Local Lowdown: Great Ideas for Dog-Centric Socializing

Filed under: Dogs

Welcome to Paw Nation's newest column, Local Lowdown, where we give you ideas for hanging with your hound (and kitty!) in your home city. We'll tell you about interesting local events, important activities, useful resources and other fun happenings all across the country. And feel free to help us do a better job by writing in with suggestions for local events near you.

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Your dog is your best friend, exercise partner and confidant (not to mention your furry vacuum cleaner), but more than that, he can also improve your social life by helping you meet other great dog people.

Beyond the regulars at the dog park, stretch your leash a bit further to meet people at dog-owner groups or organized but casual meetups. While your pup plays with his new furry pals, you'll find friendship (maybe even romance!) with those that also share a love of dogs.

There are all kinds of dog-owner groups. Some bring together owners of a particular dog breed or type (small or large dogs), and those centered upon activities like agility, dock diving or hiking. You'll also find groups just for pups in certain areas or neighborhoods, many of which serve to support local parks or dog runs. The groups may meet weekly or monthly with activities ranging from casual outings and walks to seasonal and special events.

To find groups, start at meetup.com and search for your dog's breed, your city or terms like 'large dog breeds' or 'active dogs.'

Here's just a sampling of the some of the dog groups you'll find in San Francisco and New York City:

SAN FRANCISCO
This dog friendly area offers meetups for all kinds of dog breeds from the San Francisco Yorkshire Terrer Meetup Group (765-members strong) to San Francisco Chihuahua Meetup, Bay Area Beagles, and Frenchie Fridays. There are many neighborhood-specific groups too. Active pups may enjoy a dog agility club like the Bay Team, and for pups that love to swim and retrieve, there's Bay Area Diving Dogs.

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