Spending time with other pets and pet lovers can be a rewarding experience! Find out how to meet like-minded people and pets and the benefits.
Spending time with other pets
and pet lovers can be a highly rewarding experience for both you and your dog
or cat. Leading trainers, pet-friendly establishments and associations have
offered their advice on how to socialise with your pet, as well as the benefits
for both you and your dog or cat. Meet some fellow four-legged friends – and
their owners – with these social ideas.
Start with training
Dogs are intelligent and
highly social animals. They are happiest interacting with a wide range of
people and dogs. The dog walk experts continue that mixing with other dogs and
pet lovers is the best way to give your dog the positive social experiences
they crave.
They suggest a not-for-profit
dog-training club as a great place to start. They’ll teach you how to
understand dog behaviour and train your dog in basic good manners with people
and other dogs. Then you and your dog will be ready to socialise in the wider
world.
The benefit: Once your dog is
trained, you can be confident that they will cope with the vast majority of
situations when you take them out and about. ‘Having a well-socialised dog that
is calm with people and other dogs means you don’t have to be anxious while taking
your dog out and about,’ say the dog-walking experts, ‘You’ll be confident that
your dog will cope with any situation.’
Provide a structured
environment
Dog parks and off-leash areas
are not the best places to start initially as they can be overwhelming for a
dog that hasn’t yet been properly socialised, say the dog training experts.
Puppy pre-schools are carefully managed environments that set dogs up for
success. Once your dog is socialised, another great place to meet dogs and
fellow pet lovers are at dog sports such as Agility, Rally Obedience or Fly
Ball.
The benefit: Socialising dogs
opens up a world of possibilities. ‘It equips you with the skills you both need
to respond positively in any situation. This means you’ll be able to go just
about anywhere together, even on a holiday. Well-socialised dogs also recover
more quickly if something scares them and can deal with new situations and
stimuli.’
Find a fur-friendly café
nearby
It’s important to introduce
your dog to a wide variety of situations, people and animals when they are
still young. Puppies tend to adapt to new experiences more easily than older
dogs. Fur-friendly Café may includes an indoor off-lead play area where dogs
and puppies can socialise with each other in a controlled and safe environment.
The benefit: Socialising with
your dog is a great way to meet like-minded people. ‘By taking your dog to the
park and dog-friendly cafes, you are more likely to meet people who love and
care for dogs as much as you do!’
Enjoy some fresh air together
Walking with your dog is the
ideal way to experience the beautiful surroundings of nature and enjoy the
great outdoors. Your dog will love the different sights, sounds and smells of
the natural environment. ‘As the seasons change, there’s always something new
for you both to discover. This activity will improve the physical and mental
well-being of you and your dog.’
The benefit: They say dogs are
great at determining the character of a person and we couldn’t agree more. ‘The
benefits of bringing along your pooch on your outing means you’ll be
socialising with like-minded people who will love your pooch as much as you do.
It’s a great conversation starter and stories of puppy mishaps and funny
behaviours are great icebreakers.
Setting them up to succeed
Supervised socialisation with
one other puppy or dog of a similar temperament and size is highly beneficial
for your pet. ‘Puppy socialisation programs can be another great resource for
introducing puppies in a group situation, as long as the group is small and is
conducted by a qualified professional to ensure that it is a positive
experience for all the puppies.’
The benefit: The better
socialised your dog is, the calmer and more balanced their temperament is
likely to be. ‘If your dog has positive socialising experiences with you, it
establishes a trusting bond and close communication between you two, which
leads to a harmonious life creating special memories together.’
For our feline friends…
Everyone in a cat cafe has in
common a love of cats, otherwise, they wouldn’t pay the entry fees. A cat café
is a great place to meet like-minded feline lovers. The atmosphere is designed
to be relaxing, which makes it easier to get talking to people and make new
pet-lover friends.
