A Sandwich, a Spike in Heart Rate, and One Very Charming Pup
Before the cameras started rolling on her Dodo Dream Date, Ariana Madix strapped on a heart rate monitor. It was a fun twist — she’d be able to track the exact moments that made her heart race. With a bouquet of roses in hand, she waited for her date to arrive.
And then, in bounded Alfie — a four-month-old puppy with endless energy, a wiggly tail, and absolutely no idea that his first real date could change his life.
Alfie, who had never known the comfort of a home, instantly spiked Ariana’s heart rate. She beamed with joy as she greeted him, and the date was off to an adorable start.
Their first activity was a cheeky game of hide-and-seek: Alfie had to sniff out treats hidden beneath buckets, and Ariana answered a series of first-date questions based on which bucket he chose. Within minutes, Alfie made it clear — he was extremely food-motivated and absolutely fearless.
“He’s not shy or scared of anything,” Ariana laughed in her Dodo interview. “He’s got a big personality for such a little guy.”
When asked if Alfie would thrive on Love Island USA, the dating show she hosts, Ariana didn’t hesitate. “He’d be recoupling a lot,” she said with a grin. “He sees a treat or a new toy, and he’s going after it. So in some ways, he’d be a star … but it depends who you ask.”
For the final challenge of the day, the duo had ten seconds to open a gift together. But true to form, Alfie was already onto the next thing, leaving Ariana to unwrap the present herself.
“I did all the work,” she teased. “Isn’t it just like a man?”
Their date wrapped with a casual walk and a check-in on the heart rate data. Ariana guessed that her heart had raced most when she first met Alfie — but it turns out, the real spike happened during their game time.
Their stroll ended at Ariana’s West Hollywood sandwich shop, Something About Her, where she presented Alfie with a custom-made dog-friendly sandwich. It was the perfect end to a not-so-typical first date.
Alfie may not have found romance, but with a personality as big as his and some very public exposure, his forever family can’t be far behind.