If the person not only likes dogs, but has one, Wood recommends noting the breed. “(It) can give you a lot of information about someone’s personality since they tend to share those traits with their dogs,” she said. For example, people with dachshunds tend to be quirky and fun while those with Rottweilers can be overly protective. (See sidebar for more.)
She also recommends watching how somebody treats their dog as an indication of how they’ll treat you. Take the case of Marilyn Cantwell and her former boyfriend Dick. He used to say that “anybody who didn’t understand the dog came first wouldn’t make it with him.” It’s a sentiment that not only raised a red flag for Marilyn but also caused her to end the relationship.
Here are a few others to look out for:
- If somebody is too harsh or strict with the dog, yelling for no good reason
- If they don’t take care of the dog—or take better care of the dog than they do of themselves
- If your dinner conversation is constantly being interrupted by a begging dog (could indicate boundary issues)
- If they’re threatened by the time and attention you spend with your dog
- If they inappropriately put the pet before you
- If they want you to get rid of your pet. “Get rid of them instead,” Wood said, explaining that this type of request is often a precursor to domestic violence
Finally, it’s best to have your dog spend some time around somebody before you get too invested, Pat said. “Jay worked hard to win Bailey over and that meant a lot to me.” So much so, that she married him.
By Jill Sherer Murray for WebVet
