so hard to find doggy friends...=(

Keep a eye out when you and Sri are at the petstore for potential doggy friends. Maybe go a couple of times a week just for quick bursts of socialization and that way you can screen dogs and if you like them ask if they wanna play.

Put a ad on craigslist.

Or call a local animal shelter and ask if they have any potential friends for her. Or if your really brave you could volunteer as a dog walker and take Ari on a walk with a dog up for adoption. They are usually open to you saying it cant be a overly large dog due to your inability to control in conjunction with Arii. Just be honest, tell them your situation and it could be a perfect fit!

the_gopher

 

Never mind the fact playing with other dogs is one of the few activities that really poops her out.  I wish I was more social - but I'm quite shy and keep to myself - I'm going to start taking her around town more for walks and maybe meet people that way. 

There is nothing as wonderful as watching your dog play with another dog unless it's watching your dog sleep like the dead afterwards!  Good luck.

We found all of our doggy playmates through training classes, & day care.  Our Dobie play group was aranged throught meetup.com.

If you feel the urge to make a road trip to Texas, I have five dogs that would be more than happy to wear Ari out.

When you are on walks don't stick to the typical.  Go to more populated areas -- walk up and down the stairs at the library, seek out weirdness -- flapping laundry on lines, Wal-Mart parking lots, any kind of parkinglots -- look for things that move, things that make noise, things that flap or are generally visually stimulating.  As you expose her to THINGS and she's less freaked out, it will be easier then to control her around things and people.

Now that it's fall, seek out craft fairs and such -- then call local shelters and such and ask for the names of rescue groups in your area.  You'll meet other dog people that way and give Ari practice with 'new' dogs that aren't necessarily predictable.  Once you learn to behave around strangers then you can get to know others as well, but contact is at least "contact".

do you have a dog park near you?

or at least a park in general that allows dogs? Casey has met all his 'friends' through the park, and fostering. I do a lot of dog sitting, and Casey comes with me - those are more of his 'buddies'. I usually always have another dog or litter of kittens in the house for Casey's entertainment..... never a dull moment around here! He also has his cat.... maybe you could get Ari a kitty? Casey and Carleigh are great together.... =]

If you can find a GREAT place, that screens well and will place her with a good group of dogs, I think it could be a very positive thing.

 Ari is approaching 6 mos.  I haven't walked her around my town but I definitively will start- but I walk her around the neighborhood where I work, including the little downtown area.  She LOOOVES meeting new people.  Unfortunately she's also obsessed with people on bikes (anything that moves needs to be chased, right?!). 

I'm hesited about craigslist - since I tried using it for other stuff and didn't have much success (aka a lot of not so honest people there).  But I might give it a go.  I hadn't even thought of talking to the vets *dope slap*.  Or the nearby humane society might have some ideas too!  I also hadn't thought of dog walking.  It would definitively have to be with an understanding owner and a not so big dog :)  I'm still working on leash manners (aka please don't pull my shoulder out of socket) with Ari, and it's getting there - she's an angel when pooped out :)

Unfortunately the nearest dog park is about an hour away - so that's fine for weekends, but not during the week in general. I'm also hesitant bringing an excitable puppy whose recall is quite iffy when there's too many distractions to a dog park - I think that might be impolite of me. 

There is a doggy day care around here that the trainer we worked with once does (same person who will hopefully be starting up the dog socials soon) - but right now $$ is tight as we just spent a couple thousand on her surgery, taxes coming up, condo fees and a few other big payments (including training for Ari).  It is something I want her to experience though now and then.  Thankfully his rates are quite reasonable and he offers a lot of "add-ons" for reasonable prices. 

I find around here it's pretty typical that people just let their dogs out in their yards and not necessarily walk them - but there's got to be others who enjoy walking their pups!  

slrcrmeg - Oh yes do I know what you mean!  Ari is easily excitable and distracted.  She has gotten better now that her brain has grown some :)   And she has grown fast!  Our neighbors next door just brought home a 10 week old puppy (we introduced the pup to Ari, actually I held Ari down since the pup was a tad nervous but once I did that the cute little bugger came right over and Ari behaved and didn't jump on the poor things head but instead gave kisses and did a couple play bows but nothing further).  Sadly our neighbors pup is too small right now, and they are only up for weekends in generally good weather (this is their second home, more than half of the residents in our community are not permanent residents and come winter it's a ghost town!).

