Did you know there are dog breed specific “Meetups” here in Tucson, as well as Meetups regarding general interest in dogs and pets?
Go to meetup.com and you will find meetups for Border Collies & Aussies, Pugs, Siberian Huskies and Dachshunds. There are also meetups on animal health and groups to hike with your dog. Other communities have Agility Meetups, Active Dog Meetups and Small Dog Meetups.
Starting a meetup for your interest group is really easy! There is a monthly fee, but you can collect dues from your members. Onces you have set up your payment terms, just log on, pick the name for your meetup and start scheduling your playdates and gatherings!
I started our Border Collie Meetup in February 2009 after seeing my Border Collie puppy play with another BC. They have such a graceful and energetic playing style. After that first day I was really interested in seeing more of these beautiful dogs playing together. In April of 2010 we decided to open the Meetup to Aussies because the Australian Shepherds have many similar qualities, specifically their energy levels. Also, BC owners and Aussie owners both know what it is like to have a dog that has to always be on the go!
It’s been challenging running the meetup, specifically coming up with new ideas for events, but it is worth the work because seeing these dogs have a good time is so great. Plus, I’ve made many new and excellent friends.
So, if you want to try one of these existing meetups or if you want to start one that caters specifically to your favorite dog breed, visit www.meetup.com.
