Doggie Love?

Love me, love my dog, say Britons

Britons are famously devoted to their pets but a new survey ahead of Valentine's Day shows their furry friends may be standing in the way of love.

Eighty percent of dog owners for example said they would not date someone who didn't like their pet and nearly 20 percent of the 3,000 pet owners surveyed would rather have an animal companion than a relationship.

As many as 36 percent of all owners stroked their furry friends more than they touched their partners.

And 12 percent felt that owning their cat or dog was having a damaging effect on their relationship.

The poll was conducted to mark next week's release of the Blu-ray and DVD of hit doggy film "Marmaduke."