Is there a place I can go to play with dogs?
June 16, 2013 5:52 PM Subscribe
I like dogs, but my lifestyle right now won't allow me to properly take care of one. Is there some place I can go to play with dogs when I want to?
I would love to have a dog, but I can't right now. (My lease says no, and between work and my social activities I'm away a lot of the time--a dog would spend most of it's time alone in my apartment, which seems cruel).
Would it be creepy to go to a dog park without a dog? Are there any businesses/non-profits that let people from the public play with/pet dogs (without expecting you to consider adopting one)? Or do I just need to make friends with more people with dogs and hang out at their houses?
I would love to have a dog, but I can't right now. (My lease says no, and between work and my social activities I'm away a lot of the time--a dog would spend most of it's time alone in my apartment, which seems cruel).
Would it be creepy to go to a dog park without a dog? Are there any businesses/non-profits that let people from the public play with/pet dogs (without expecting you to consider adopting one)? Or do I just need to make friends with more people with dogs and hang out at their houses?
Volunteer at your local animal rescue.
posted by jshort at 5:55 PM on June 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by jshort at 5:55 PM on June 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
Definitely volunteer to socialize at an animal shelter or rescue group.
I wouldn't necessarily go to a "dog park" without a dog, but it wouldn't be weird to go to a park that is dog-friendly and just hang out and pet peoples' dogs. I bring my dogs to a park that is dog-friendly, and there are always random people asking to pet my dogs.
There are "dog shares" in some cities but I am not sure how that works exactly.
posted by radioamy at 6:05 PM on June 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
I wouldn't necessarily go to a "dog park" without a dog, but it wouldn't be weird to go to a park that is dog-friendly and just hang out and pet peoples' dogs. I bring my dogs to a park that is dog-friendly, and there are always random people asking to pet my dogs.
There are "dog shares" in some cities but I am not sure how that works exactly.
posted by radioamy at 6:05 PM on June 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
Reading your question again, your line about being expected to consider adopting a dog sticks out to me because this has certainly not happened at the shelters I've volunteered with. In my experience, the people who work at shelters are so busy with their own responsibilities that they're unlikely to be paying you much attention at all. They also tend to be aware that their dogs are lonely and more isolated than is good for them, so they're unlikely to scare away volunteers by pressuring them to take a pooch home with them.
And to your question about going to a dog park without a dog: personally, that would make me uneasy because a) I bring my dog there to play with other dogs, and you'd be kind of interrupting that for her, and b) if I don't know you I can't really be sure you know how to act around dogs (sure, I might not know the other dog owners, either, but they have slightly more cred just by dint of the fact that they've got their own dog there). If you decide to do this anyway - or if you want to pet people's dogs anywhere - please do be sure you ask the owner first. Hopefully this is obvious to you, but you'd be surprised how many grown adults don't realize this is important.
Really, though, the shelter is your best bet. The dogs there are so obviously grateful and it's an excellent place to get your puppy fix!
posted by DingoMutt at 6:18 PM on June 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
And to your question about going to a dog park without a dog: personally, that would make me uneasy because a) I bring my dog there to play with other dogs, and you'd be kind of interrupting that for her, and b) if I don't know you I can't really be sure you know how to act around dogs (sure, I might not know the other dog owners, either, but they have slightly more cred just by dint of the fact that they've got their own dog there). If you decide to do this anyway - or if you want to pet people's dogs anywhere - please do be sure you ask the owner first. Hopefully this is obvious to you, but you'd be surprised how many grown adults don't realize this is important.
Really, though, the shelter is your best bet. The dogs there are so obviously grateful and it's an excellent place to get your puppy fix!
posted by DingoMutt at 6:18 PM on June 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
Don't go to a dog park without a dog. The dogs are there to play with other dogs, not with other people. I take my dog to the dog park rarely, but when I do, it's so that he can get used to hanging out with other dogs off leash and practice his recall commands.
That having been said, when we're out and about, I love when people ask to pet my dog. (Ask first!) He's friendly, and he loves the attention. The dog park is serious business, though.
posted by ablazingsaddle at 6:27 PM on June 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
That having been said, when we're out and about, I love when people ask to pet my dog. (Ask first!) He's friendly, and he loves the attention. The dog park is serious business, though.
posted by ablazingsaddle at 6:27 PM on June 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
Almost any adoption group will welcome you with open arms if you are there to help socialize the adoptables and get your dog fix, with no expectation you'll adopt unless you tell them so. It's one of the very best things you can do for dogs waiting to be adopted, so please don't hesitate!
posted by vers at 6:29 PM on June 16, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by vers at 6:29 PM on June 16, 2013 [4 favorites]
Response by poster: Ah, I didn't realize that animal shelters wanted people to just come and socialize with the dogs. I was just checking the website for my local animal shelter and sure enough: "We need volunteers to walk the dogs during the week or play with the cats. They will be stuck in their cages without your help!"
