Your pet plays a big part in your relationship
<p dir="ltr">Have you ever stopped dating someone simply because they did not get along with your pet? </p>
<p dir="ltr">According to eharmony, it’s a lot more common than you thought to ditch someone because they don’t like your furry friend. </p>
<p dir="ltr">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. </p>
<p dir="ltr">eharmony psychologist Sharon Draper said the way someone is with a pet is a strong indicator of how they would be in the relationship. </p>
<p dir="ltr">“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. </p>
<p dir="ltr">“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. </p>
<p dir="ltr">“Ultimately, we would never want to end up in a ‘them or me’ situation, so it’s important to get this established early on.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">Sharon said it could also help individuals see whether or not someone would make a great parent. </p>
<p dir="ltr">“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.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“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). </p>
<p dir="ltr">“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.” </p>
<p dir="ltr">But what about those who are afraid of animals or are not interested in looking after one? </p>
<p dir="ltr">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. </p>
<p dir="ltr">“It’s totally okay to have different interests than your partner and animals can be one of them,” she said. </p>
<p dir="ltr">“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.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">Now when it comes to what pets are ranked the highest it is very obviously dogs, followed by cats, birds, rabbits and lizards. </p>
<p dir="ltr">And the pets that are absolute deal breakers with the highest ranking being crocodiles, followed by snakes, rats, possums and lizards.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Supplied/Shutterstock</em></p>
