Dog Daycare and Dog Park Flunkies Love Lunch Bunch

Some young dogs are the life of the party with other dogs, only to become more dog selective as they age. This is very typical and should be considered if your dog is going to the “principal’s office” at doggie daycare or being put in “time out” at the dog park on the regular. If your dog is so over dog parks and doggie daycare, don’t despair!

Just because your dog isn’t thriving in a larger group dog setting, doesn’t mean your dog wouldn’t enjoy a smaller group of pals. Create small neighborhood dog play dates, like the one with my neighborhood friends called Lunch Bunch. It all started with a dog walking neighbor, Lenore Boulet, who would invite others to join her. We now have a group text that goes out around noon Monday through Friday coordinating meet ups. We walk through the neighborhood, take wooded paths to watch the deer channel, and rotate to different backyards for off leash fun. Doing this with the same group of dogs throughout the week is enjoyable for the dogs and their people. Since we know the play styles, quirks, and health status of all the dogs, all of our dogs are set up for success.

Now it’s your turn to create a “dating profile” for your dog. Describe your dog’s likes, dislikes, size, and playstyle. Send this profile to your local listserv and arrange meetups for a walk or Sniffspot destination. Share pictures of your group and tag @behaviorunited on Instagram and Facebook!

Recreation of the Beatles’ Abbey Road album cover.

Running in the yard has everyone feeling snacky.