We’ve seen it sitcoms more times than we can count: guy gets a dog to pick up girl = happily ever after. But although it seems like a simple script-filler, turns out this strategy is totally legit.
New research suggests that people with dogs are often perceived to be more approachable, empathetic and way happier (aka. the perfect partner.)
Plus, it indicates that they’re nurturing and capable of looking after another being – a factor that Dr Helen Fisher, a senior research fellow at the Kinsey Institute says throws out powerful mating vibes.
“Having a dog really says something about you,” she told NYTimes.
“It says you can care for a creature, that you can follow a schedule, get home to feed it, that you can walk it and love it and spend time with it.”
What’s more, a recent Match.com survey found that owning a pet can be a total make or break for singles looking for love.
Nearly one-third of the 1,200 respondents admitted to being “more attracted” to the opposite sex because they were parent to a pooch.
More than half said they would be more inclined to date someone if they considered adopting an animal, and the majority admitted they wouldn’t pursue a relationship if that person didn’t like pets.
“They want to know if this person is a good fit, and this may be one way to assess whether someone is telling the truth and is the right fit in a large, anonymous society.”
This article originally appeared on Women’s Health.