Yahoo Lifestyle 
New 'dogfishing' dating dupe waging war on singles
![People are posing with dogs that don't belong to them. [Photo: Getty]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/Utvud70HjNuiiKCgsyBaEw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media-mbst-pub-ue1.s3.amazonaws.com/creatr-uploaded-images/2019-10/9dc979a0-f0e3-11e9-8ffd-4a5dd53a5718)
Is there anything more cruel in life than thinking a person has a dog only to realise that it’s, in fact, their friend’s dog? Probably, but as a dog lover it’s still pretty annoying.
Modern daters are finding themselves drawn to the cute faces of dogs people pose with, only to discover the dog actually belongs to somebody else.
Welcome to the world of dogfishing, a craze gaining momentum thanks to our penchant for our furry friends.
It’s a kind of deceit we just don’t need in our lives. Especially in cuffing season, when we have visions of walking your dog in a big warm coat, our new boots crunching over freshly fallen leaves. You’re there too, somewhere.
You see, people are quite savvy on dating apps nowadays. Research has found that stroking a cat or dog can reduce stress.
We also know that men feel emotionally closer to their dogs than other human beings. Armed with this knowledge, it’s no wonder we’re posing with them as if they were our own.
One particular study even found that women were more likely to give their number to men with dogs.
There’s a catch though: you actually have to own the dog.
What’s in a dog?
We make assumptions about people who have dogs. Perhaps we find them more nurturing or caring. Research has also shown that dog ownership increases the level of attractiveness of the dog owner.
Again, and we can’t stress this enough, you do need to actually own the dog.
We have to admit, it’s almost impossible to swipe left on a cute picture of a dog but next time you do, take a moment to pause and think about whether that dog belongs to the person, or to Maud and John down the road.
