Who says you need to be human to use social networking?
Michael Chiang decided that this shouldn't be the case so he created a social network for dogs. That's right, a social media presence online for our four-legged furry friends.
The initial idea behind, MatchPuppy.com, was to help dog owners find their dog a suitable partner for breeding. The focus of the New York startup has since changed to staying on a friendly basis. MatchPuppy now allows dog owners seek out other dogs for play dates, because dogs get lonely too. Matches may be made by neighborhood, breed, or age.
MatchPuppy has a Twitter handle that can be followed @MatchPuppy. Dog owners, as well as their dogs can keep up to date with the latest local dog news. Currently, MatchPuppy is only available in New York City. Chiang plans to roll out MatchPuppy to other cities around the country in the future.
An added bonus for the dog owners is the fact that dogs can be a great ice breaker for them to interact with one another. MatchPuppy creates a great resource for singles, those new to the area, or just someone looking to meet new people, to meet others through an unconventional source, their pup.
MatchPuppy.com's blog goes on to explain the importance of a puppy being social with other dogs:
But why socialize a puppy? Well, socialization is the process by which you expose your puppy to all the types of people, sounds, animals and places he may encounter as an adult dog. Positive encounters with the world will help your puppy grow into a happy, well-adjusted adult dog who is healthier because he isn't constantly stressed by his environment. A well socialized dog is comfortable when encountering unfamiliar people, places, and animals. He is less likely to cringe at the sound of a vacuum cleaner, hide when you open an umbrella, or growl at men with beards. Dogs that have been poorly socialized are more likely to behave fearfully and aggressively when faced with novel situations and unfamiliar people.
Many of us dog owners know how great our dogs make us feel and all they do for us, so it's time we think about the dog's social life and how they might feel if they were able to meet new dogs on a regular basis.