Dog socialisation

How do you find friends for your dog in Barcelona?

By Afonso Brito and Irene
Updated · 3 min read

Quick answer

To find friends for your dog, stick to the same times and routes so you keep meeting the same dogs, talk to owners of dogs with a similar size and energy, and meet them in a quiet park for the first few times. Two or three regular friends give your dog more security than lots of unfamiliar dogs.

Key points

  • Quality over quantity: 2 or 3 regular friends are enough.
  • Routine is your best friend: same time, same park, same dogs.
  • Look for a match in size, energy and play style.
  • For the first meetings, skip the dog park and start with a parallel walk.
  • Friendship is built through short, frequent meetings.

Why does your dog need friends and not just the dog park?

At the dog park your dog meets different dogs every day. Each encounter is a new negotiation: who are you, how do you play, can I trust you. With a friend that negotiation is already done, so play flows better and there’s less tension. Having regular friends is one of the foundations of dog socialisation. If you want to know what your dog gets out of play, we cover it in the benefits of playing with other dogs.

Five steps to find it friends in the city

  1. Stick to the same times and routes. If you go out at the same time and to the same place, you’ll see the same dogs.
  2. Talk to the owners of dogs that suit yours. Look at size, energy and how they play.
  3. Look for dogs of its breed or similar breeds. They tend to share a play style.
  4. Meet away from the dog park the first few times. A quiet park and a parallel walk before letting them off the lead work better.
  5. Repeat. Friendship is built through short, frequent meetings, not one long afternoon a month.

How do I know if my dog has made a real friend?

They recognise each other from a distance and come over with loose, relaxed bodies. They take turns playing, pause and start again. They can rest next to each other without tension. If your dog happily pulls on the lead when it sees one particular dog, you’ve probably found its friend.

What if my dog only gets on with some dogs?

That’s completely normal. Like people, dogs have preferences. A selective dog doesn’t have a problem: it just needs you to help it find the right dogs. If you’re not sure whether a meeting is going well, check the signs that tell you if your dog is playing or fighting.

The barquis experience

Italian greyhounds are delicate and play by running, not by pushing. Our dog’s best friends have been other greyhounds and sighthounds we met in the neighbourhood. That’s why barquis matches dogs by breed, size and distance: so friendships happen on their own.

Checklist for the first meetup

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Sources

Frequently asked questions

Can dogs have best friends?

Yes. Many dogs show a clear preference for certain companions: they seek them out, play with them differently and relax next to them.

How many friends does a dog need?

There's no fixed number. For most dogs, two or three friends they see often is more than enough.

Is my dog lonely if there are no other dogs at home?

Not necessarily. A dog that spends quality time with you and sees its friends regularly can be very happy as an only dog.

Can an adult dog make new friends?

Yes, although it usually takes longer. Calm introductions on neutral ground, with parallel walks before playing, help a lot.

Is it better if its friend is the same breed?

It isn't essential, but it helps if they have a similar size, energy and play style, which is often the case between dogs of the same breed.

Find its future friends

barquis shows you compatible dogs near home and lets you talk to their owners in the breed and neighbourhood chats.

Find friends for your dog