Between grocery lists and to do lists, a lot of single women have another list often hidden under paper work or for some of us still in our head.

• Honest,
• Kind,
• Makes me laugh,
• Sensitive,
• Loyal,
• Emotionally available,
• Capable of making a commitment.

Those are the basics but the details can vary. We include that list in personals ads and dating profiles, and debate it with our friends, but there's a part two of that list we are less likely to share.

• Thinks I'm wonderful, no matter what
• Loves my cooking,
• Really believes I look great first thing in the morning,
• Never looks at other women.

Many of us have someone like that in our lives already. The only problem is that it's our dog.

While you can't bring Rover to the movies or your cousin's wedding, your hound might just help you hunt - oops, find - Mr. Right.

Face it, asking your girlfriend for their opinion of a new boyfriend or helping you find is not always that reliable. But your dog can help you.

Natural ice breaker, when you have a dog it is easier to open up a conversation with a total stranger and feel at ease. A dog brings most of the time the best in people and someone's reaction to your pooch says a lot about their character.

5 Ways Your Dog Can Help You"Hunt" for Mr Right

1 - Mention Your Dog in your Ad or Profile.

Your dog says a lot about you. Is it a purebred you take to dog shows? A feisty terrier who can play fetch for hours? A mixed-breed rescue you take hiking? Or maybe an older dog who loves to curl up by the fire and snooze?

Including a bit of information about your him/her should weed out men who don't like dogs, and save you the grief of dealing with that scenario. It may also prompt them to tell you about their dogs, which really tells you about them.

Of course, you want Rover to make a good impression too. And no one is impressed by a dog that misbehaves. If you have not already trained your dog, you may want to get some tips to train your dog to make sure your best friend doesn't ruin your odds with Mr. Wonderful. If you are using online dating sites, you've already discovered some of what the web has to offer. But did you know you can now get online dog training advice?

2 - Take Your Dog on Your First Date

And why not take Rover along on a date? Dinner dates can be formal and tense. Figuring out what to wear and what to order can feel like navigating a minefield. Movies are a popular date activity because you don't have to make conversation for a couple of hours and when you do, you can talk about the movie. But sometimes, there just isn't anything good at the cinema or one of you has seen everything. Finding a film you'd both enjoy isn't always easy.

But including your dog gives you a whole slew of new options, especially if you and Rover have mastered training. If not you will find very good dog training manual as a refresh course. If you tend to get nervous on first dates, having your dog with you will distract you and give you something to focus on so you don't get too self-conscious. If your dog is with you on a date, the canine antics are sure to keep things from getting dull.

Hiking, walking, playing ball or Frisbee can be great activities on a first date and an interesting way to get to know your date. In general men and women get tense on a first date and have a hard time relaxing. Bring a dog in the picture and you will get to know each over on a different level. There is always time after that for a deeper conversation if there is some sparkles.

3 - Take Your Dog for an Activity such as Agility or Fly Ball

It might not lead to Mr Right right away but it is a great way to connect with like minded people, men and women. Be open relax and positive. Who knows where it can lead you! if anything you and your dog will have some fun.

4 Take A Hike

If you go for a walk by yourself, unless you are extrovert, chances of meeting a guy is pretty slim. But when you take your dog for a walk, it seems easier to open up a conversation.

If you do not have a dog, borrow one from a friend for an afternoon and take a stroll by the beach, a highly used hiking trail or even a dog park

5 Got A Ball?

If you enjoy outdoors ball games, going by yourself can be boring. Take your dog along. A great outing for both of you could turn in an interesting adventures

Theses are only a few ideas on how your dog can help you meet guies, make new connections and find Mr Right.

You can have a lot of fun by making your dog part of your dating life, but on a more serious note, your dog can also alert you to danger. A dog can be good insurance a first date is safe and if your dog takes an instant dislike to your date, Rover could be alerting you to a potential danger.

Catherine Potin
©2009

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