Shelby is a busy, professional working hard to balance work and regular life. One of her favorite things to do is go on walks and hikes with her four year old dog, Rufus. She really wants to make sure that he is getting all the socializing and exercise he is needing and wants to set up some playdates for him.

She knows that she has some friends with dogs but also knows that not all dogs get along. Plus since she adopted Rufus in the middle of a pandemic she has had to accomplish his socializing at the dog park, on walks, and at doggie daycare. She knows that since he was a rescue with severe reactivity to all humans she will need to ease him into introductions with humans on playdates. She has viewed him on walks and dog parks and has seen that he has no issues with other dogs of any size.

The group that helped her adopt Rufus has a pretty active social presence on their Facebook community page, so she will probably start there when reaching out for playdates. She may also try a few close acquaintances that also have dogs about Rufus’s size and with similar play styles that may mesh well. She knows she has to make it clear that he is learning how to play with a new human present just so there is no miscommunication.

“If both dogs are happy and having fun then it’s like, yeah you guys go have fun. You also hope that you can get along with the person there too.”