7 great places where you can meet other dog lovers

Owning a dog means getting lots of healthy exercise which is good for mind, body and soul. For a long time now, people have come to realise just how much value owning a dog can bring to their lives.

Dogs give their owners and people they meet, a reason to strike up a conversation, something that might never happen if they weren't out and about walking their canine companions. In short, dogs are brilliant when it comes to meeting new friends and other people who are passionate about their pooches.

Our canine friends mean a lot to their owners and as a bonus they are real ice-breakers whether you bump into another person walking their pooches in a park or out in the wilds of the countryside, there's always a good excuse to stop and exchange a few words when a dog's involved. Below are 7 great places where you can meet other people who are out and about with their pooches.

In a favourite dog friendly park

A lot of people who live in town make use of a local dog friendly park where they can let their pooches off their leads and play interactive games with them. It's a great place to meet others who are passionate about dogs and who regularly use the park to exercise their canine companions. Not only do owners get to meet up with each other, but dogs find this type of environment extremely rewarding as well.

There's a lot of "doggy information" in a park which your canine friend will love exploring and when they meet up with another pooch, it's a very exciting time for them. However, you need to make sure your dog is well behaved and that they greet other dogs kindly which is where early socialisation comes into its own. Dogs that were well socialised from a young age will enjoy encountering other dogs when they are out and about on a walk with their owners making the experience a pleasant one all round.

People and dog watching at a local café

Sitting outside at a favourite café is another great way to meet other people whether they own dogs or not. People just love saying "hello" to our canine friends which makes it so easy to strike up a conversation with their owners. You have to be a little bit careful if children are about and you have to be sure that your dog won't get upset by all the attention they may get whilst you enjoy a cup of coffee. This is also a great way to train a young dog to sit quietly with you as you watch the world and other dog owners go by! Additionally, you can explore interesting articles on My Pet Matters to enhance your understanding of canine behavior.

Enrol in a dog Activity Group

Another great way to make new friends and meet up with people who are just as passionate about dogs as you are, is to enrol in a dog activity group. These days there are lots of different ones you can get involved in, whether it's agility or even flyball that interests you and which your dog would really enjoy taking part in. Even if your dog is new to the scene, the majority of clubs and groups welcome and cater for beginners and novices, both the two-legged and the four-legged kind.

Not only is this a safe environment for your dog to be in, they get to interact with other dogs and people, which is a great learning curve for them and one that will pay dividends in so many ways. Owners get to chat to other people about problems they may have encountered with their pets and to talk about their successes too!

Take part in dog obedience training

Both dogs and their owners can really benefit from taking part in obedience training. The great thing about these classes is that many of them cater for older dogs too, which can prove invaluable if you've adopted an older canine companion from a rescue centre. It's one of the best places to get advice about any sort of behavioural problem you may have encountered with your new pet too!

Join the Pets as Therapy Dog Scheme

Another great way to meet people and do a lot of good in the community too, is to get involved in the Pets as Therapy (PAT) dog scheme. This is a great scheme where dogs go along to visit elderly and sick people who live in care homes, hospices or who are in hospital for some reason or another. The joy this brings to people cannot be stressed enough making it one of the nicest dog schemes around.

Taking your pooch for a makeover

Regular trips to a dog groomer is another great way to meet up with like-minded people especially as people get to chat to each other in the waiting room. Your pooch gets pampered and comes out looking very smart and you get to meet new friends!

Going away on holiday to a dog-friendly hotel

Everyone needs a break from time to time and holidays are always nicer when you can take your pooch with you! Staying at a dog-friendly hotel or other establishment that welcomes canine companions with open arms, is another great way to meet up with other people who are passionate about their pooches.

Naturally, you need to be sure your dog is well behaved which again is why it's so important for young dogs to be well socialised from a young age. It means they are always a pleasure to have around and that you can take them almost everywhere with you - including on holiday.