers<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Enhancing an Existing Relationship<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are already in a relationship, it\u2019s so true that even strong partnerships need working at. Enter the dog. A dog provides common ground, a mutual interest, and something you both care deeply about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><i>Quality Time<\/i><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Walking the dog with your partner is a fantastic way of carving out time from a busy schedule in order to be together. Being outside in the fresh air is relaxing, it makes you feel better, and gives chance to really talk to your partner without the distraction of TV in the background.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp; <\/span>Plus, there\u2019s the mutual delight of seeing your dog have a terrific time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You might even consider organising a Valentine\u2019s treat for your partner and pet. Taking time out on dog-friendly getaway, helps focus the mind and realign what\u2019s important in life.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp; <\/span>Sometimes it\u2019s the small details in a relationship that are most valuable and yet get lost amongst big stuff life throws at us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/puppytales.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/puppytalesphotography-valentinesday-2.jpg\" alt=\"Canine Cupid - Spending time with your dog is great for your relationship.\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><i>Better Bonding<\/i><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Bonding with your dog is widely talked about, but have you considered how a dog helps you bond with your partner. Simple things like sharing a funny story about what the dog did today, or a cute photo, keep you in touch with each other when you might not otherwise bother. Importantly, you may both go with your dog to the vet, discuss important decisions, and share those inevitable highs and lows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em><span class=\"s2\">Canine Cupid: A great example<\/span><\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you are about to enter the excitement of a new relationship or strengthen an existing one, your canine cupid sets a great example. In many ways, owning and caring for a dog is an great template for a healthy long-term relationship with your partner. After all, praising the good behaviour, and ignoring the bad, isn\u2019t a bad blueprint for a harmonious life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dogs teach their pet parents so much about loyalty, love, and respect that it\u2019s no surprise to find that dog lovers are such a great bunch of people. As a dog owner (and all round dog-nut) myself, I\u2019m naturally drawn to other people with dogs, even if I don\u2019t know them. You know what it\u2019s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":10396,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[452],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10395","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-family-life-with-dogs"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/puppytales.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10395","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/puppytales.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/puppytales.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/puppytales.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/puppytales.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10395"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/puppytales.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10395\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/puppytales.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10396"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/puppytales.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10395"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/puppytales.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10395"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/puppytales.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10395"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}