Skip to main content

How to find furry friends for your small dog to socialize with

A white dog and a brown dog playing in a park.
Just like people, most dogs need a best friend, too. While some dogs are eternal introverts and prefer to spend their time at home with their humans, many dogs thoroughly enjoy spending time with other pups. Playdates with other dogs provide mental stimulation and physical exercise for your dog, both of which are essential to his health and well-being. Additionally, ensuring your pup gets plenty of exercise can help reduce his anxiety and destructive tendencies. But how do dogs make friends? Are there meetup groups for small dogs? Here’s how you can find the perfect furry friend group for your small dog to socialize with.

How to help your dog make friends

If you’ve ever met someone for the first time and instantly knew you would become best friends, you already have a solid understanding of how dogs befriend each other. Using body language and olfactory clues, dogs decide relatively quickly whether they want to befriend each other. It’s your job as a pet parent to ensure that your pooch has been properly socialized before you search for a new friend group. However, you can do a few things to give your pup a better chance of making friends quickly.

Recommended Videos

Get started early

Whether you’ve adopted an adorable puppy or an older shelter dog, it’s important to start training your pooch as soon as possible.

Spay or neuter your pup

Not only does spaying and neutering help eliminate potential health problems, but it also curbs aggression and makes your pup less likely to adopt territorial behavior.

Use positive reinforcement

Punishing your dog when he misbehaves can be tempting, but the end result is a fearful pup, which can lead to increased aggression. Use positive reinforcement when training your pup, so he’ll learn to associate good behavior with a reward.

A Jack Russell terrier playing with a shaggy terrier at a daycare.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

How to find friends for your dog

Once your dog has been properly socialized, it’s time to help him find new friends. We recommend starting slowly, as even the most well-trained pup may feel anxious spending time around strange dogs at first. Here’s how you can find a furry friend group for your beloved pup.

Have playdates with trusted pets

Introduce him to other dogs in a controlled setting by asking a friend or family member with a similar-sized dog to bring their pup over for a visit. Because your dog will feel more secure in his own home, he’ll be more likely to welcome furry visitors than if you suddenly take him to a crowded dog park. Make sure you heap on the praise and give him a treat for good behavior, as this creates positive associations. If your dog and your guest’s dog get along well, you may be able to arrange regular playdates, ensuring both of your pups have regular interactions with another pet.

Take your pup to the dog park

Many cities, towns, and even apartment complexes have dog parks where canines of all sizes can roam and play. Look for someone with a similar-sized dog and approach them politely to ask if you can introduce your fur baby to their pooch. Keep in mind that not everyone’s dog will greet yours with a wagging tail, so it’s best to sit down within touching distance of your dog just in case you need to scoop him up without warning.

Give doggie daycare a try

If you have the budget for it, daycare can be a fantastic way for your pup to make new friends. A professional daycare with well-trained employees will separate dogs into groups based on their size and temperament, meaning your laid-back small dog won’t spend playtime with a hyperactive Great Dane. Daycares allow you to breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that your dog is being looked after while you’re at work. And if you need to go out of town, some daycare centers offer overnight boarding.

Try an app

As pet parents, you have access to a variety of dating apps, meetup apps, and more. But did you know there are meetup apps for dogs? Try an app like BarkHappy, which helps match you with nearby dog-friendly restaurants, find dog-friendly local events, and connect with other dogs to set up playdates. We hope you’ll never have to use this feature, but you can also set up a lost-pet alert if your pup ever runs away from home.

A Black and Tan Chihuahua kissing a tan Chihuahua in the grass.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Making friends can be tough, but it’s even harder for our pooches because they can’t tell us if they feel lonely. Fortunately, we’ve found a few simple ways you can help your fur baby meet other dogs, spend time socializing, and hopefully make a lifelong friend or two. Make sure your dog is properly socialized, start out slowly, and don’t be afraid to try several options if the first doesn’t work out as planned. Watching your pup play with his new best friend is worth the wait.

Mary Johnson
Contributor
Mary Johnson is a writer and photographer from New Orleans, Louisiana. Her work has been published in PawTracks and…
Best reptile pets: 5 affectionate reptiles to welcome into your home
These friendly reptiles will make great additions to your family
Basking Chinese water dragon

When you picture an adorable pet, you probably don't visualize an iguana. Reptiles aren't generally considered the cutest of animals, but that doesn't mean you can't find a cuddly one. Whether you're looking for a new buddy for yourself or for your lizard-obsessed kid, there's a reptilian beast out there that will work great in your home.

With proper socialization, these guys can learn to be handled daily, some even by children. If you want a new pet that enjoys human company, consider one of the most affectionate slitherers — they're the best reptile pets for handling.
Are reptiles high maintenance?

Read more
70 cute dog names for every vibe: From cottagecore to Y2K
These unique dog names are inspired by aesthetics, like barbiecore
A corgi dog standing in front of a pink background looks up and to the side with big eyes

If you spend enough time on social media -- particularly sites like TikTok, Pinterest, or Tumblr -- you'll become familiar with "aesthetics." These are moods or styles that influence art, clothing and decor choices, and even what someone posts online. Any vibe can be an aesthetic if it drives your style choices, so why not let your favorite aesthetics inspire your new dog's name as well?

These canine monikers range from timeless to eccentric (and everything in between), but they all have one thing in common: They're all sure to put a smile on your face. Whether they remind you of something adorable, something nostalgic, or something totally epic, these cute dog names are the perfect wealth of information to start your search with. We hope this list leaves you feeling inspired!
Cottagecore dog names inspired by the cute, woodsy aesthetic

Read more
Beagle 101: Key things to know before getting one as a pet
What makes beagle dogs so special
Little girl playing with a beagle

Beagles are lovable dogs who melt hearts with their soulful eyes and long, silky ears. They conjure up images of a pack of hounds out on a hunt, a playmate hanging out with a kid, a hiking companion, or even a cuddle buddy at the end of an adventurous day. The beagle dog breed is certainly all of these wonderful things and more.

It’s believed that the ancestors of the people-loving beagle were small hunting dogs that English gentlemen used to track hares in the 1500s. Today, two varieties of beagles are recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC): the 13-inch beagle and the 15-inch beagle. The smaller dogs are under 13 inches in height, while the larger ones can measure over 13 and at or under 15 inches. Both have short coats and come in a variety of colors, with the most common being the tri-colored black, white, and tan. The other colors of the beagle dog breed are white and red, and the less common lemon and white. However, there is so much more to this dog than its looks.

Read more