Would YOU dump your partner if your dog didn’t like them? Study reveals how many women would ditch their date if their dog disapproved

When dating someone new, gaining the approval of those closest to you is an important step and can actually make or break your future as a couple.

Everyone wants their parents and friends to love the person they see as much as they do.

However, have you ever stopped to think about what your dog might be thinking? It turns out that your furry friend may notice the warning signs before you do.

New research has found that as many as half of British singles would walk away from a date if their pet turned its nose up at them.

The British investigation Burns pet food highlights that more than two-thirds (69%) of single women believe their dog is a good judge of character and able to spot ‘bad guys’.

A survey of 2,022 dog owners shows that thousands of Brits trust their dog’s instincts, similar to ‘Puffy’ from the hit 1988 film ‘There’s Something About Mary’.

In the film, the men who are desperate for a date with Mary, played by Cameron Diaz, have to deal with a bad-tempered Border Terrier from her neighbor Magda.

More than half of women (59%) admitted they would be willing to cancel a date if their dog didn’t like them.

Despite being ‘man’s best friend’, this number is lower among men, with 41% claiming to dump someone based on their dog’s preference.

Millennials are the most likely generation to cool off with a new lover if their dog disapproves: 54% of 25-to-34-year-olds and 53% of 35-to-44-year-olds.

But at least half of all dog owners agree that their dog is a good judge of character, and almost two-thirds of people aged 45 to 65 even say they trust their pet’s opinions the most.

Meanwhile, around 73% of all dog owners are unlikely to meet someone who doesn’t like pets, with eight in 10 women likely to avoid dating if they aren’t particularly fond of their animal.

And it turns out dogs are a hot topic on dating apps, as 71% of 18 to 24 year olds expressed a wish they would add a specific filter for pets, compared to the average of just under two-thirds (62%) of the dog lovers surveyed.

More than half of women (59%) admit they are willing to end a date if their dog doesn’t like them (stock image)

Gen Z was also the age group most interested in seeing profiles detailing someone’s likes or dislikes for pets.

Now Burns Pet Nutrition is calling on dating apps to add a profile filter to help daters distinguish the pet lovers out there – with the aim of avoiding any long-term heartbreak.

Single dog owner Samantha said: ‘I’ve wasted so much time talking to men who turn out not to be fans of dogs – and I have three!

‘If someone has selected dogs as their interest then that’s fine, but not all dog lovers do that. It would make finding love a lot easier if I could just see profiles of the guys who love dogs as much as I do.”

Burns Nutrition Manager Laura Crotch Harvey added: ‘Some people are dog lovers, some love cats and some prefer no pets at all – I don’t trust those people.

‘But one thing’s for sure: if you’re looking for a lifelong partner, you want someone who loves your pet as much as you do – or doesn’t need a furry companion like you do.

‘The dating world is hard enough, and it seems like someone not liking pets is clearly something dog owners don’t want to compromise on – and why should they?

“So we hope the dating apps will hear our plea and make it easier for dog lovers to find their perfect match.”