The pet lovers will agree,
adding that stroking a cat, or even being in a room with cats, releases
endorphins in our bodies making us feel good. ‘It also feels great for the cats
to be petted by people who love them,’ say the cat lovers. ‘This is
particularly important for rescue cats, many of whom have been abandoned or
mistreated and need to learn to trust humans again.’
The benefits: A dedicated
environment for cats and cat lovers will put all involved at ease. Everyone who
enters will almost certainly be a cat lover, which makes it easy to meet and
interact with like-minded people.
Socialising with pets is a
wonderful experience for both humans and animals, helping you to build strong
bonds, enjoy new experiences and make friends. Follow these tips from the pet
experts to enjoy the benefits of spending time with other pets and pet lovers
in a safe, relaxing and fun way.
HERE ARE THE BEST APPS FOR DOG LOVERS
These apps will please dog
lovers of all kinds, from owners of a family of pups to folks looking to adopt,
to just regular dog enthusiasts. Each of these apps is extremely highly rated
on the App Store and Google Play Store and all of them are a treat for dogs,
pet owners, and dog lovers.
1. FITBARK - THE BEST APP FOR
MONITORING YOUR DOG’S FITNESS
It’s FitBit for dogs! This one
requires the FitBark dog activity monitors. By using the cute bone-shaped
monitors (which you can find here) that go around your dog’s collar, you can
monitor and track health the same way you would yourself using a FitBit.
FitBark is used by researchers from Cambridge to the Mayo Clinic and is
clinically tested to be both safe and accurate. It's one of the best apps for
dog lovers who want to stay in shape with their pets.
Monitor your dog’s daily
activity and health and compare to other dogs of the same breed and age who use
FitBark. Crucially, FitBark monitors your dog’s sleep - giving you breakdowns
of sleep activity, stress, and anxiety, as well as any indications of skin
conditions. If they are itching one area more than normal, for example, FitBark
will alert you to this and give you the steps needed on knowing how to follow
up.
FitBark even lets you workout
alongside your pal by linking your Fitbit, Apple Watch, or other health monitoring
device. Compare steps to your dog? Sounds a little silly, but it makes working
out easy when you have your health stats in the same app as your dog.
2. WAG! - THE BEST APP FOR DOG
WALKERS
Wag! is a staple for dog
owners who work long hours and need someone to help their pup get some exercise
when you are away. It is also a great opportunity for dog lovers to make some
cash just by hanging out and walking dogs at their leisure. And yes, all dog
walkers go through a rigorous interview process to ensure they are the perfect
fit to be a certified Wag Walker! This is a great app for scheduling dog walks
and also hiring walkers for last minute walks. However, for dog-sitting, you
may want to try Rover.
Wag! is one of the most
trusted and secure dog walking apps on the market. The dog walking app ensures
the safety of your pet by letting you track where your walker is via GPS. Wag!
also provides lockboxes for customers, allowing walkers secure and painless
access to house keys.
3. CHEWY - THE BEST APP FOR
ORDERING DOG FOOD
Chewy is the app you wish your
pet could get their little paws on. The delivery app lets pet parents easily
order food and supplies from a choice of over 1000 brands. Chewy is your
one-stop shop app for all the pet supplies you could need for your household.
With plenty of helpful features and benefits, including free 2-day shipping on any order of $50 or more, Chewy is a must-have app for dog owners. Just make a profile for your pet, and find the right food for their breed and check out recommended toys and supplies. Track your packages via the in-app tracker. Set up automated shipments for supplies like food and snacks that you need on a monthly or weekly basis. Even go to your local pet store and use the barcode scanner to order your favorite brand on Chewy.
4. BARKHAPPY - THE BEST APP
FOR FINDING DOG-FRIENDLY PLACES
BarkHappy is a neat app for
new dog owners to discover a community of fellow dog owners near them. It’s
full of features that make finding dog friends easy, but mostly we like that
BarkHappy provides a map showing local dog-friendly places to bring your pup.
These range from dog parks to restaurants and hotels that have dog-friendly
policies. Whether you are at home or looking for a dog-friendly place to stay
on a roadtrip, BarkHappy is the best app to help you out.
