Users Push Back Against ‘Dogfishing’ Profiles on Dating Apps

A curious strain of profile performance is resurging on dating apps: “dogfishing” – when someone poses in profile photos with dogs they don’t actually own as a means of attracting attention and boosting match rates. While dog imagery has long been associated with warmth, stability, and trustworthiness, critics now say this tactic is crossing over into deception.

The term has existed since at least 2019, when it began describing users who borrow dogs for photos to score more matches. In recent months, however, conversation has intensified as more users report feeling misled or unsettled by overly curated pet imagery. A recent VICE essay notes that dogfishing “usually involves using someone else’s dog in your photos to appear more wholesome and dateable than others.”

Some dating professionals see dogfishing as part of a broader “performative male” trend – where men adopt socially desirable traits (such as being a dog lover) to create an appealing persona. In this reading, dog-centric profiles become a kind of social signalling: not necessarily a true reflection of character, but a shortcut to suggest empathy, loyalty, or stability.

Data (albeit from pet-industry partnerships) has long suggested that including a dog in one’s profile can increase match success – though such studies often come with caveats about bias and sample design. What has shifted is how women and more seasoned daters interpret these signals. Many now say that dogfishing feels like a red flag, an indicator that the person might prioritize image over authenticity. If dogfishing continues to gain traction, dating platforms and profile designers may begin to focus more on distinguishing real-life photos from staged attraction tactics.