Billie, a communications manager, says, "My sister is dating a much older man who nobody in my family is particularly fond of. When my husband and I brought our rescued boxer home for a visit last year (in a different state), our dog, who is well behaved, went nuts and started barking and jumping on this guy. It was funny as hell. Since then, she continues to jump on him and bark whenever she sees him. Everyone in my family is having a private giggle over this, especially since this guy claims to be 'a dog person.'"
Do pets really have a sixth sense about people?
Yes and no. According to Forbes, host of the nationally syndicated Pet Talk radio show and author of Dog Talk, pets do have a sort of "people sense."
Forbes says, "A lot of dogs are really good at sensing something that is wrong but it may or may not match up. With cats, it's more of what they don't do than what they normally do -- maybe they won't rub or purr. And parrots, they'll outright attack someone. But sometimes that's gender based. If you're going to put a lot a stock in your pet's radar, you need to pay attention to the bigger picture."
Maybe your ferret is grouchy because he has a stomachache. Maybe your iguana just isn't a people-person (er, people-reptile?). And maybe your date isn't a bad guy at all. Maybe he's tense because he's afraid after being bitten as a child, and the dog/cat/rooster is reacting to that emotion.
"I'm always astounded at the lengths at which people put stock in what their pets think," says Forbes. "If the dog is wagging his tail, they go to dinner. If the dog isn't wagging his tail, the date is cancelled."
One way Forbes suggests Sparky really can help you date better is to observe people with their pets, in a place like a pet store or a dog park.
"You can sit back and watch how the person treats their pet. Are they overbearing? Kind and gentle?"
Forbes says, "That probably has the most merit. Make an assessment before you start talking to somebody."
And finally, if you're on the other end of the spectrum and need to pass muster with Mr. Barkles before your relationship can go any further, well, the best advice is to talk softly and never leave home without a salami roll.
Dating expert Lisa Daily is the bestselling author of two dating books, Stop Getting Dumped and How to Date Like a Grown-Up.