BarkHappy is great for setting
up group meet-ups in your community. The app also lets users create lost dog
alerts if their dog were ever to go missing, alerting all users in your
community and allowing you to set rewards for whoever finds your lost dog. BarkHappy is one of the best apps for dog
lovers who are looking to take their dogs wherever they go, and for dog owners
looking to find best friends for their pets and build community on a local
level.
5. PET FIRST AID - THE BEST
APP FOR PET EMERGENCIES
Certainly, one of the best
apps for dog lovers who are looking to avoid panic attacks, or are just overly
worried about their dogs, Pet First Aid from American Red Cross is a must-have
for all pet owners. This app is the easiest way to avoid emergencies and know
exactly how to treat your pet at home versus when to visit the vet.
Pet First Aid, built by the
American Red Cross, gives every option for checking on your pet’s health. From
investigating wounds to figuring if your dog ate something that’s potentially
hazardous, this app is the ultimate guide. Find nearby vets and hospitals with
the built-in emergency tools.
6. PUPPR - THE BEST APP FOR
TEACHING YOUR DOG TRICKS
Time to teach your old dog
some new tricks. Or teach your new dog some old tricks. Either way, Puppr is an
app that includes step-by-step instructions to help teach your dog all sorts of
tricks. From basic obedience training to more advanced moves, these tricks are
guaranteed to make all your cat-owning friends jealous. Each trick comes with
super easy step-by-step instructions accompanying by images. Track your dog’s completed tricks and overall
progress by earning badges and entering progress in the app upon each session.
The Puppr app includes over 50
tricks taught by America’s Got Talent finalist Sara Carson & The Super
Collies. Premium subscribers get access to additional lesson packs and a live
chat with Sara. Visit the in-app shop to buy treats, equipment, and other training
accessories directly from the app.
7. ROVER - THE BEST APP FOR
HIRING DOG SITTERS
Rover has similar
functionality to Wag!, but for this list, we are going to recommend this app
for hiring dog sitters. Wag! now includes the option to hire sitters, but Rover
has been doing it since the beginning, and is where you are more likely to find
long-term dog sitters. If you are interested in dog walkers, maybe go with
Wag!, but if you want to a dog-sitter, then Rover is your best bet. The app has
a greater selection of sitters and the interface makes it easier to communicate
directly with the walker or sitter. This is crucial for making sure your dog is
staying happy and healthy during your absence.
Easily book services, and feel
safe about it, with Rover’s premium insurance and reservation guarantee. Rover
is one of the best apps for dog lovers who need a reliable, long-term
dog-sitter or just a one-night pup pal when they are out of town.
8. DOG MONITOR & PET CAM
BY ANNIE - THE BEST PET CAM APP
Dog Monitor & Pet Cam by
Annie is one the best apps for dog lovers who don’t want to spend money on an
expensive pet cam setup. Free to try, this app connects any two devices
(iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Android devices) and lets you listen to and
talk to your dog from wherever you are — regardless of if you are on Wifi or
not. This pet cam app keeps you informed by letting you see your dog’s noise
level and informing you when the device at home is reaching low battery levels.
Annie keeps your information safe, ensuring your pet audio stream is encrypted.
This pet cam monitoring app
has pretty reasonable and flexible pricing plans. You can pay anywhere from
$.99 for a week, to $9.99 for a year. If you are fostering a dog for a month,
or are pet sitting and want to ensure the pet is doing okay when you go out,
you can pay for just what you need.
9. INSTAGRAM - THE BEST APP
FOR CUTE DOG PHOTOS
I know, it’s kind of a cop out. But to be completely honest if you are seriously a dog fanatic there are literally hundreds of great accounts who post quality dog content every single day. From dog meme pages like Pupflix to some awesome accounts run by dog parents for celebrity dogs like Norbert and Dean the Basset Hound, there is no shortage of adorable photos and videos of dogs doing literally everything on Instagram. Plus, you probably already have it downloaded, so what is stopping you? Go out and discover the dogs of Instagram.
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