Maybe it's a question of pheromones?
I'm afraid to think what would have happened if you'd babysitted, though I suspect that babies are chick magnets, not the other way around.
Works on gay men like a charm :)
I had similar resuts. My dog was a chick magnet. Not exactly my target market. But at least the Yaletown fashionistas would speak to me when I was with my dog. Now, not so much.
Too funny!! and I agree, when I have my parents dog, its all about the women and kids, not a man in site... soo disapointing. ;)
Maybe it's where you're walking Dougall? How many young single guys are living in the areas that you're walking Dougall?
The problem, Sarah, isn't the theory of the dog, but more likely the reality of this particular dog (no offense to Annelle - this is a judgement on the dog as boy magnet, not on the dog).
Now, if you had a lab who caught frisbees, or a husky dragging a log down the beach, you'd be on the right track to have the sorts of guys you want to talk to stop and check out your dog (ie: you).
I have been married since dinosaurs roamed the Earth, so take my comments with a grain of salt.
It's a perplexing result. I'd have thought that a dog would be a natural conversation starter. Indeed of some cheesy line, you can just ask "what's your dog's name?" or "what breed is your dog?" or, of course, "terriers are my very favourite breed. They're cute and cuddling, easy dogs to feed" and so forth.
In this way, a dog is like art at the art gallery. There's an immediate, obvious conversational context staring you in the face.
This is no help to you, but when I'm at the VAG I often remark on how many unaccompanied, presumably art-savvy women are wandering around. If I knew any single men, I'd send them down to the art gallery. Plus, there's a really charming cafe to invite your new found friend for drinks.
If I got a dog to dog-sit, I would be taking him(her) to the dog park about three times a day to see what eye candy is there with his dog. That's how I've always figured that having a dog would help me meet guys.
Sidle up to a cute and approachable guy and strike up a conversation about dogs. Hopefully you like dogs enough and sound regretful that you can't have on of your own. Either saying your apartment won't allow it or you are generally out too much to take care of a dog well. (Out because you're single and active, not because you're chained to your work and can't have a social life! :P)
I agree with Delacey - no offense to Dougall but he's not the most masculine dog...I think a bit of a bigger, tougher breed and they'd be coming on over to talk!
Totally the breed sister! My roommate has a doberman/lab cross who I have used as a wingdog many a time and it works like a charm! Not only that, but this particular dog, although she is as sweet as pie, has a totally badass chain leash. She looks tougher than nails but would only manage to lick you to death if provoked. Try a more manly dog!
C'mon! Dougall is adorable! It's not like he's some sort of frou-frou ankle-biter Paris Hilton dog with a pink sweater. He's a no-nonsense terrier with a proud Scottish history.
If a guy is so insecure in his own masculinity that he can only appreciate a "manly" dog like a lab or a husky, then that's not the guy of guy I want to attract in the first place.
Besides, I prefer men who like cats.
Maybe this is why Dougall is a chick magnet. He's cute but not manly.
To address Darren's point...I also thought that Dougall himself would be irrelevant. He's an entry point into a conversation. A guy doesn't actually have to like terriers, he can pretend he's interested in the dog. But even that isn't happening.
Maybe guys are making all kinds of judgments about me when they see me with Dougall. "Oooohh...don't want to get involved with that chick because she has an unmanly terrier."
That is a really nice picture of you!
If guys aren't coming over, its clearly their loss.
Also, try hanging out at dog runs. There's nothing for dog owners to do there but chat...hopefully an easy in!
To meet people with a dog you really need to go to an off leash park or beach.
Even though I'm married I can tell you from experience that the only people who approach me when I'm walking my two Border Collies (who are manly dogs) are other people walking dogs. It is actually the dogs that bring me and the other dog owner together but typically the dogs have a quick meet and greet and then we part - very little small talk is ever exchanged. When you are walking a dog you are either trying to get some exercise or you are trying to get your dog to go to the bathroom, either way there is no time for small talk.
Dog parks on the other hand offer plenty of opportunities to stand around and chat about dogs. I do feel the need to warn you that some dog owners who hang out at the dog parks are weirdoes so be careful with who you decide to talk to…
Good Luck!
Amy
Hi Sarah,
Looks like you're having fun with the mutt and glad to see there's no blog about a burned down house. I'll call you later.
Love,
Annelle
come walk her with Scout and me over on the Shore - each night this week LOTS of men have been chatting to us :)
Kathryn
Ok, Sarah
So three things
1) Why if you've been around Mount Pleasant and Main Street, have you NOT called me to hang out?
2) Why NOT hang out in the natural, male-charged environments (Yaletown, Coal Harbour, Kitsilano)
3) Commentary - when I dog-sit Freckles, he attracts LOTS of attention from women, sure. BUT I have to say that it worked like a charm to attract men. Actually, VERY cute men. On Main Street, Mount Pleasant no less. Not sure if they were straight or gay, but LOTS of men came to me and said hi and petted him.
I am sure that if I walked Freckles on Davie Street or Denman Street, I would have scored a boyfriend by now... (I would like to think, or at least a few phone numbers)...
Finally, I think that one thing that you might want to do is talk to Dougall. I found that when I was talking to Freckles and trying to get him to do cute things, lots of men stopped to give me advice on what to do or how to cross the streets. The rest... is history :)
Unfortunately, my dog-sitting stint ended today. Am now back in my apartment sans dog. If anyone has a "manly" dog they need me to walk, let me know!
Hey I (we) have a terrier. Very very manly. You can borrow her any time you like.
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