I'll have to give them a call. Thanks, y'all!
posted by JDHarper at 6:37 PM on June 16, 2013 [8 favorites]
I'll have to give them a call. Thanks, y'all!
posted by JDHarper at 6:37 PM on June 16, 2013 [8 favorites]
Ah, I didn't realize that animal shelters wanted people to just come and socialize with the dogs.
They SO do! Great option :)
And often they let you take the dogs off-site, like you can take them to the park or you can take them home for a sleepover for the night, depending on the place. It's fun!
posted by cairdeas at 6:50 PM on June 16, 2013 [3 favorites]
They SO do! Great option :)
And often they let you take the dogs off-site, like you can take them to the park or you can take them home for a sleepover for the night, depending on the place. It's fun!
posted by cairdeas at 6:50 PM on June 16, 2013 [3 favorites]
I must be a weird dog park person, because I'm cool with people petting my dogs (Cavalier King Charles Spaniels -- their job is to wag their tail and look at you :)). At the dog parks in our area, you can tell the working dogs from the socializers -- the working dogs are in the middle, studiously fetching balls or chasing each other around -- while the socializers are sticking by their people and wagging their tails especially at the kids.
Again, maybe I'm strange, but it wouldn't bother me to see a dogless person -- in fact, I don't know how I would tell if you came without a dog or yours was just running :).
posted by elmay at 8:16 PM on June 16, 2013
Again, maybe I'm strange, but it wouldn't bother me to see a dogless person -- in fact, I don't know how I would tell if you came without a dog or yours was just running :).
posted by elmay at 8:16 PM on June 16, 2013
Volunteering at an animal shelter is a great suggestion.
However, you should expect a wide variety of responses when attempting to volunteer with an animal shelter as they are largely locally run groups. In my mind, the easiest way to get involved is to actively know someone within the organization. I myself spent a significant amount of time working with a local APL group specifically because I knew someone entrenched within the organization.
Since moving away to a different area, I have found a significantly different response from the local animal shelter groups. In particular, I found the closest group to be somewhat hostile and they require an extremely in depth and invasive form to be filled out just to apply to be a volunteer (think 8 pages).
My suggestion is to find an event being held by a local animal shelter. Spend some time directly talking to a volunteer with some authority within the local group and sound them out. Present your desire to socialize with some dogs and ask directly if they have some opportunities for you. If you have a bad feeling about the group or the volunteers you talked to, try another event or another shelter.
posted by graxe at 9:09 PM on June 16, 2013
However, you should expect a wide variety of responses when attempting to volunteer with an animal shelter as they are largely locally run groups. In my mind, the easiest way to get involved is to actively know someone within the organization. I myself spent a significant amount of time working with a local APL group specifically because I knew someone entrenched within the organization.
Since moving away to a different area, I have found a significantly different response from the local animal shelter groups. In particular, I found the closest group to be somewhat hostile and they require an extremely in depth and invasive form to be filled out just to apply to be a volunteer (think 8 pages).
My suggestion is to find an event being held by a local animal shelter. Spend some time directly talking to a volunteer with some authority within the local group and sound them out. Present your desire to socialize with some dogs and ask directly if they have some opportunities for you. If you have a bad feeling about the group or the volunteers you talked to, try another event or another shelter.
posted by graxe at 9:09 PM on June 16, 2013
Just one word of caution. You are absolutely doing the right thing not adopting a dog before you can guarantee it a good home for life and you are to be commended for that! Remind yourself of that when you volunteer at the shelter because it will be tempting let yourself get attached under those circumstances. Right now you can help lots of dogs. When the time is right you can help one special dog. : )
posted by WalkerWestridge at 9:09 PM on June 16, 2013 [6 favorites]
posted by WalkerWestridge at 9:09 PM on June 16, 2013 [6 favorites]
Also, if you have a friend with a dog, s/he would probably LOVE if you volunteered to take her dog out for a walk now and then.
posted by latkes at 9:12 PM on June 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by latkes at 9:12 PM on June 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
Taking a friend's dog is great and would be really appreciated by both the dog and the friend, but the animals in the shelter NEED you!
