Ask just about anyone these days, and they’ll tell you, modern dating bites. But a new reality-style dating show currently being filmed in the Portland area wants to make it less ruff.

“Fetching,” hosted by two local comedians, brought 20 singles and their dogs to a field in Hillsboro recently to film the first episode. The idea is to match up dating hopefuls based on whose dogs play together.

The small production team secured a GoPro to one dog’s harness and set up cameras ready to capture the action. Then, contestants lined up red-rover style on opposite sides of a grassy field before letting the dogs off leash.

Producer Jennifer Amie said the team will review the tape closely to determine which doggie-facilitated dates will proceed.

“We are going to be examining the game footage like your high school football coach,” said Amie. “And we may have to slo-mo some of these interactions.”

After reviewing the footage, producers will choose six contestants to go on dates.

Then a group of comedians, “the Pack,” will help them prepare. But co-host of the show, Andie Main, said it won’t be like other reality TV makeovers.

“It’s a noninvasive makeover, OK, this is a kindhearted show,” Main said. “There’s not gonna be any shaved heads and tears like America’s Next Top Model. But everyone is going to get their confidence hyped up by the Pack.”

Main came up with the idea for the show after adopting her dog, Sadie, and said “Fetching” reflects the unique personality of the Rose City.

“I’m a daughter of Portland, I grew up on Hawthorne,” said Main. “I would say that every single choice and influence I’ve ever had in my life has led me to this point, and this is a show that’s Portland squared.”

Co-host Ally J. Ward said the show gives Portlanders a chance to leave the difficulty of dating apps behind for a more adventurous approach.

“Portlanders are already looking for something interesting and fun and new to do,” Ward said. “And so many people were already eager to be like, ‘Yup, I wanna try it, I wanna do that.’ And you’ve got to be a little weird to trust two comedians. To put your love life in our hands.”

After a little less than half an hour of chaos, contestants got their canine companions back on leash. The filming overall went more smoothly than you’d expect for a show featuring a large pack of dogs of all shapes and sizes.

“You can see this group of people,” Amie said, “they’re already sitting in a circle talking and making connections. And this show is all about building human connection. So I feel like even the shoot itself is a success from the get-go.”

It remains to be seen whether having a friendly dog will lead straight to more dates, but producers said one dog did stand out.

“In my observation, the friendliest dog today was Kendrick Lamar, the little shih tzu,” said Amie. “I think Kendrick Lamar has real star power.”

But Yashica Island, who brought Kendrick to the filming, said the shih tzu was too focused on his own business to be an effective wingman.

“I do not feel like I have dates on the horizon,” Island said. “I think Kendrick stole the show, and he has a lot of dates on the horizon. But I don’t know if he stayed focused on the mission for me. But we had a great time.”

Contestants won’t find out if they’ve been matched up for a date until the footage from the day is analyzed. It’s a diverse cast of humans and dogs, with people spanning a range of ages, sexualities and backgrounds, along with dogs both small and large.

Troy Clary says he and his 155-pound, fluffy black Newfoundland, Lexi, also made some friends during the filming, and hopefully, potential dates.

“The apps are really terrible,” said Clary, ”so I just thought it seemed like a new way to meet people. And yeah, I’m a dog lover, so what could be wrong?

If slobber and smiles are anything to go on, his pup Lexi had lots of fun.

“Pant, pant, pant,” Lexi said, which OPB interpreted to mean “it went really well.”

If the rest of production goes as smoothly as this film session, the show is set to release this fall on YouTube.

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/06/25/fetching-dog-dating-show-portland/