Two in five singles admit to swiping right on a profile because they wanted to hang out with the pet pictured. However, what happens when sparks fly with the owner but not with their pet? What do you do when your partner’s pet doesn’t like you?

Pets are family

An astonishing 91% of pet owners consider their pet a member of their family. No one wants to be faced with the decision of choosing family or continuing a relationship with their significant other. But when faced with choosing one or the other, 63% of pet parents said they would break up with their significant other if their pet didn’t like them.

Woof! It’s important that you quickly bridge this gap and build a bond if you want this relationship to work. We’ll help you do that.

Pets are family

It’s probably not personal

As cliche’ as “it’s not you, it’s me” may feel, that might be what your partner’s pet is trying to tell you, according to Dr. Victoria Cussen, Director of Research at the ASPCA Anti-Cruelty Behavior Team.

“[Their behavior] reflects their fear or anxiety about the changes that happened in their life, not their feelings about you in particular,” Cussen told MarthaStewart.com.

Dogs and cats love routine. They typically know when you wake up, when it’s time to eat, and when it’s time for their daily walk. You, a new person in their territory, could be throwing their routine all out of whack and causing anxious behaviors. It’s best to learn their routine and help get it back on track.

Trauma response in pets

While we doubt your boyfriend or girlfriend’s pet actually dislikes you, you could be interacting with them in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable.

“The use of confrontational techniques such as physical or verbal reprimands have been shown to increase aggressive behavior and diminish trust,” advises Dr. Rachel Malamed, DVM, DACVB, CABC, veterinary specialist at BehaviorDogtor.com.

Even subtle emotions toward one another will be sensed.

While you might not realize your body language is putting out confrontational vibes, the slightest triggers could cause a trauma response in a pet with a past. Signs that a pet is experiencing fear include tucked ears or tail, cowering, hissing, avoiding eye contact, or trembling. If you notice these signs, avoid common triggers such as leaning forward, intense eye contact, or raising your hand or voice.

Earn their love

All is fair in love and war, especially when there are treats and belly rubs involved. Now that you have a better understanding of the underlying stress and fear your boyfriend or girlfriend’s pet might be experiencing, it’s time to combine positive interactions with some good old-fashioned bribery.

Play time together

The easiest way to a pet’s heart is through food. Ask your significant other if you could take over feeding time. The pet will begin to associate you with one of their most favorite times of the day while building trust and a lasting bond.

As you build trust with the pet, build up to one-on-one time playing. Eventually, you should have a solid enough relationship to have a one-on-one walk or play date at the park.

 

Before you know it, you and your significant other’s pet may have your own relationship. If they run to the door to see you, want to play with you, or flop in your lap for a rub, congratulations. You’ve won them over!

At FetchaDate, your WingPet makes the first introduction. Download FetchaDate today and start swiping.

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