You like dogs? We like dogs! Did we just become best friends?! YEP!

Being a pet parent is pawsome! One of the many benefits of having a fur baby is they’re a great way to meet new people and make friends. Pets are the perfect ice-breaker.

From their friendly faces to their funny habits and mischievous antics, furry friends lighten the mood and provide common ground with fellow animal lovers. Here are 5 ways you can get involved with pet owners in your community. 

Visit a Dog Park

Every pooch deserves to play with new friends once in a while. A great place to socialize your dog and meet fellow pet owners is at your local dog park. If you’re a naturally shy person, a dog park is an easy way to let your pup do the work of meeting new people for you.

When your dog makes a new friend, they provide an easy introduction to their owners. If you go to the park often enough, you will start seeing familiar faces and build up a rapport with other local dog lovers.

Chow Down at a Pet-Friendly Restaurant

We all love to eat out at local restaurants, and that doesn’t exclude your dog! Look up restaurants, bars, and coffee shops that allow pets. If the restaurant has an outdoor area, you should be able to have your dog with you. Just make sure you keep them on a leash. With yummy human food coming in and out, even the best dogs can forget their manners.

Dining with your dog is a great way to meet other pet parents who also came to enjoy a meal with their furry friends. You can strike up a conversation with them while your pups get to know each other too. This is a great way to train your dog to be in public and have many people wanting to come up to it and pet them – because they are just so darn cute! 

Volunteer at an Animal Shelter

Animal shelter employees and volunteers are a rescue pet’s temporary family before they find their forever home. While agreeing to give your time to a shelter means signing up for the less glamorous tasks, it’s a wonderful way to care for animals in need, as well as give something back.

You will also be able to connect with a community of people who are passionate about animals and often own dogs themselves!

Attend a Pet Friendly Event

Get out and play! There are a ton of pet-friendly festivals and events happening all around the world. From National Dog Shows to Dog Swim Days at your local pool; there are plenty of big and small events to choose from.

These events are also usually tied to charitable organizations that raise money and awareness about pet adoptions and other great causes. Plus, it’s a great way to meet other pet owners. So check your local event calendar and join the fun! 

Get to Petworking!

There seems to be an app or website for everything in today's digital world, so you can bet there are plenty you can download onto your smartphone or find on your computer that will connect you with other pet owners. 

Online communities can be a great place to ask for advice, exchange care tips, and just bond over shared experiences. Some of these apps and "petworking" websites help users find a potential significant other that shares their love of man’s best friend, while others are more platonic. Either way, you get a chance to spend time with pet owners you may have never met otherwise.

Bonus Tip – Make Your Pets Stand Out with Frenchie Bulldog!

When you and your pup are out and about make sure they are looking as cute and stylish as possible with our comfy Frenchie's collection of harnesses, collars, leashes, and bandanas -- adjustable to fit your dog as they grows!