Relationships3 min(s) read
Published 16:45 13 Jan 2026 GMT
When I got my first dog, a miniature schnauzer called Malcolm, I remember turning to my then partner and telling him I hadn’t known a love like it. Needless to say, he wasn’t impressed.
Dogs are the best thing in the world, and we, as humans, are not worthy of them. So when I read about a trend in New York where women are choosing to spend their free time with rescue pooches instead of on the pursuit of love, I completely understood.
And we’re not the only ones who prefer canine companions to going out with someone. Research by The Kennel Club revealed that almost half of dog owners would prefer to spend time with their pet than go on a date, and one in three people they spoke to said they felt they were more compatible with their dog than their partner.
If those figures weren’t telling enough, 54% also admitted they find more comfort in their dog than humans, and half of those interviewed said they wouldn’t be in a relationship with someone who didn’t like dogs.
Speaking to the New York Post, Lauren Wire said she’d had it with low-effort men and would rather go to her local pet shelter that loans out rescue animals for a drama-free afternoon.
She told the site: “Dating apps can start to feel like another item on a to-do list, whereas time with a dog feels uncomplicated, present and non-judgmental. Also, dogs talk less.”
Another woman they spoke to said they’d met their now-fiancé thanks to her volunteer work with rescue shelters. Explaining how being with the pups helps open people up, Cole Reifsnider said that when a stranger sees a dog wearing the ‘Adopt Me’ vest, it can spark a more “meaningful conversation” than what might occur when you’re in a bar
She finished: “It’s never going to be a waste of time when you take a dog out. The dog always gains something from it — and you walk away knowing you made a difference.”
And while it seems the majority of us prefer dogs over dating, Rilo Kiley frontwoman Jenny Lewis took her commitment to the next level and celebrated her 50th birthday by marrying her cockapoo, Bobby Rhubarb.
Sharing four Polaroid snaps of the big day on X, formerly Twitter, she wrote: “I married my dog for my 50th birthday. BLESS!” It showed Jenny in a wedding veil, two rainbow-striped cakes featuring the words “JL50!” and “For BETTER or for WORSE I do!” in orange and white icing.
Another snap showed her from behind, wearing a white dress, with her adorable pooch sitting next to her, decked out with a white rose collar and long pearl-beaded lead. Under the post, fans rushed to share their delight in the coupling. One person rejoiced: “Beautiful pics, good for you!”
Someone else warned: “Bad news: Dogs get the seven-year itch almost immediately. Good news: It can easily be cured with belly scratches.” And a third user wrote: “I now pronounce you woman & woof.”
