Besties
We are so lucky at my house! We have a good yard for play and we have dog friends mine love to party with. My dogs happen to be flexible about making new friends, too, but even if they never played with new pups, they have their besties. My giant schnauzer has a minimum of four one-hour play dates a week, and he is so happy that way. And my Chihuahua/poodle has his favorites, too. Fun! And tired, well-behaved dogs.
Generally dogs are social animals, but most don’t want to go to a dog park full of strangers and hope to make friends. (See my post about dog parks: https://robinroy.com/?p=1212.) But even introverted dogs can enjoy time with even just one dog friend they understand and know well. Dogs learn each other’s play style and know what to expect when they meet up. They play with each other in a way humans just can’t (shouldn’t?) imitate. Even dogs who aren’t big on partying like spending time with a friend of their own species they can communicate with, sometimes just on a walk.
Have a dog who barks at others? Sometimes the leash creates reactivity and a dog can actually be friends with another dog when properly introduced. Some dogs have had bad experiences with other dogs but can start fresh with a new appropriate dog–and the help of a qualified trainer. Even reactive dogs can have friends! Who is the right dog to be your dog’s friend? Sometimes opposite sex, sometimes a smaller dog, sometimes a similar breed with a similar play style. Let’s get together and eharmony your dog. She doesn’t need lots of friends, but one or two can make her life so much better! And yours, too.