Picking the perfect dating profile picture, sounds much easier than it is, and it’s not just appearances people ponder over when choosing which one to use. In a world where relationships can be made or broken at the swipe of a thumb, it takes careful deliberation to decide what messages you want to give in the five second visual snapshot you have to potentially impress ‘the one’. And when we’re struggling, it seems we draft in a little help from our friends… Our furry friends that is.
Relationships on Female First
No longer do daters just post a close-up mugshot style selfie reminiscent of the MSN era - and who can blame them? It doesn’t give much away about personality, which most people find very important. Nowadays - according to DatingScout’s epic study of a staggering 22 million dating profile pictures from all over the world - we are conveying our softer, or in some cases wilder, sides by uploading pictures with our favourite furry friends.
But which animals are people posing with?
The top ten animals to feature in dating profile pictures in the world are:
- Dogs
- Cats
- Horses
- Fish
- Birds
- Cows and bulls
- Whales and dolphins
- Elephants
- Camels
- Tigers
Compare that to the top ten animals Brits use in their dating profile pictures:
- Dogs
- Horses
- Cats
- Birds
- Elephants
- Fish
- Cows and bulls
- Whales and dolphins
- Camels
- Monkeys
No surprise that our canine chums made the top of both of the UK and global lists. Interestingly though, horses were more popular in dating profile pictures in the UK than cats! That’s rather surprising considering the number of people who own horses compared to cats…
Celia Schweyer, the resident dating guru from DatingScout, talks about why people choose to include pets and other wild beasts in their profile pictures. She says: “Dating profile pictures are the first opportunity people have to showcase a little of their personality. Many people who love animals want to find kindred spirits that they can share their lives with. If having a dog is important to someone, they need someone who shares that passion, and a love for animals in general can often bring people together.”
But what about the negative aspects - can including an animal in your profile picture put people off?
Celia says: “Yes, especially if you include a picture posing with an exotic animal that might not have been at an ethical sanctuary. It is surprising to see that elephants are such a popular animal to have pictures with, especially as there is a lot of association with animal cruelty. That is not to say all pictures involving exotic animals have been taken in this way, but some people now completely boycott attractions which involve these types of animals. If you’re looking for an earth conscious partner, such pictures will likely put them off. Obviously, some people are allergic to pets too, so it is unlikely they will want to match with a person who has a picture with their pooch. That being said, it is better to know that someone has a pet initially, than find that out further down the line.
“I would say, if animals are a big part of your life and you want to find a partner who is also an animal lover, then having your furry best friend in your profile pictures may help you to find a more suitable match.”
Time to book in at the dog groomers then...