As the saying goes, “No man is an island”. Building relationships with the people around us is vital not only to our sanity and survival, but also to our quality of life and personal growth. Whether we want to acknowledge it or not, we wouldn’t be the person we are today if we didn’t meet the people that we did. So as a way to continue learning, growing, and bettering ourselves and other people, let’s take the time to hit the refresh button and lengthen our friends list every February 11th in celebration of National Make a Friend Day!
Of course, we’re not the only social beings on the planet—lots of animals want and need friends, too. But you know who simply takes the cake? Our canine pals! After all, they’re known to be everybody’s best friend. So as you make friends this National Make a Friend Day, bring your pooch along and help them make new dog pals as well!
Why Do Dogs Need Friends?
While most dogs turn into adorable piles of butt-wiggling fur balls when they come across humans and other animals, that’s not always the case with undersocialized canines. That’s why it’s so important to start socializing dogs at an early age, and continue to do so throughout their lives.
It’s never a good idea to keep your dog cooped up in the backyard for long periods of time and limit their interactions with other animals and humans. Doing so can make your dog dangerously wary of others and more likely to exhibit negative or harmful behavior down the line.
If your furry friend is well-tempered and has no problem making new dog friends, then allow them to do so. As we mentioned earlier, dogs are one of the most social companion animals and need to bond with other creatures to stay happy, as well as mentally and emotionally happy.
3 Ways to Help Your Dog Can Make Friends
Go On a Neighborhood Stroll
This National Make a Friend Day, why not take your dog on a leisurely neighborhood stroll? Since plenty of dog owners like enjoying the activity with their pooch as well, there’s a good chance that your furry buddy will meet a make a new friend. To increase your chances of coming across pet owners you’ve never met, try going a different route than you normally do.
However, always keep your dog leashed during walks and never allow them to approach other dogs without asking for permission from the owner first. Some dogs may not be too keen on celebrating make a friend day and end up hurting you or your pooch.
Hit the Dog Park or the Beach
As long as your dog is calm and well-socialized, dog parks and beaches make perfect spots for you and your dog to make new friends. Your dog can run free and have fun playing with other canines while you can simply sit back, relax, and chit chat with other pet parents.
However, make sure to keep a close eye on your pooch while you’re there. Your dog may not have any behavioral issues, but other dogs might. Supervising your pet allows you to intervene when needed. At the beach, it may also be a good idea to make your dog wear a float vest just in case they get in the water and swim too far .
Adopt or Foster a Shelter Animal
If you’re a busy person and your dog is an only “child”, it can get quite lonely for them when you leave. So here’s a meaningful way to celebrate National Make a Friend Day: get your pooch a temporary or even better, a permanent furry sibling!
Drop by your local animal shelter and bring home a furry pal that fits your canine friend’s personality. Whether you choose to simply foster them or keep them in the family for good, you’ll be making a huge difference! Not only will you be helping two animals make friends on this special day, but you’ll also be saving a life and allowing your local animal shelter to do the same for even more homeless animals.
How do you plan on helping your dog make friends this National Make a Friend Day?
