Males who want a serious relationship are more like to include a picture of a dog, research shows 

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Looking for love? Collar a man with a collie! Males are more likely to include a picture of a dog in online dating profile if they want serious relationship, research shows

  • 40 per cent of men who wanted a long-term relationship included dog pictures
  • Whereas men looking for short-term relationships displayed pictures of fast cars
  • The study looked at 225 men and 225 women who wanted a serious relationship

By Victoria Allen Science Correspondent For The Daily Mail

Published: | Updated:


In the world of online dating it isn’t always clear who is looking for a fling and who wants real romance.

But scientists have now revealed one easy way to tell if a chap may be hunting for love.

Men are more likely to include a picture or mention of a dog in their online dating profile if they want a serious relationship, research suggests.

They are also more likely to do this than women in either category, while men looking for short-term relationships may display pictures of fast cars, motorbikes or themselves bare-chested, the Canadian researchers said.

Some 40 per cent of men seeking a long-term partner displayed a dog on their dating profile. Experts say dogs may make men appear masculine and dominant while signalling that if they can look after a pet, they may be able to look after a child.

Men are more likely to include a picture or mention of a dog in their online dating profile if they want a serious relationship, research suggests (stock image)

The study, published in the journal Evolutionary Psychological Science, looked at people of all ages with personal photographs on their dating profile. These included 225 men seeking a long-term relationship, 225 women who wanted the same, and 225 men looking for a casual fling with no commitment

The study, published in the journal Evolutionary Psychological Science, looked at people of all ages with personal photographs on their dating profile. These included 225 men seeking a long-term relationship, 225 women who wanted the same, and 225 men looking for a casual fling with no commitment

Senior study author Professor Maryanne Fisher, an evolutionary psychologist from Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, said: ‘Men pictured with dogs in their online dating profiles show they can look after a pet and keep it alive – the kind of investment which can help to keep a long-term relationship going too.

‘The evidence suggests they choose dogs instead of cats for these profiles because cats are seen as more feminine.’

The study, published in the journal Evolutionary Psychological Science, looked at people of all ages with personal photographs on their dating profile.

These included 225 men seeking a long-term relationship, 225 women who wanted the same, and 225 men looking for a casual fling with no commitment.

The researchers could find only 46 women looking for a no-strings date so they did not include them in their main analysis.

Don’t pet guide dogs – it’s dangerous 

Making a fuss of a guide dog can endanger both the animal and its owner, the public were warned yesterday.

The dogs can become upset and lose focus if they are petted, said Dr Amy Kavanagh, who has been visually impaired since birth.

She was sharing her experiences after the Guide Dogs charity revealed 71 per cent of owners claim their dog is distracted by strangers at least once a day.

She said a woman once petted her dog Ava just as the animal was showing her where the gap was at a train platform.

‘That is the real risk,’ she added. ‘She could be stopping me walking out in front of cars or falling down the stairs.’

She also said she was ‘screamed at’ after she politely asked a man to stop petting Ava.

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