How do animal companions support human mental and physical well-being? In this talk I discuss this question with regard to diverse sexualities and genders, and how people discuss how their dogs help catalyse interactions with other people. Drawing on the ‘Dog Talking and Walking Project’ which entailed an online survey of experiences and online interviews with dog owners, new light is shone on the so called ‘pet effect’. Focusing on the 14% of survey participants (n = 673) identifying as non-heterosexual (lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, queer, asexual) and the 29% of interviewees who were LGBT (n = 12 of 41) I explore how dog facilitated social interaction is particularly important for marginalised groups. Moreover, human and canine companionship has taken on a new significance for many in the current social climate, and centring LGBTQ perspectives can add to feminist and non-heteronormative understandings of human-animal bonds.