“Dogfishing” is a dating trend that doesn’t seem so bad until it happens to you. It’s when someone uses another person’s dog in their dating profile to impress potential dates. It might not seem like a big deal, but it can be manipulative as hell and cause some pretty awkward conversations. Here’s what you need to know about it and how to prevent being a victim of it.
- It’s false advertising. We associate people with certain traits based on things they do or things they have in their pics. This is not always factual, of course, but it happens. So, when you see someone holding a cute puppy in his hands, you might think they’re gentle and kind, and definitely an animal lover. If they’re “dogfishing” you, then it puts everything into question.
- It’s a red flag if you ask about the pooch and get no reply. If you really love the dog in someone’s profile pic (admit it, more than the guy), you might think it’s a great way to start a conversation with them. So, you might ask what the dog’s name is or something else about the pooch. If they don’t answer, chances are that’s because they can’t.
- The rest of his profile should match. They don’t have to mention dogs in their bio or how much they love walking Rover on Saturday mornings, but if the dog pic seems like it just doesn’t fit in with the rest of this person’s profile, then that’s a sign something dodgy could be going on. For example, if they’re always traveling and never home, it seems a bit odd that they’d own a dog. Similarly, if they say they live in an apartment in the city, it’s not viable that they own a massive Greyhound.
- It’s not about the dog, though. Although emphasis is placed on the fact that the person doesn’t own the dog in their pic, the real issue is that they’re lying about themselves and pretending to own a dog because they know that this will impress some people who will find the dog adorable. It’s actually manipulative, similar to people who pose with fancy cars or accessories that aren’t theirs in order to seem like they’re loaded. By posing with a dog, this person is trying to seem sweet and trustworthy.
- Why are they trying so hard? If someone puts pics of themselves with a dog that isn’t theirs on a dating app, it could be a sign that they’re trying way too hard to impress people, and that’s a red flag. If they’re so desperate to impress that they’ll resort to pretending to be a dog owner, what are they hiding by trying so hard to seem kind and loyal in their pics?
- It’s a bad sign if the rest of their profile is empty. While some might say that a dog pic isn’t a big deal because it’s similar to a woman wearing hair extensions or false nails, it can sometimes signal bigger problems. If this person is using a dog pic to get matches, but the rest of their profile is empty, they’re likely hoping that people will connect with them based on that pic. Not only is that pathetic, but it’s lazy. They’re letting the dog do all the work!
- It’s a red flag if the pic looks posed. Sometimes you can spot a dogfisher by how weird the pic looks. Maybe the person in the pic is posing with two cute puppies and just looks out of place somehow. Trust your gut. If it looks like the pic was just for show, then maybe it’s not their dog.
- Watch out for people who use the dog to highlight their assets. Other times, there are dogfishing examples of people using dogs in their profile pics to highlight how awesome they look. For example, you might find someone who’s holding a puppy in their arms while wearing a shirt that shows off their muscles, boobs, whatever. Sneaky. Another example: the person might have a dog on their lap while they’re lifting weights to show off how much they work out. Insert eye roll. While this might not be a huge deal, it’s annoying and tells you that the person’s just desperate for attention.
