Has your love gone to the dogs?

Simon Harlow of Bundamba loves his pet dog Bessie.

David Nielsen

COULD it be that singles of both sexes are choosing to put their love for their pets ahead of finding a partner?

The vast majority of single women (83 per cent) and more than half of single men (64 per cent) would not start a relationship with someone who didn't like their pet, according to the latest research from the Pet Information Advisory Service.

Bundamba pet owner Simon Harlow shares his life with 13 year-old Bessie, a Corgi-cross-Staffy.

He said he was looking for a good communicator and wouldn't enter into a new relationship unless the potential partner liked the company of dogs.

“Bessie comes everywhere with me,” Mr Harlow said.

“She's a great companion. She is certainly a factor when considering a new relationship.”

For 67 per cent of single women and 51 per cent of single men, the most important characteristic in a pet is that it is a friend that is always there for you.

In fact, the majority of single pet owners (72 per cent) thought their pets understand them as well or better than their friends (70 per cent of men and 73 per cent of women), with 61 per cent of single women saying that they talk things over with their pet.

The research also indicated a difference in where the pets of single men and single women sleep.

More than 35 per cent of single women allow their pet to sleep on their bed, whereas only 22 per cent of single men do.

Almost 30 per cent of single men (but only 14 per cent of single women) put their pet outside at night.

And a final word to anyone who wants to know more about a single pet owner: take note of the personality of the pet, ahead of what the pet looks like.

Around 63 per cent of single men and 54 per cent of single women think that people pick pets with similar personalities to themselves.

The animal's looks were not a high priority in selecting a pet.