A divorcee who vets dates with the chihuahua her ex-husband gave her as a wedding gift has said she would ditch her “dream guy” if her dog did not approve.
Yasmin Al-Saie, a 45-year-old holistic practitioner and pet influencer from Notting Hill, west London, introduced her 12-year-old chihuahua, Chilli, as her matchmaker after getting divorced in 2019 and discovering he had a “sixth sense” for potential suitors.
Chilli makes his feelings clear in a variety of ways – including urinating on one poor suitor’s designer bag – and Yasmin instantly dumps them if he disapproves.
In 2024, she even ended things with a man who refused to share his steak with Chilli, though she admits many partners “just don’t get” her reasons.
With Chilli playing Cupid, Yasmin feels as though she is “reminded of what is important” in a relationship and has even realised she wants Mr Right to have her chihuahua’s personality traits, including loyalty and wanting to spend all their time with her.
“If Chilli is nervous or won’t settle, then I know there’s something wrong, and I don’t trust the person because Chilli has a sixth sense,” Yasmin told PA Real Life.
“If it’s a no for him, it’s a no for me as well, I could never be with someone who makes Chilli uncomfortable … I would always choose Chilli over a guy.
“To be honest, the ideal partner for me would be Chilli in human form.
“He’s got to be loyal, see me above everything else, love me unconditionally, have some fire in him, and want to spend all of his time with me.”
Yasmin got married in 2012, and as a wedding present, her then-husband gave her Chilli.
Over the years, Yasmin and Chilli formed a “very special bond”.
She believes they have their “own form of communication” which is unique to Chilli, as her other dog, six-year-old Sukhi, does not communicate in the same way.
“I can tell by the way he looks at me what he wants … and he has an English vocabulary, he can understand what I’m saying,” Yasmin explained.
After divorce in 2019, Yasmin noticed Chilli struggled to adjust to no longer being part of a “family of three”.
Yasmin was ready to date around a year later, which she felt would “also benefit Chilli”.
She said: “I had to ask friends like, ‘Do you bring your dog? Do you leave them at home? How soon do you introduce the person to your dog?’”
Yasmin “quickly realised” Chilli had a “very strong sense of people,” and since she was nervous to start dating again, she decided to bring him along on her dates for reassurance.
She thinks there is “no point” in “getting attached to someone” if Chilli doesn’t get along with them, so she prefers to see how he reacts right away.
Yasmin believes Chilli has been very clear when he disapproves of a match.
“There was one guy that I quite fancied, and from the first time Chilli met him, it was like Chilli found him spooky,” Yasmin recalled.
“He was very hesitant, very on edge, and didn’t want the guy anywhere near him … and I was like, this is really not a good sign.
“And then one day, the guy left an expensive bag in the hallway, on the floor, and Chilli did a little tinkle on it, so I took that as a sign and didn’t see him again.”
Yasmin also dumped someone in 2024 after the date looked at her as though she were “crazy” for asking him to share his steak with her dog.
However, in the last few weeks, Yasmin went on a date where a man cooked for her and her dogs, and she was left “very impressed”.
When ending relationships, she is honest, and even tells suitors Chilli is the reason why things have not worked out.
“I try not to make it as blunt as that,” she said.
“I say, ‘I don’t think the dynamics are going to work, and my dog is really stressed, and he doesn’t take to strangers easily.’
“A lot of people just don’t get it.”
Yasmin said she does not think Chilli has ever been wrong about a potential match, and she “fully trusts” his judgement.
By focusing on Chilli’s perception of people, Yasmin feels as though she is “reminded of what is important” in a relationship such as spending time together and having fun.
As she continues her search for the perfect match, Yasmin has realised that she wants her “dream guy” to be just like Chilli and has called on other pet owners to take them on dates and monitor their reaction to potential partners.
She said: “It means you can stop wasting time with the wrong people … I think more people should trust their dog’s judgement.”
Her love for her dogs extends beyond dating and she shares their adventures with her 33,200 Instagram followers on her account, @chilliwawa.
She has even written a book, Dog The Originals, which includes details about her dogs as well as stories from dog accounts she has encountered during her journey as a pet influencer. Half of the profits will be donated to The Unstoppable Dogs charity.
To find out more, visit: store.chilliwawa.com/products/dog-the-originals.
&uuid=(email))