Dig: A Dog Lovers Dating App Offers a Special Treat for Singles Seeking Long-Term Lifestyle Compatibility

The Short Version: If you’re a single dog owner, you need your date to embrace both you and your pup(s), and it can be frustrating to waste time with cat people or people who “just aren’t into animals.” Fortunately, the Dig dating app offers a community where single dog lovers can mingle freely. You can “dig” profiles on the app to make a match and get the ball rolling by talking about your favorite dog breeds. Everyone on Dig loves dogs, so you don’t have to hound someone to go on a dog-friendly date.

Before season 23 of “The Bachelor” aired, American football player Colton Underwood created a fun video to assure fans that his first rose went to his Labrador Retriever, Harvey. Women must be dog-friendly to get close to this sensitive hunk — or they’re barking up the wrong tree.

A real estate agent named Catherine thought she could cozy up to Colton by bringing her 10-year-old Pomeranian, Lucy to the first episode of “The Bachelor.” But things went south when she handed her squirming fur baby over to someone she’d just met. She told Colton she was giving him her heart to care for during their time together in the mansion, but he (and Lucy) seemed less than thrilled with the idea.

Dig, a dating app for dog lovers, has put man’s best friend at the forefront of the online dating scene.

Though Catherine made many questionable decisions during her villainous run on “The Bachelor,” bringing a dog to a date isn’t always a faux pas — you just have to clear it with your date first.

Many dog owners (myself included) believe it’s important to make sure their pups get along with their significant others — and vice versa. That’s why two industrious dog lovers recently launched the Dig dating app. This one-of-a-kind platform connects and supports singles who love dogs.

Dig founders Casey and Leigh Isaacson saw firsthand how differing opinions about dogs can put a strain on a romantic relationship. Casey’s ex-boyfriend clashed with her dog Layla and refused to let the dog into his apartment. He forced her to choose between her date and her dog, and Casey sensibly chose the cuddlier of the two.

“When it was all over, Casey told me she wished she had known from the start the relationship wouldn’t work out because of her dog,” Leigh said. “How you feel about dogs is a major compatibility factor in dating, and we’ve come up with a way to celebrate that.”

Dig currently has members in all 50 states and is available for free on iTunes and Google Play.

Dog lovers know that owning a dog is more than a personal preference — it’s a lifestyle choice. You’re trading your freedom to travel at a moment’s notice and your ability to live in an unstained, unchewed place for the sake of a warm cuddle buddy by your side. Dog owners make that trade without batting an eyelid, and they need a significant other who would do the same — otherwise, things are going to be rough.

Dig empowers its members to find dates who share similar interests and lifestyles.

Dig helps singles weed out dates who don’t love dogs and focus on a more open-hearted breed of people. The dating app also encourages dog owners to get their pups involved in the dating process from the get-go by planning dog-friendly dates at parks, pubs, and outdoor locations.

Dig members frequently post pictures of their dog(s) on the app, and they can describe their pets’ personalities throughout the profile. That way, date prospects can get to know the whole family.

When adding a new member to your pack, it’s important to make sure everyone gets along with one another. You need your date to like your dog, and you need your dog to like your date for everything to go smoothly. This is especially true if you’re all going to share a bed at some point — and 42% of dog owners say they sleep in the same bed as their dogs.

Dig can help you establish long-term compatibility with a dog-friendly date, and that just saves everyone time. After all, there’s no point getting into a serious relationship with someone who doesn’t want the same things in life.

“Having worked in both online dating and pet spheres, I can say from experience that Dig really is the best of both worlds,” said Jessica Kane in a testimonial. “It feels like I’m dating for me AND my dog, which adds a fun new twist to the regular world of online dating.”

Dig has made strategic partnerships with 60+ dog-friendly companies across the country to benefit its user base by providing resources for caring for and entertaining a dog. The dating app has ventured beyond the dating realm to offer its members promotions and discounts on pet-care products from Pet Supplies Plus, Nulo Pet Food, and Rover, among others.

Dig recommends local dog-friendly date spots because dogs make dating more fun.

Dig’s partnerships support dog owners and encourage them to spoil that special furball in their lives.

The app’s Daily Deals help its users think outside the box and come prepared for a doggy double date. Maybe you show up to meet a fetching date with a squeaky ball in hand, or maybe you get a new dog collar to make a great first impression. The Tip or Trick of the Day notification also keeps dog owners in the know by sending valuable recommendations from local vets, trainers, and shelters.

The Dig team is passionate about dogs and works hard to improve the health and happiness of canines around the world. The company has committed to the Pledge 1% movement, promising to donate 1% of product, 1% of equity, 1% of profit, and 1% of employee time to charitable (dog-focused) causes.

Dig uses its Twitter handle @DigDates to feature adoptable dogs from rescue partners, and it hosts events where rescue dogs and puppies are front and center.

Whether it means posting a funny meme or planning a community event, Dig does everything possible to get people’s attention and attract dog lovers to the cause. Dig has a crowdfunding page where its supporters can put in as little as $99 to help the app grow to meet its potential.

Dig relies on its partnerships to fund its work and support its users. Like a good pack, they work together and help each other succeed. “We’re rallying people around something they already love,” Leigh said. “That’s an amazing feeling. There’s nothing like it.”

Dig is still new on the dating scene, so the #1 job for Casey and Leigh right now is to get the word out about it and make sure all dog lovers hear about the dog-friendly alternative to Tinder. Dig’s community events have gone a long way to spread the word and increase signups in major U.S. cities.

Dig-sponsored events offer educational and fun activities geared toward dog owners.

The app’s city launch parties are its largest events with hundreds of dog owners in attendance. Veterinarians and dog trainers often show up to offer tips and information to people. The events have also included photography sessions, arts-and-craft stations, and a dog kissing booth.

Leigh lives in New Orleans, but she likes to say she’s based on JetBlue because she’s constantly traveling across the country to organize and attend Dig events, which have been held in New Orleans, Brooklyn, Boston, and San Francisco, among other locations.

In early 2019, Dig has two big events coming up on the calendar. The Dig Los Angeles Launch is set for January 31 at the WeWork Gas Tower, and the Dig Portland Launch will be at WeWork Pioneer Place. As this launch takes place just two weeks after Valentine’s Day, participants can expect plenty of romantic entertainment and treats available.

Plus, every Dig event is also an adoption event, meaning singles can always find a cutie to take home with them. Thanks to the team’s tireless efforts, Dig has created an online and offline community around dog people and inspired many dog-loving families to add another member to their packs.

“We’re building the app from the ground up,” Leigh said. “We’re focused on giving people what they want, and that’s more experiences with their dogs.”

Catherine certainly made a memorable impression on “The Bachelor” when she exited the limo with a furry pup in her arms. At first, she made a strong case for why winning her dog’s good opinion was important to her, and I thought it was a brave and smart move right up until she abandoned her dog to a perfect stranger.

The Dig dating app isn’t about using a dog as bait to get a date — it’s about finding a date who cares about dogs as much as you do. The app helps singles go on dog-friendly dates, establish a true connection, and then build a dog pack and human family together. For that reason, we give it two paws up.

“You can’t just talk about dogs with your date — you have to get out there with your dogs and see if you’re compatible,” Leigh said. “Every day, my inbox is filled with happy dog photos from Dig members. We’re rooting for them so hard because finding love can benefit people as well as their dogs.”