In Highland Park, Alabama, a ruby Cavalier King Charles Spaniel called Linus waits with his owner, David, for Anna to arrive. She approaches with her own dog, Piper, on the lead. Moments later, David drops down on one knee.
The setting is deliberate, mirroring their first meeting nine months earlier, after they bonded over their matching dogs on dating app Hinge. "Wait, I have a ruby Cav too!" Anna wrote as an opening line, before the pair arranged a double date with Piper and Linus in tow.
It might sound like something out of a rom-com or a modern-day take on the classic 101 Dalmatians meet-cute, but it’s not as unusual as it seems.
Research from Lottoland found that 23% of men and 13% of women believe their dog has helped them secure a date, while 62% of pet owners say they’ve been stopped on the street because of their dog.
For TV presenter and adventurer Ben Fogle, love also began on a dog walk. He previously said, "My wife Marina and I met while out walking our dogs in Hyde Park. They took an immediate shine to each other, and if it wasn't for them, we might never have met."
These stories show how powerful dogs can be as matchmakers. They offer instant common ground and a more playful way to connect. As Rikke Rosenlund, founder of BorrowMyDoggy, tells Country Living: "Dogs have a way of sparking conversations and bringing people together."
She recalls: "One story has stayed with me. A 75-year-old woman borrowed a dog via a local owner on BorrowMyDoggy and went for a walk on the beach, where she met an 82-year-old man. They later got married. It's a lovely reminder of the unexpected connections that can happen when a dog is by your side."
But it goes beyond dogs simply breaking the ice. Research by Rossbach and Wilson suggests that people pictured alongside dogs are perceived as more relaxed and likable.
Dogs can boost our dating lives, but can a shared love of animals lead to something lasting? The answer, it seems, is yes: more often than you might think.
3 couples who found love through dogs
So, how does the dating-and-dogs theory play out in real life? We tracked down three couples who found love through their pets.
Frances, Stephen and Red
BorrowMyDoggy is designed for people who want to spend time with dogs without the full-time commitment, as well as owners in need of an extra pair of hands. It’s not intended as a dating platform, but founder Rikke says it has led to countless friendships — and, often, something more.
One such case is Frances, who signed up to BorrowMyDoggy after leaving a demanding job. "I was drawn to Red, a six-year-old Norfolk Terrier, who was within walking distance, not too big and incredibly sweet looking."
After ‘liking’ Red on the app, Stephen — his owner — suggested they meet. "I had no idea if he was 17 or 70,” she laughs, recalling their first meeting outside a church in Hastings. "Let alone whether he was single, likable, or attractive. But, as he walked up, I had a good feeling."
What followed was an easy first meeting, and things quickly moved beyond the original arrangement. "When Stephen came to collect him, he asked if I wanted to go for a drink,” Frances continued. “The next day he posted a card through my letterbox, essentially saying that he knew I was only looking for a dog but…"
Now, the relationship is very much a trio. "Red has a big personality, so I would certainly know about it if he didn't approve," Frances laughed. "Red clearly sees Stephen as the boss — for example, there's no way he would let me clean his teeth — but he jumps for joy when he hasn't seen me for a few days.
"The other day I stroked Red's head and gave him a kiss on the forehead when he was in Stephen's arms, and Stephen said: You really are in the inner circle, there's no one else he would allow to do that."
Emma, Jack and Kyte
For Emma Frain, it was Kyte — a striking Siberian Husky she calls the "unofficial matchmaker" in her relationship — who first brought her and Jack together. She and Jack met briefly and followed each other on Instagram, but neither had sparked up a conversation. Enter Kyte, the family dog, a "very handsome (and fluffy) Siberian Husky" to break the ice.
"Jack messaged me after I posted a picture of Kyte, and we quickly bonded over a mutual (slightly obsessive) love of dogs," Emma continues. "I’m fairly certain that, early on, any enthusiasm for trips home was more about seeing Kyte than me."
After a year of living together, Jack and Emma decided they were ready for a dog of their own. "We’re both very active and love the outdoors, and with my job as Brand Director at Pooch & Mutt, I work full-time from home, and it gives us access to great nutrition, vets and trainers. It felt like a no-brainer to extend the family.
"Between us, we'd grown up with all sorts — Labradors, a Boxer, Cocker Spaniel, Frenchies, so (perhaps slightly overconfidently) we decided we were ready for a Doberman. Malfy very much inserted himself into our relationship. Where we used to cuddle each other, there's now a 40kg dog wedged between us."
Anna, David, Linus and Piper
Back to Anna and David Ward, and their matching dogs. After Anna’s original message — "Wait, I have a ruby Cav too!" — David responded with similar enthusiasm: “Wait, when can they meet?” and the pair headed to Highland Park.
"The moment I saw David, I was taken aback by how kind his eyes were," Anna recalls. "We couldn’t stop smiling." Meanwhile, Piper and Linus played as if they were old friends. "It felt like we’d all known each other forever," says Anna.
"On our first date, I snuck a picture of the dogs together because I had a feeling that moment would be a special one," David explains. And his instincts were right.
"Two months after we got engaged, we got married in Highlands, North Carolina, surrounded by a few of our closest friends," Anna continued. "The dogs couldn't attend our wedding, sadly, but we included them in the celebrations as our cake topper.
"The dogs are absolutely smitten with each other. Every day when I get home, they're cuddling. Most of our days are filled with family cuddles on the couch and lots of laughter. We just look at each other every day and feel so grateful that we all found each other."
How to handle dogs and a ‘blended family’
Anna and David were lucky that their dogs adapted easily to a new dynamic — but that isn’t always the case when two households (and their pets) come together.
Veterinarian Iryna Smyrnova advises taking things slowly: "Dogs are creatures of habit, after all, so I think it’s best to have a slow introduction on neutral ground, maintaining as many familiar routines as possible, and providing each of the dogs with its own space in the new home."
Iryna adds that while a shared love of dogs can be a strong foundation, it isn’t a guarantee of harmony. "Having a shared love of dogs can actually be a pretty powerful base of a relationship, as it's a good sign of shared values like empathy, responsibility, and other personal choices.
"However, it's worth noting that it's not necessarily a guarantee of a good relationship. It’s best used as a springboard when there's good communication involved.”
The rise of dog-led dating
As more people turn away from traditional dating apps, there’s been a shift towards meeting through shared routines, from run clubs and walking groups to book clubs and creative meet-ups. And dog ownership is another shared interest that’s shaping dating trends.
Dogs' ability to connect people inspired Martine Davis to launch Meet My Paws, a platform designed to bring dog owners together.
"You can be anywhere in the world — a park, a café, even travelling — and your dog instantly creates a point of connection," she explains. "I saw people forming friendships, having conversations, even meeting partners through their dogs, but there wasn't a platform designed around that."
Unlike traditional dating apps, where Marine says interactions can feel more "forced", dog-led connections tend to build gradually.
"You're often making decisions quickly, based on very little, with an expectation attached," Martine continues. "Meet My Paws takes that pressure away. There's always another walk, another opportunity to connect. That’s how real relationships tend to grow."
*Last name has been changed
