We all have our “must” list when it comes to relationships: Must be taller/shorter than I am, must share my religious beliefs, must be a non-smoker, and so on. High on the list for many is this one: must love dogs.

For dog people, being with someone who not only understands the bond between human and animal but also shares it can provide a very meaningful connection indeed.

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It goes beyond enjoying a similar hobby — how people treat animals can often be an indication of how they treat people. Pet lovers are generally perceived as responsible, kind and caring, qualities most people would certainly find attractive in a partner.

There are good reasons — scientific reasons, in fact — why many people value the companionship of their pets so much. According to the Humane Society of the United States, researchers have long known that pets, particularly those of the canine variety, can greatly benefit our physical health. Interacting with pets can lower blood pressure, slow the loss of bone tissue and generally help people live longer.

Such benefits extend to our emotional health. Feeling blue? Rover to the rescue! A recent study by the University of Missouri-Columbia suggests that in addition to improving physical health, a few minutes of petting a dog can release certain "feel good" hormones such as serotonin and decrease levels of the primary stress hormone cortisol in us humans.

The bottom line is that pets improve our overall quality of life, including our social interactions. When dog-lovers meet other dog-lovers, there’s often an instant bond.

All this makes dogs ideal for taking some of the anxiety out of the most stressful of situations, including a first date. Want to see this in action? Take your date — and your dog, of course — to a dog park.

Not only do dogs have the ability to put some of our first-date jitters at ease, they can give your conversation a surefire jumping-off point, even if you’ve already chatted, emailed or even spoken on the phone about your pets. You can show off your dog’s latest trick or quirky habit, or just gush about how cute your date’s dog is.

And because you can let your dogs off the leash at a dog park, you can take the time to talk one-on-one with your date while your dogs enjoy their freedom.

If you’ve never been to a dog park, be sure you know the rules. Most dog parks have a website with this information, but you can bet they’ll tell you that puppies should be at least four months old and that dogs should have all their shots. Look your dog park up online to get the full scoop. (To find a dog park near you, you can search here.)

Also, use common sense. If your dog doesn’t do well with other dogs, don’t force it. You’ll just be more stressed than usual, which defeats the purpose of double-dating with Fido. If you’re not sure how your dog will do, make a test run out to the park and find out. Again, this gives you one less thing to worry about when meeting your date in person.

That said, here are some tips to make your doggie date fun for humans and animals alike.

Do's and don'ts for doggies:

1. Take water with you. Most parks have water fountains for the dogs, but it’s good to have some so the pups don’t have to fight for space.
2. Don’t take food into the park — the last thing you want to do is spend your first date fending off four-legged dog park denizens!
3. Wear comfortable clothes, including tennis shoes. If there’s a chance it could be muddy, wear dark colors, which won’t show dirt as much.
4. Take frisbees, balls or other toys for the dogs to play with.

Do's and don'ts for daters:

1. Bring a camera and take a few fun snaps of your dogs playing together. What better way to remember the day?
2. Spend time getting to know each others' dogs. For some people, it's vital that their pets approve of their partners!
3. Pick up your dog’s poop. Remember, one of the qualities we find attractive in other dog- lovers is their sense of responsibility — practice what you preach!
4. Relax, and have fun!

Want to find someone who loves dogs as much as you do? Use TRUE’s keyword search function to search for your canine-loving compatibles!

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