Lifestyle Story: Los Angeles, CA. Did you know that nearly one in three Los Angeles singles surveyed are more likely to swipe right on someone if they have a dog pictured in their dating app profile? Singles are working to resume dating as pandemic restrictions finally ease and pet owners may have an edge. As National Pet Day approaches on Sunday, April 11th, new research from the women-first dating platform Bumble has found that dogs may be the key to romantic success when dating in Los Angeles.

“More than ever, people are looking to connect with those who share their values and interests as we’re navigating this new world of dating,” said Bumble Dating Expert Francesca Hogi. “Los Angeles consistently ranks as one of the top pet-friendly cities in the United States, and this has translated on the Bumble app, too, where more than one in three Angelenos who have adopted the Pet Badge are dog owners.” 52% of those surveyed thought that a person with a dog seemed more likely to be caring. According to the survey, conducted in March 2021 amongst Los Angeles singles, nearly one in three people believe that if a prospective romantic partner has a dog, it shows they’re less afraid of commitment.

Singles who want to show off their sensitive side should consider posting a photo with their dog on their dating app profile.

Including a photo of a dog in your profile can also be an easy conversation starter, as one in three Angelenos surveyed say that this could spark effortless conversation on a first date. In fact, nearly one in four respondents would actually prefer to walk their dog or go to a dog park for their first date, and one in five Los Angeles singles say that their dog getting along with their potential partner is a top dating priority for them.

If going to the dog park isn’t an ideal date scenario, embrace the sunny weather and suggest bringing your dog on a walk to the beach or visiting the farmer’s market. Nearly half of those surveyed would prefer a casual date outdoors for their first date.

People often include photos of their pets on their profiles, but Bumble’s Pet Badge also allows its community to easily share if they’re an animal lover and what pets they have. People can also filter their matches to find other people who love dogs (or cats) as much as they do. According to the survey, those who adopt the “Dog Badge: increase their chances of matching with someone by nearly 10%.

Bumble Dating Expert Francesca Hogi explains, “As a fellow dog mom and lover, dogs can be beneficial to romance at so many stages – from the first swipe to the qualities you develop as a pet owner to the bond it creates as a couple!”

As folks are spending more time at home with their pets during quarantine, they’re also more frequently including this within their dating profiles. Millions of people worldwide added the Dog Badge to their Bumble profile after the Covid-19 pandemic started in the US in March 2020.

About Bumble app: Bumble, the women-first dating, and networking app, was founded by CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd in 2014. Bumble connects people across dating (Bumble Date), friendship (Bumble BFF) and professional networking (Bumble Bizz). No matter the type of relationship, women make the first move on Bumble. Bumble is built on the importance of equitable relationships and how crucial they are to a healthy, happy life. They’ve built their platform around kindness, respect, and equality – and their community plays an important part in that. Bumble holds its users accountable for their actions and has zero tolerance for hate, aggression, or bullying. Bumble is free and available worldwide in the App Store and Google Play.

Unless cited otherwise, these insights were commissioned by Bumble and carried out by Atomik Research in March 2021 to 806 daters within Los Angeles, California, U.S. Other observations were based on proprietary Bumble platform insights within Los Angeles during March 2021.