How do you set up a doggy play date?

[gomer9855]

Hello, I was wondering how and where I would go about finding another dog for my dog to play with. My 2 1/2 year old rottie loves other dogs. She wrestles a bit with my old rott, but it's not really "playing". They lay next to each other baring their teeth and making "rar rar" sounds. She wants to run, be chased, etc. So far she has been attacked 3 times by other dogs. Two were my friend's dogs who were supposed to be very playful and love other dogs. Yeah right. (BTW, they were labs, the supposedly 'perfect' dog). The other was some sort of husky cross running wild at the floodway were we take our dogs. She has a jack russel cross and a rottie cross that she can play with, but the problem is that neither of those dogs come when called. So if we go somewhere like the floodway (acres of nothing but river, grass and trees) it's fine, but backyard or park, no way, they're both gone. Frau doesn't run away. Anyone out there live in the wallaceburg area with a truly dog friendly dog?
P.S. All my friend's dogs are female. The only males Frau's tried to play with spend 99% of the time trying to mount her (yes she's fixed). Mounting=No fun. For dominance reasons or otherwise.

[Paul (Dozer)]

I'm no expert, but I'd look for an dog around the same age, and preferably of the opposite sex. Introduce them on the leash first and see how they react.

Dogs that are much older are apt to be annoyed by your young dog's high energy antics. They usually seem to feel that they need to express their domonace to the youger dog.

Dozer's (hes 1yr 9mo) best friend is a 2 year old Pit Bull. (The supposed "worst dog"). Go figure. She's also my new pup's aunt :) They cetrainly both like to play rough, but they've never put a scratch on each other. Tails are always wagging. He's also getting along well with the new pup. He's very tolerant of her jumping on his head, nipping his face and such (the little thing is fearless). I have a feling if he was a few years older he wouldn't be quite so tolerant.

He's met other dogs in parks and on walks, and the ones he gets along best with are always very close to his age.

[RottiMomCT]

What about dogs in your training class?? Anyone there you get along with whose dog you like and (more importantly) your dog likes?

[gomer9855]

I trained Frau myself, with the help of a shelf full of training books,so haven't met other dogs that way. I know a lot of dogs (I'm a dog groomer and we do rescue work, so all my family and friends have dogs now ) and Frau's met many many dogs, but people either didn't keep the dogs, or moved far away or they didn't get along or their dogs don't recall well, so it's tough.

Oh! Almost forgot, we took Frau and Ada to the park to run around and she was waaaaaaaaaaay across the field racing like a nut, so I just yelled out 'Frau SIT!' and she dropped like a rock instantly. I was so proud, she's had a problem with that in the past, give her a comand and she wants to run up to you, then sit. She did it every time I told her to. I'm so happy. Think I'm going to try Frau and Ada for the canine good citizenship test at Rottstock this year.

[RottiMomCT]

I have found that my dogs prefer the company of people versus dogs...especially me. They'd rather be with me, and they have plenty of opportunities for doggie play dates...

[gomer9855]

Ada (my old girl who was an Ohio rescue) is kind of an odd duck with other dogs. If she sees a dog, she gets whiny and fidgety (not lunging or barking or anything like that) and if you take her over, they sniff, and she immediatly loses interest and couldn't care less about the dog anymore. She's been like since I got her, it's not bad behaviour since if I tell her to sit or down she does, it's just odd. I think it's cause she's a former yankee

[SABELLESMOM]

Well, even if you train you dogs with the help of shelf full of books, sign up for a class! There's nothing like it to find people with similar interests! And suitable playmates. The added advantage is you'll have some idea how well they get along from your experience(s) in class.

[derektjeep]

How about posting on craigslist.org and state that you would want a playmate for your dog. Hopefully someone would be glad to have their dogs play with yours.

Derek

[jazzie23]

Try going on http://dogplaydate.com

Paulina