Anonymous wrote:I agree with you, but I think it's not specific to dogs. I find people (all) who are kind and loving to animals are kind and loving to more humans. I also think dealing with animals teaches patience, which I think is a good quality in a partner.

But if you define "kind and loving" as insisting that a person adore your pet, fawn over it and embrace it as your "fur baby" etc. -- that's where some animal lovers go off the rails, frankly. Not saying YOU do that, but let's be honest, there are pet "parents" who equate their pets with humans and place them above humans.

I admire dogs' intelligence and loyalty, would never mistreat one and would call the authorities on anyone who did mistreat one (I've actually done this). But I'm not used to them day to day, and would not gush over your dog or rush to pet it and love on it. My DH is the same. He's kind and empathetic and respects and likes dogs but we're never going to have one, or get all goopy over someone else's. Again, not saying you're like that, but we know dog lovers who are, and it's not kind or loving of them to push their pets on others as "family" to be adored.

Anonymous wrote:There was a thread that mentioned dogs and it reminded me that I was pondering this question: "Have you noticed whether there is a correlation between how well a guy treats dogs and how good of a partner they are generally?" How guys treat dogs was my original question, but I suppose I'd be curious whether there is any difference as between genders, and maybe it's not just dogs, but any animal.

My thought is that guys who are reflexively nice to dogs are probably more likely to be kind, empathetic partners. And, guys who ignore, avoid, or just don't like dogs are probably more likely to not have those qualities. But, my sample size is pretty darn small, so this is just a guess.

Yes, the sample size is, as you note, pretty darn small. And the conclusions you draw are WAY too broad and general. Of course youll get gobs of posts on here along the lines of "Must love dogs or he's awful" or "he's not for me" etc.

That still does not make it a universal truth that "guys who ignore, avoid, or just don't like dogs are probably more likely to not" be "kind, empathetic partners."

Men who are "reflexively nice to dogs" may just be used to dogs and have had dogs as pets all their lives. That doesn't mean they're kind or empathetic toward humans at all.

Men who to you as a dog lover seem cool toward dogs may be men who never had dogs as pets when they were children. Or they had a bad experience with a dog that you have no idea about (got bitten, or charged at, by a dog owned by one of the many terrible owners who let their dogs rule the roost aggressively).

I know you are not saying you'd dismiss a man as a potential partner if he were not a dog lover and/or wasn't "reflexively nice" to dogs, OP. But there are people who would make that their biggest test, and that's a pity. They might not understand why a particular man isn't as into their dog, or dogs in general, as they are.

Anonymous wrote:My ex husband's brother was mean to all their pets growing up. No surprise he ended up murdering someone.

I assume it's always a surprise when somebody you know from childhood ends up murdering someone.

My ex husband's brother was mean to all their pets growing up. No surprise he ended up murdering someone.

I don't find a correlation. Though I'm sure people who are cruel to animals have mental illness.

I had a boyfriend who loved dogs, but he would've been a crummy life partner.
Current DH does not like animals but has treated me the best out of all my boyfriends and is loyal to the extreme.

Anonymous wrote:There was a thread that mentioned dogs and it reminded me that I was pondering this question: "Have you noticed whether there is a correlation between how well a guy treats dogs and how good of a partner they are generally?" How guys treat dogs was my original question, but I suppose I'd be curious whether there is any difference as between genders, and maybe it's not just dogs, but any animal.

My thought is that guys who are reflexively nice to dogs are probably more likely to be kind, empathetic partners. And, guys who ignore, avoid, or just don't like dogs are probably more likely to not have those qualities. But, my sample size is pretty darn small, so this is just a guess.

I have a theory that men who don't like cats don't like women.

My dog used to be skittish around all men and I would give guests instructions on how to approach (ignore her and don't make eye contact at first). It was interesting who would listen and be sensitive. She has since loosened up and is a good judge of character. My teenage cat is nervous around all men, including my brother who loves cats, except my boyfriend, whom he loves and will sit on. He doesn't even sit on my lap. This is a good sign, I thik.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think dogs are gross, time-consuming, overly-demanding, and annoying. I adore kids, even kids who aren't my own, and if you're an adult you have to do something pretty bad to me for me to be unkind to you.

I'm sure a lot of people feel about my kids the way I feel about their dogs. And that's okay! To each their own, as long as we are being courteous.

This is not about what you think
How well would you treat a dog? I find some adults very annoying and overly- demanding( even some of my relatives). But they would agree that I treat them very well.

OP said "affinity" in title, so I was responding based on that. But how well I treat dogs is hard to answer because I'm not responsible for a dog. If I was, I would probably treat the dog poorly. I wouldn't kick him but I'd be a terrible dog mom, which is why I refuse to get a dog. As a non-dog owner, I just avoid them (in a way that I think would be mean to people, but I don't think it's mean to a dog, because, well, it's a dog).

Anonymous wrote:I think dogs are gross, time-consuming, overly-demanding, and annoying. I adore kids, even kids who aren't my own, and if you're an adult you have to do something pretty bad to me for me to be unkind to you.

I'm sure a lot of people feel about my kids the way I feel about their dogs. And that's okay! To each their own, as long as we are being courteous.

This is not about what you think
How well would you treat a dog? I find some adults very annoying and overly- demanding( even some of my relatives). But they would agree that I treat them very well.

I don't like dogs but I would always treat them kindly and my husband is the same. We even dog sit our friends' dogs (and breathe a sigh of relief when we give them back) because the kids get such a kick out of having a dog around.
My husband is very affectionate to the cat and even sings him little songs. Many people just prefer one type of pet over another.

I think dogs are gross, time-consuming, overly-demanding, and annoying. I adore kids, even kids who aren't my own, and if you're an adult you have to do something pretty bad to me for me to be unkind to you.

I'm sure a lot of people feel about my kids the way I feel about their dogs. And that's okay! To each their own, as long as we are being courteous.

This has also been my experience - But I've never been close to somebody who didn't like animals more than I did. I'm the weak link in the marriage when it comes to being a good partner.

Anonymous wrote:This has been my experience 100%

Same. Describes my ex-wife, although she is kindly toward cats. Just not dogs or humans, so much.

Anonymous wrote:There was a thread that mentioned dogs and it reminded me that I was pondering this question: "Have you noticed whether there is a correlation between how well a guy treats dogs and how good of a partner they are generally?" How guys treat dogs was my original question, but I suppose I'd be curious whether there is any difference as between genders, and maybe it's not just dogs, but any animal.

My thought is that guys who are reflexively nice to dogs are probably more likely to be kind, empathetic partners. And, guys who ignore, avoid, or just don't like dogs are probably more likely to not have those qualities. But, my sample size is pretty darn small, so this is just a guess.

If you ask any person who ever encountered me, you'll find out that I'm a kind person by nature. However, I was never exposed to animals hence feel scared and unhygienic around them. A stranger may interpret my avoidance as me being unkind to animals or just in general.

If I saw somebody kicking a dog or something that would be a massive red flag, but other than that I don't think it matters. A lot of people treat dogs better than people and many people who treat humans very well don't like dogs. I totally dislike dogs (which is okay because I don't have one) but I'm very kind and affectionate toward my husband and children.

But a pet is definitely a compatibility issue! If you have your heart set on having pets, don't marry somebody who isn't also an animal person.

I agree with you, but I think it's not specific to dogs. I find people (all) who are kind and loving to animals are kind and loving to more humans. I also think dealing with animals teaches patience, which I think is a good quality in a partner.