Costs & Info

The release of contact information costs 2 euros. Please note: Puppy-Meets-Puppy is currently only available in countries in the Eurozone.

The positive effects of good social skills for dogs are obvious: in my work as a trainer with many difficult dogs over the last fifteen years, I have learned over and over again that a good start in life is key!

But it’s not always easy to find a well-run puppy play group or even a nearby dog school where the puppy or young dog can properly learn how to approach other dogs. Experience has also shown that small dogs in particular need a good play group and many positive experiences to keep their nerves as a city dog with countless daily contacts. But for little dogs especially, the offerings are minimal: in practice, that means that the sensitive phase until around five months often passes by unused, so these dogs have no opportunity to develop the self-confidence and social skills they need and often become frightened, neurotic barkers. Or this important time is shaped by unfavorable or unpleasant dog contacts on the street. Surprised and harassed, driven to a corner on the leash: that’s how dogs begin to react negatively to contact with other dogs. For dogs from the pound or rescues from abroad, the situation is similar. Retraining a dog who is perhaps already fully grown and shows aggressive behavior on the leash or fear in contact with other dogs is no easy task. But you should try it anyway, for the sake of the dog and your family. But this is where things get difficult. Where and how to carefully reinitiate contact? Where can I find an appropriate dog group, a well-led social walk or group walk, where the dog can get gradually used to other dogs? Not everyone has an experienced dog walker who is willing to integrate a difficult dog in his or her group.

The idea behind this portal was to provide a way to find just the right play and social partners for dogs of all ages: for those without experienced professionals available or those looking for additional contacts to supplement their puppy play group for the other days of the week, or for those who want to carefully and slowly accustom their dogs to other dogs or simply look for the right dog buddies: this is the place to look!

Fast, simple, and effective.

Start off relaxed

Please provide information that is as precise as possible. Be sure that the size and weight differences aren’t too significant and that the dogs match one another in terms of age or training and personality. It would be hard for a thirteen-week-old Chihuahua puppy to stand up to an eight-month-old, exuberant, untrained Labrador. This portal is intended for dog owners who act considerately and carefully and also intervene when the smaller, younger, or fearful dog is unable to set a boundary on their own. Try to find a good balance. Of course, you don’t always have to intervene immediately, but you shouldn’t let things go on for too long so that the puppy or dog only learns to feel helpless, unable to rely on his human social partner and that contact to other dogs is physically painful and scary. We want our dogs to have positive and sensible learning experience, where not just the stronger dog prevails. Start off slowly. The color code (green, yellow, and red) is intended to help you find a good match. Puppies up to sixteen weeks old should only play for a maximum of one hour, and with younger dogs, especially larger breeds, the time should be limited as well. Remember their unfinished joints and keep in mind the endurance of your young dog: more frequent shorter sessions are better!

Practice makes perfect!

Take things gradually when it comes to contact with other dogs. Gathering many positive experiences can stabilize your dog, and then a negative occurrence along the way isn’t such a bad thing. You’ll get to know your own dog better and be able to recognize when he or she needs your help.

When in doubt, seek professional help!

Don’t pay too much heed to the comments of other dog owners: there are loads of myths in circulation. List a few important questions and invest in a consultation with an experienced dog trainer if you can’t make progress on your own. Be sure that the trainer doesn’t hold any extreme views. Here, it’s also important to find a good compromise. Extremes are rarely good. Don’t go to a trainer who insists on only using positive reinforcement, with no boundaries at all, nor should you accept an “old school” trainer who insists that only harsh discipline and control are good for dogs. Take the time to find someone experienced and you’ll get answers to your questions. In the meantime, have fun watching your dog in contact with other dogs. Maybe you’ll be able to do it on your own, as many dog owners do. This page is intended to help you with that.

Why a fee?

Today, everything’s free, right?
We think this portal provides a valuable service and we hope you do, too. Puppy-Meets-Puppy tries to keep advertising to a minimum and selects the products advertised carefully. We maintain very high standards in terms of animal protection, environmental protection, climate protection, and fair trade, which excludes many products from the get go. So thank you for understanding that we need to request a small fee for the release of contact information to fund the maintenance of the website. In comparison to a regular visit to a play group, the fee is minimal.

Thanks for your appreciation and your support.