Qiao Ba is open-minded when it comes to relationships and would readily hook up with a different species of dog or another male.

"I'll respect Qiao Ba's choice if he wants a gay marriage or an interracial one," Liu laughed. She lovingly watched as the pet chased after another male poodle.

Liu, who got Qiao Ba as a gift from her son before he left to study in the United States, is delighted with the dog and thinks of him as a second son.

The popularity of themed parties for pets is a sign of the increasing importance of pets in peoples' lives, said Lin Ruxiong, the host of the Valentine's party for dogs in Guangzhou.

Lin's company, Poco.cn, a photo sharing website, has organized on average two events for pets a week since 2005. He said that in the past three years, the number of participants has grown from about 20 to more than 50.

With pets' status on the rise in families, pet owners expect to elaborate pet events. Pet wedding photos have been popular since 2009, said Lin, and he listed other pet events Poco.cn had held, including dog fashion shows and beach carnivals at summer resorts.

"Pet owners take the events seriously and are willing to spend money, time and energy on their pets," Lin said.

"I think pets deserve that care because they have become important in peoples' lives, especially for white-collar workers amid the hectic life in the city, and for parents whose only child has left the home."

Li Qianxin, 26, a Guangzhou resident, described her two pet Samoyeds as the "saviors" of her rocky relationship with her boyfriend. "We've quarreled less since we adopted Leo and Fox," she said.

"We often need to talk with each other about issues regarding the dogs, and what with the effort that goes into caring for two big dogs, we have neither the time nor energy to quarrel," she said.

According to Li, Leo and Fox have a puppy love for each other. Fox, the female, was born a week after Leo, and they have lived together since they were a month old.

"It's their first Valentine's Day since they became a couple in March," Li said.

"I'll dress Leo and Fox in wedding clothes and take them along with us on the day my boyfriend and I marry," she said with a smile.