Doggie Play Dates
Dogs are naturally pack animals and fare better from being with their own species. If you only have one dog at home, you may want to set-up a doggie play-date. Although I don’t know of any dating services for dogs, it’s not always that difficult to find a canine play-mate. If you don’t have any friends or family with a similar sized dog to play with, considered looking for local dog parks where you can bring your dog for free. Usually there are other dogs running around looking for one of their own kind to run with.
If that is not feasible, check the yellow pages for dog day-care centers or grooming locations. Some of these places offer play time for a small fee. One such groomer/kennel in my area charges a nominal fee to bring the dogs in their “obstacle course” for a couple of hours. It’s a fun time not only for the dog to meet other pups, but also for people to socialize and talk about their furry friends.
Here are some reasons to have play-dates for your dog:
-Tires the dog out, so that they aren’t as hyper
-socializes them at a young age. Dogs who are exposed to many different people and pets at a young age are less likely to be aggressive or fearful in unfamiliar places which will lead to fewer behavioral problems.
-allows them to be a dog – to run, jump, dig, chew. These are the dogs natural instincts…all things humans don’t want them to do!
-great exercise for a longer, healthier life.
- The exercise releases the dogs stress and energy.
- A bored dog can become a “bad-dog” where as an exercised dog leads to a well-behaved dog.
6 comments:
Hey, nice work. When I lived in Las Vegas my pal Sabre (Belgian Malinois) would hang out at a place called Desert Breeze Park. The park was equipped with two large fenced in "meeting areas" for dogs. One area was for large dogs and the second for small dogs. Citizens of Las Vegas would bring their dogs to interact with other dogs and the concept was very popular. The dogs loved it as well! We need more places like the Desert Breeze Park.
I always feel sorry for an only dog who never has playmates. It's like they lose their doggy roots.
I find my dog is much calmer and doesn't run wild all over the house after he's had a run at the doggie park.
hmmm...dating service for dogs...now that's an idea....
Great article. I used to have many dogs, usually not all at the same time though. lol. Now I have cats. (I rescued them.) I'm not sure, but I do believe if someone has two cats, the same might apply right in the house. If there's more than two, however, watch out. Gosh, these gals get jealous. That's when the spraying starts...oh my! Have a wonderful day.
My dog (a pug) was very anti-social to BIG dogs dogs her size or a smaller size she didn't have any problems with. But she barely ever met any small nice dogs. like jan said she kind of lost her doggy roots. She doesn't go to our towns dog park because she would have problems with the aggressive dogs. When we moved we met two new dogs. One dog she took to quickly, he would lay down in the grass and she would start to run toward the dog named Ike. Then my dog met a new dog named Tina, and she is just best friend with them. Me and my friend (who has a dog named Snuggles), my other friend (who has two dogs named Dottie and Belle) and Ike and Tina are all going to get together for a doggy play date. :)
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