Is Your Dog A Matchmaker Or A Deal Breaker?
Get a dog, meet a man. But what if your man doesn’t like your pooch?
I had a feeling it would work. And it didn't take long. I had only been living in New York for about a month when my investment paid off. It was a rainy July day. I had been working at home all morning. As lunchtime approached, my stomach started grumbling and my puppy needed a walk. I decided to kill two birds with one stone and set off with the dog to a nearby deli. Both of us arrived drenched. A tall, older guy asked, "What kind of dog is that?"
"He's an Italian greyhound," I said. "His name is Puccini."
"Oh. I think I've seen you guys around."
"Yeah, we live right up the block." I smiled and started toward the door.
The tall guy made his move. And just like that, it happened—I got asked out at the deli! All thanks to Puccini.
I didn't have a dog when I decided to move to New York. But my friends with dogs had long regaled me with tales of companionship, undying devotion, and puppy kisses. I also knew that if you have one, you have to leave your house several times a day, no matter what the weather's like or how you're feeling. What better way to ease myself into a new life in a new city?
I didn't get just any dog, of course. Puccini is 11 pounds of elegance and energy. It's hard to walk down the street with him without causing a stir. In short, he's a conversation starter.
My dog-enhanced social life would not surprise Deborah Wood, author of The Dog Lover's Guide to Dating: Using Cold Noses to Find Warm Hearts. "If you meet a stranger, it is normal for them to stay three to five feet away," she says. "But when they reach down to pet your dog, they're much closer. The dog has truly helped break your barriers."
Wood's book is full of interesting little tidbits. For instance, I loved finding out about the top three date-bait breeds:
- Golden retriever.
- Any scruffy terrier mix.
- Collie.
(The three least useful: pit bull, rottweiler, and any sort of yapping little dog.)
Even though Puccini isn't a top-three breed, my problem changed very quickly from how to meet a guy to how to keep a guy. Some of you will know what I'm talking about. The rest will catch on when I tell you that I sleep with my dog. In my defense, I will say only this: I have never met an Italian greyhound owner who doesn't. I'm not saying it's right, or admirable, but the fact remains: Puccini shares my bed.
Not surprisingly, many guys don't get it. And even those who don't make it to that point can have trouble with the role Puccini plays in my life. I'll never forget the first time I made out with a guy in my apartment. From behind the doggie gate in the kitchen, the pooch went bonkers. He howled and yowled and made sounds I'd never heard before. You can imagine what it did for the mood.
Discussion
I personally love dogs, but do not want a dog sleeping in my bed. I have lost a grilfriend or two because of this. A dog goes outside and brings in dirt, ticks, fleas, all kinds of pests, plus, all dogs smell. NO WAY are they getting in my bed!! and I question a girl's cleanliness if she allows this.
A big shout out to Kristin! My dog sleeps with me, as did his predecessor. However, I can understand that a canine bedmate is not always welcome. So I got my dog a bed, which he actually likes and curls up in quite often, even when my boyfriend is not over.
And an FYI, my dog is a pit bull mix, and he is renowned in my neighborhood for his friendliness.
I found this article of interest, but I am a guy who is not into sleeping with pets. I have lived with a few cats, I have a good relationship with my Sister's dog, you feed them a big chunk of ham, a dog will love you forever. But, I was not raised with critters in bed, I like clean sheets and I find dogs tend to stink a bit too often. I would rather use the time caring for another being in caring for kids. Dogs need as much care as kids to be properly trained, cleaned, and fed. And they never really grow up. My Sister does care for her dog and her kids, and does a really good job with both. You can tell the dog to do something and she understands and makes an effort to do the right thing. The kids are good teenagers, but... I do understand that in my search for a life partner I do have a bias against sleeping with pets.
I have found this article on dogs & dating to be right on the bullseye! I know, without a doubt, that I need a man who, at the very least, likes dogs. And, yes...just like the author, I sleep with mine and know my 2 dogs as my friends. Just like I don't give up a girlfriend when I am dating a man, I don't give up my dogs for one either. I'll respect my man's feelings, however, I expect him to do the same for me and try to at least be friends with my two dogs. I have found over time, that how a man responds to people in 'helping' jobs (waitressing, sales clerks, etc.), how he reacts to money subjects, how he reacts when he's hungry, how he responds about his relatives/mother, how he reacts to youngsters & oldsters....and how he reacts to animals, usually tells me about the very core & character of a man. If any of these 6 subjects are out of balance, the man is out of balance.
It then becomes a "woman beware" situation. Thanks for a good article.
Dee Scott Houston, Tx.