Make this Your Year to Find Love and/or Just a Date and Your Dog Holds the Key

If you're wanting to make this your year to really connect with someone and find that love of your life - your furry friend just may be your best source of judgment. So give Fido a shot.

Dating is fun and scary at the same time. If you're having a hard time getting up the nerve to meet others, are you taking Fido along? Your dog may just be your best guide to helping you make new friends and find love.

Dogs are the real deal when it comes to unconditional love - trust their instincts. If you're wanting to make this your year to really connect with someone and find that love of your life - your furry friend just may be your best source of judgment. So give Fido a shot.

Start out looking for love by setting up your pooch to help you. If your dog is a bit intimating to others in size and/or looks, soften their appearance to make him/her look more friendly. Clothing, a cool collar or leash or a bandana on them helps any dog seem more approachable and lends to conversation. Be sure to bring treats to help you meet others and it's an opportunity for them to get involved by rewarding you dog as well. It's a great chance to make friends and/or hopefully the love of your life.

And, most of all - let your pooch help start the conversation. Let your dog be the one to make the first move to your potential date. How someone treats their dog is a reflection of how they'll treat you and potentially children. A great relationship between them and their dog can mean a happy pack for all down the road!

Here are some tips: Date Bait - Go Fetch

1. Let your dog sniff out a good date a. Dogs have an amazing sense of smell much more advanced than ours can ever be. Let them sniff out a good date for you. Dogs have 220 million smell receptors to our 5 million. Trust that your dog will know who's a keeper.

2. Animal Instincts

a. Dog lovers are more sexy - Radiate your sexiness. The presence of a dog makes everyone seem more approachable and fun.

b. Go for a walk with Fido and nonchalantly pause when in view of a potential date. It often opens the door to conversation.

Play Time

1. You got the date! Begin your date with a walk

a. People reveal more of themselves when there's no pressure.

b. It's free - you won't waste money on a bad connection.

2. Don't smooch your pooch or your date on the first date

a. Especially if you think this may be the one, some things are better left for later. b. Kissing your dog before you kiss your date, may leave a bad taste in everyone's mouth.

After the date

1. Be as gracious as your dog a. A dog appreciates the time you spend with him/her, so be as polite as your dog.

2. Dogs don't lie - so why should we

a. If you don't hear back right away, take a cue from your dog and let sleeping dogs lie.