Ari has gotten so big - it was even more noticible when I compared her next to the puppy next door who is a golden retriever pup who is the same age Ari was when we brought her home!  Speaking of the devil - she's currently made herself at home on the pillows and blankets I threw on the couch for me b/c I think I'm calling out sick today (more of a mental health day than due to my minor cold).  She's finally figured out that pillows and blankets are much better to sleep on than they are to try to eat *shakes head*. 

Thanks everyone for the ideas!  I hadn't thought of any of them :)  

erica1989

do you have a dog park near you?

or at least a park in general that allows dogs? Casey has met all his 'friends' through the park, and fostering. I do a lot of dog sitting, and Casey comes with me - those are more of his 'buddies'. I usually always have another dog or litter of kittens in the house for Casey's entertainment..... never a dull moment around here! He also has his cat.... maybe you could get Ari a kitty? Casey and Carleigh are great together.... =]

Ari would actually probably really like a cat - the breeder had one that was phenomenal with puppies.  And I personally would love having a cat - but the SO has put his foot down on felines.  I could convince him to have 5 dogs over getting one kitty!

Unfortunately the nearby park I believe does not allow dogs if I remember right, but it's in the downtown area so I'm going to start bringing Ari for walks around there and I'll confirm that!  I think it's the only park our town has (it's not a big town).  

 Callie thanks again for some wonderful ideas!  I will definitively be seeking out rescue groups.  I have actually walked her around walmart.  I bring her with me to work and we go to the bank together, walmart (I walk her around the lot, but of course she goes back in to the car when I run in for an item), the post office and I just remembered the town hall where I work will allow her in.  Last time I was there I was chastized for not bringing her with me!

BEVOLASVEGAS

We found all of our doggy playmates through training classes, & day care.  Our Dobie play group was aranged throught meetup.com.

If you feel the urge to make a road trip to Texas, I have five dogs that would be more than happy to wear Ari out.

Oh boy oh boy 5 dogs!  Ari would sleep for a week!  If I'm ever headed out that way I'll be looking you up!

I didn't have any "dog friends" until I got involved in agility classes at a local training facility.  Everyone was pretty quiet and kept to themselves in the beginner class, but by the time we went into the next step up we were starting to talk and let our dogs play before and after class.  I became really good friends with one of the girls from my beginners class -- we stayed together through all the levels and now we go to trials together.  Luke and her Golden Retriever are best buddies, and now she got a little Golden puppy not all that long after I got Kaiser, so we're going through that together, too.

I've made a lot of dog friends through agility.  We are a close knit group who sees each other multiple times a month during the busy season.  Some trials have a "social time" after everything is done and we sit around and let our dogs run and play in the arena.  It's a fun time for all.

So basically, my advice is to get involved in something.  A sport like agility gives you something immediately in common with those around you and it's a bonding experience.  The dogs love it and they love the chance to let loose and play with each other at the end of the day.

Also, I always recommend that nobody form too harsh of an opinion of people during the first level of training.  Everyone is scared out of their minds in beginner classes (obedience, agility & rally all included!) and nobody really gets chatty or friendly until the upper level groups, mostly because by then you've been seeing each other weekly for quite a long time.

Has Ari been in any puppy classes? Besides my breeder, I met ALL my dog friends through training classes.  We go on frequent walks, trips to the pet store, etc but really haven't made any dog friends that way (it's hard to read people/dogs and trust them based on a few minute meeting). 

 Sadly we've run will ill luck on puppy classes.  Seems like everyone around here (trainers) only does private lessons!  We were signed up to go to a Saturday group class about 45-50 minutes away when Ari got sick and needed surgery.  Now the next one they are offering doesn't begin till October 2nd and unfortunately it is at a time neither one of us can make (mid week when we are working).  After that she'll be too old should a weekend class (or later night midweek) crop up.