Puppy love: Karen Wheeler found a soul mate in her pet dog Biff, who also went on to find her a new manFinding myself unexpectedly single in my mid-30s, I was given a memorable piece of advice by a friend's mother.
'Forget the high heels, the make-up and hanging out in bars and restaurants,' she said. (Not that I was doing any of the aforementioned at the time, as, following a traumatic break-up with my French boyfriend, I was too depressed to get out of my pyjamas most days.) 'The best way to find a new boyfriend is to get a dog.'
'Get a dog?' I repeated incredulously. 'And how does that work exactly?'
'Well, firstly, you have to walk it several times a day, which gets you out and about. And secondly, it's a really easy way to meet people. Everyone talks to you when you've got a dog.'
She made a canine pal sound like a 'must-have' accessory, but one that unlike the latest handbag, was guaranteed to attract admiring glances from the opposite sex, and not just envious looks from other women.
Dog lover: Jennifer Aniston, pictured here with Owen Wilson in the film Marley and Me, is besotted with her pet dog, Norman I was doubtful. Yet this technique had worked for her (in her 60s, she had just married for the fourth time). And the dog strategy, I could see, had its advantages.
For a start, you wouldn't have to spend a fortune on high heels and designer clothes to attract admirers. Instead a good pair of walking shoes and an all-weather jacket would be your best pulling kit.
Secondly, rather than sitting around in bars and restaurants, imbibing vast quantities of alcohol and empty calories, you'd at least be getting some exercise.
Now, I am not advocating that you should get a dog in order to attract a significant other. And before I receive a rap on the knuckles from the RSPCA, I'd like to point out that a dog is not an accessory; it is a major commitment.
Matchmakers: In 101 Dalmatians, the characters, played here by Ioan Gruffudd and Alice Evans, are brought together by their dogs You will need to walk it in all weathers - rain, hail and stifling heat - and when you are ill, hungover or have deadlines to meet. You will never again be able to go out in the evening and drink cocktails until dawn; and you can forget about spontaneous weekends away.
If the dog in question is a puppy, you must also be prepared for weeks, if not months, of chaos. In addition to love and commitment, a dog requires a lot of attention and a huge amount of patience and it can be expensive to keep (not unlike a man, some are thinking).
I had thought about getting a dog many times over the years. I worked from home, I liked long walks and I loved the idea of a small furry creature curled up under my desk.
source: dailymail
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