romance.
Heidi Weber Nearly every dog owner will tell you that their pet gives them unconditional love. But in some cases, dogs also help their owners find unconditional love. The scene for this canine-inspired matchmaking? That playground for schnauzers and singles alike: the local dog park. According to Mary Lee Nitschke, a Linfield College psychology professor who specializes in human-animal bonds, pets naturally increase your odds of meeting people. This makes the dog park a particularly fitting setting for romance -- and not just around Valentine's Day. "Someone walking a dog is more likely to have opportunities for social interaction," says Nitschke. "Pets attract comments, and that opens ...