LIFESTYLE Canine can reveal real man

Author believes men's choice of dogs reflects character.
SCRIPPS HOWARD
As founding editor of Animal Fair, a glossy lifestyle magazine for animal lovers, Wendy Diamond knows a lot about dogs. As a 31-year-old single in the market for a mate, she also knows a lot about dating.
She leashed her two areas of interest together, let them run around the yard for a while, and came up with a guide to men based on their dogs.
"I was with someone for a long time, but once I broke up with him, everyone started setting me up with men with dogs," she says, from her New York office. "The similarities between the men and their dogs were so strong, after like about a dozen or so dates, I got the idea for this book."
The book is "What a Lucky Dog! How To Understand Men Through Their Dogs" (Animal Fair, $15.95; 106 pages).
Fetching this shtick and turning it into a finished manuscript required nonstop dating.
"I went out with 120 men -- about four men per breed for the book," she says. She focused on 32 of the more popular breeds out there (doing all 150-plus breeds would be more dates than even she could handle).
The catch
There is a caveat: "The book works 100 percent, but only if the man chooses the dog." And there is an equal opportunity claim: "It works for women, too." (Diamond is planning to write a guide to women based on their cats.)
Here are some very abbreviated descriptions of Diamond's findings.
UAn Akita man can be domineering, and should be taught to lighten up.
UA bulldog man can be snappy and immature, and may need to learn some table manners.
UA "Dober-Man" is good marriage material and likes kids. He may need to work on tempering his sarcastic tendencies.
UA Labrador retriever man may get into mischief if he's bored. He likes to spend time outside and needs to be reminded to put on sunscreen.
UA Rottweiler man can be bossy. You must help him to quell his suspicions.
When it comes to a mate, Diamond says any breed can be the right breed.
"There's no bad dog like there's no bad man; it's all about how they're trained," she says.
Feeling yappy
Diamond's personal favorite is that Renaissance breed of uncertain heritage and complex personality: the mutt. He can be scattered and insecure and needs reassurance, but he's worth it.
"I am looking for the perfect mutt man, like Brad Pitt," Diamond says. She describes herself as a mix between a Maltese and a mutt, and she lives with a rescued Maltese.
In the quest to foster romance, Animal Fair is hosting a "Yappy Hour" tour of cocktail parties for singles and their dogs in 15 cities. Proceeds from ticket sales will go to local Animal Rescue League and Humane Society organizations. For more information: www.animalfair.com.
Diamond also is working to help dogs, not just their owners, find love. She'll be a lifestyle adviser on a TV show called "Mutt Makeover" set to broadcast in February on the USA network.