Your pet plays a big part in your relationship
Have you ever stopped dating someone simply because they did not get along with your pet?
According to eharmony, it’s a lot more common than you thought to ditch someone because they don’t like your furry friend.
Aussies are more attracted to pet owners, as those who have their pets in their dating profile are more likely to get more interest from potential suitors.
eharmony psychologist Sharon Draper said the way someone is with a pet is a strong indicator of how they would be in the relationship.
“Our pets are often like our family – they see us through important parts of our lives, they’re companions through the ups and the downs, and we love them,” she told OverSixty.
“So much like family, when you’re looking for a potential partner, compatibility with your pet is key for the long-term success of the relationship.
“Ultimately, we would never want to end up in a ‘them or me’ situation, so it’s important to get this established early on.”
Sharon said it could also help individuals see whether or not someone would make a great parent.
“The research and personal anecdotes I hear show that we make assumptions about how a person would be in a relationship based on how they treat their pets,” she went on.
“Whether this can be applied to how they would be as a parent is hard to say because a relationship between a parent and child is very different from an owner and a pet (despite how similar it feels sometimes).
“What we do know is that pets are a fantastic indicator of values, and these values may be what a parent would instill in their child, so the two can still be related.”
But what about those who are afraid of animals or are not interested in looking after one?
Sharon explained that it is generally not an issue as long as it is spoken about at the beginning of what could be a potential relationship.
“It’s totally okay to have different interests than your partner and animals can be one of them,” she said.
“However, it’s incredibly important to be clear about your feelings towards animals and potential pets early on in a relationship so you can manage the expectations of your partner and not set yourself up for unexpected conflict later if your partner suggests getting a furry friend.”
Now when it comes to what pets are ranked the highest it is very obviously dogs, followed by cats, birds, rabbits and lizards.
And the pets that are absolute deal breakers with the highest ranking being crocodiles, followed by snakes, rats, possums and lizards.
Images: Supplied/Shutterstock