Whether you're stuck in your house during the snowy February weather or bogged down by loads of chores, work, and school, we want to remind you to keep your mental health in mind. And pets are awesome companions for that and for reminding us that it’s important to unplug for snuggles and play! It’s nice to get out of the house or invite some friends over for some social activity. The good news is that many of our pets benefit from socializing too. Here are some ways to mix up the season with some pet-centric social activities! 

Play date with friends 

The simplest way to plan a pet social activity is just to plan a playdate with other cat or dog owners. Cara, my calico, loves this type of activity and is a very social cat with others. A simple day of just visiting her pet friend Kelsey is all she needs to get some play in. Cara likes it simple, and after arriving likes to greet everyone in the house. After she settles in, she’s always game for a good old cat race up and down flights of stairs!  

Cayley, my dog, enjoys playing a bit more than the average dog. She has a neighbor pup, Tucker, who loves to come over and race around the yard. Keep away is their favorite game. Now that Cayley is a bit older, she enjoys being able to take a break every so often, and Tucker is an adventurous pup and never passes up an opportunity to play a bit of fetch while she rests.  

The joy of play dates is that the pets are the focus! Getting them into a pet friendly environment and letting them figure it out is the name of the game. For dogs, outdoors and open indoor spaces are best. They’re a bit bigger and some room to stretch their legs is a must. Plus, having some seats or separation options for pups who need to catch their breath and get some back rubs is always a good idea. Cats are a bit different, they’re a bit more territorial but once they warm up, some spaces to climb and run like stairs really help allow them to figure out how best to interact with each other. A quiet space like a home is great, offering some initial separation so each of them can open-up on their terms is a plus! 

Dog Parks 

This is a dog activity for those of us living in communities with parks that have dog specific spaces. Dog parks are a great way to add some space to your pup’s routine. Even if you have a large backyard, a dog park offers a fresh new environment for your dog to explore. Usually, dog parks are busy at specific times in the day, and you will have to gauge the best times to go in your community that work for you and your dog. This is a great way to meet other dog owners and dogs too. Some dogs like to take it a bit slow, so it’s great idea to plan your first visit on a not so busy day.  

A Night With Friends 

This is an activity more to have friends over with or without pets, so it’s open to interpretation for your pet! For pets who don’t do well with other pets, just having friends over is a great way to socialize them and break down barriers without stressing them out. Simply plan an activity like a game night or a movie night and keep it simple! Cats especially benefit from this, because it brings people into their environment and engages them with an activity where the cat isn’t the focus. For shy cats, this is great because if all they want to do is watch from the shadows, they can totally do that. And for friendly cats they can be the center of attention for as long as they want, and then go off to do their own thing when they’ve had their fill. As your pet opens up, consider inviting a friend over with their own pet and allow them to interact through some separation. As they open more, let them have their play date while you have your get-together. For pets with a history of trauma or fear, give them plenty of space to approach the situation from their terms. Even the most withdrawn pets will benefit from a positive social environment that they can observe and engage with on their own terms.  

A few different ways to change it up while we’re in the thick of winter. Cara loves getting social and minus the dog park, she recommends trying each of these!

Do you plan any play-dates for your pets? We’d love to hear how your pets enjoy socializing!

Note: You know your pet best! Every pet is different and has different life experiences. Because of this, not every pet will be open to social activity in the same way. Never expect your pet to be a social butterfly; take it slow and see how they behave. Don’t ever force them into a situation and always give them a way to seek out a safe space. Be positive and practice positive reinforcement! Whether they are friendly or just watching from the sidelines, reward positive behavior. When you see negative or aggressive behavior: create space! Seek a professional trainer for further guidance if aggressive behavior persists.