If you have any talent for dog training, this is the time and the place to work on it. Check out kikopup's training videos on youtube, and then pick a shelter animal to work with. Dogs that have the basic sit, down, come, stay and heel (or at least not pull on a leash) are more likely to be adopted and to remain in a home. Tricks are fun, and people are attracted to a dog that will shake hands, etc. You're doing a good thing!
posted by BlueHorse at 10:17 PM on June 16, 2013 [4 favorites]
If you have any talent for dog training, this is the time and the place to work on it. Check out kikopup's training videos on youtube, and then pick a shelter animal to work with. Dogs that have the basic sit, down, come, stay and heel (or at least not pull on a leash) are more likely to be adopted and to remain in a home. Tricks are fun, and people are attracted to a dog that will shake hands, etc. You're doing a good thing!
posted by BlueHorse at 10:17 PM on June 16, 2013 [4 favorites]
Although in general I agree with graxe's reply, don't be put off by a less-than-overenthusiastic response to your offer of help, or a long application form.
Most of the shelters and rescues I work with are sometimes beset by "flaky" volunteers: the ones that show up once and never again, or the ones that only show up to ooh and aah over the puppies and ignore the grown ups, or the ones who are conveniently busy when it's time to clean cages or do other non-animal-interaction jobs*. There are also the ones who think they don't need any training in the proper way to interact with animals. Not that it requires a degree in animal behavior to walk a dog, of course. But there are tips and tricks and "best practices" to follow. Animals locked up in cages or small runs for most of their day can be unpredictable when released, and it is important to at least understand good leash technique, and what to do if a dog misbehaves.
If you happen to call when they just took in 15 Chihuahuas from a hoarder and there's someone on hold asking if they have any cute pittie puppies and a person is standing in front of them wanting to return the dog they adopted 2 years ago because they're having a baby and their dog walkers didn't show up today because it's raining out you might get a hostile reaction. It doesn't mean you're not really needed or wanted, it just might mean call back when things aren't so crazy.
And I don't mean to imply that only volunteers who can devote every waking minute to a shelter are welcome. If you can only help out once a month, that's great! Just be upfront about your availability, and try to be as reliable as you can.
*Endless loads of laundry, washing food bowls, hauling bags of food around, sweeping and mopping, administrative tasks like stuffing envelopes, stocking brochures, organizing paperwork, answering phones, etc.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 7:12 AM on June 17, 2013 [4 favorites]
Most of the shelters and rescues I work with are sometimes beset by "flaky" volunteers: the ones that show up once and never again, or the ones that only show up to ooh and aah over the puppies and ignore the grown ups, or the ones who are conveniently busy when it's time to clean cages or do other non-animal-interaction jobs*. There are also the ones who think they don't need any training in the proper way to interact with animals. Not that it requires a degree in animal behavior to walk a dog, of course. But there are tips and tricks and "best practices" to follow. Animals locked up in cages or small runs for most of their day can be unpredictable when released, and it is important to at least understand good leash technique, and what to do if a dog misbehaves.
If you happen to call when they just took in 15 Chihuahuas from a hoarder and there's someone on hold asking if they have any cute pittie puppies and a person is standing in front of them wanting to return the dog they adopted 2 years ago because they're having a baby and their dog walkers didn't show up today because it's raining out you might get a hostile reaction. It doesn't mean you're not really needed or wanted, it just might mean call back when things aren't so crazy.
And I don't mean to imply that only volunteers who can devote every waking minute to a shelter are welcome. If you can only help out once a month, that's great! Just be upfront about your availability, and try to be as reliable as you can.
*Endless loads of laundry, washing food bowls, hauling bags of food around, sweeping and mopping, administrative tasks like stuffing envelopes, stocking brochures, organizing paperwork, answering phones, etc.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 7:12 AM on June 17, 2013 [4 favorites]
Sounds like shelter volunteer is the way to go. In addition to the previously stated reasons for not going to a dog park without a dog, I would agree it can come across as creepy. Kind of like going to a playground without kids: even if you're entirely benign, people are going to question what you are up to.
posted by superna at 3:35 PM on June 17, 2013
posted by superna at 3:35 PM on June 17, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by DingoMutt at 5:54 PM on June 16, 2013 [7 favorites]