On the face of it, taking the dog for a walk appears entirely unrelated to affairs of the human heart.
Wearing muddy wellies and carrying a poo bag isn’t the most obvious of conditions in which to employ your skills of seduction. But a spot of flirtation adds a certain frisson to any dog walk — after all, what else are you supposed to do while the dogs are frolicking? It has been known for love to be unleashed alongside Fido.
Of course, there are those walks on which the only person you meet is arguing with a bench or pushing a fat pug in a pram, so hanging around parks isn’t necessarily the most time-efficient method of securing a partner.
In any case, the whole bumping into lifelong partners by chance in uncontrived social situations is so passé. The world and her labrador seem to be into this online dating thing, which is getting ever more specialised.
Animate, an online introduction service for animal lovers, was launched last November by Claire Mansfield, whose eye for the niche market also inspired her to set up Aubergine, a dating service for vegetarians and vegans.
Mansfield is studying dog psychology and does voluntary work as a pet bereavement counsellor, so she understands how much pets matter to those who love them: ”If there is hostility towards an animal from one partner, or a clash of ideals about pets, there is going to be a problem,” she says.
Animate’s clients ”might be male or female, straight or gay, but they’re all imaginative, adventurous people who are crazy about animals”.
Some of them don’t even have pets — perhaps they envisage a pet-filled future, or can’t have their own pet in present circumstances but would welcome a love interest with four paws attached.
Mansfield was initially concerned that Animate would attract more women than men but, never fear, ”men and women are neck and neck at the moment”.
But is there really enough demand to support a dating service that puts animal magnetism before other whims and fancies?
To test the water, I asked the staff at Britain’s Dogs Trust — those dedicated defenders of canines could surely be relied upon to sacrifice a roll in the hay, or even marriage, to ensure that their best friends don’t have to suffer the company of someone who’s indifferent to dogs.
There was indeed a positive response from those who haven’t already settled down with a kindred, dog-loving spirit.
Liz Rusinowski said: ”I would consider using an animal lovers’ dating agency because creatures take up a lot of time and energy, and a fellow pet lover would participate in this rather than resent it.”
More importantly, she adds (and I’m so with her on this): ”There’s something small, mean and sinister about people who actively dislike animals. It would — and has — put me off a potential partner instantly.”
This sentiment is echoed by John (who asked me not to divulge his surname, though I have enough information to act as matchmaker). He has a much-loved German shepherd and says, ”I’ve been appalled by the reaction of some women to my dog.”
This experience has turned him into an enthusiastic Animate customer. John astutely observes that relationships between dog lovers and dog haters just don’t work: ”It’s almost as fatal as the smoker/non-smoker or tidy/slovenly dichotomy.”
He hasn’t met the love of his life on Animate yet, but ”hope springs eternal”.
John admits, however, that a shared love of dogs isn’t enough on its own to get the heart fluttering. ”It’s all very well for a woman to be an animal lover, but I’d also like her to look like Michelle Pfeiffer.” — Â