‘Dogfishing’ is the latest strange dating app trend – New York Post

August 14, 2019 | 12:54pm

Sure, dating is “ruff” — but this is doggone wrong!

Lonely hearts are deceiving love interests on dating apps by engaging in a practice known as “dogfishing” — when the person borrows someone else’s pooch for profile snaps, the Washington Post reported.

“It’s like getting your foot in the door, presenting yourself in this performative way. Until that impression is ruined because you have to explain yourself,” said Gaby Wolff, whose brief romance came to a screeching halt when her date revealed he didn’t actually own the black Labrador on his Hinge profile.

Though the ruse appears innocuous, dating experts said single people will pretend to own a dog on their profiles to appear more nurturing to potential dates.

“Sometimes women subconsciously equate things like how a man treats his dog is how he would treat a partner,” online dating coach Erika Ettin told the outlet.

And those who are outed for not actually owning the cute pooches might turn off their online matches.

“That’s the main thing: Stop borrowing dogs,” Ettin said. “It’s just odd when you’re using someone else’s dog online, and it seems like you’re trying too hard.”