Dogs Signal Paternal Potential

Carrying or caring for a dog functions as a public, low‑cost signal that a man is a reliable caregiver, effectively acting as a surrogate infant in dating markets. Because animals elicit caregiving displays, pet ownership can change partner perception and potentially increase the likelihood that a flirtatious, non‑committal male is seen as 'father material.' — If true at scale, this shifts small social incentives (pet ownership, dating norms, marketing) into levers that affect family formation, fertility, and gender role expectations.