Myspace, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Flicker and dozens of other websites allow us to post our profiles, photos, blogs, interests and keep in touch with our friend’s and their updates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We are able to plug in through wireless networks at coffee shops and restaurants to update our status. We are even able to use our mobile phones to view and comment on our friend’s new photos. These sites allow us to expand our business network, share wedding pictures instantly with all of our friends and even remind us of each others birthdays. If we can have all of this fun with technology, why can’t our dogs?

Well the answer is, yes they can. There are a variety of social networking products and services available on the market for dogs. Websites like Chazhound, Dogster and Catster allow you to post an online profile about your furry friend complete with likes and dislikes, photos and an about me section. The site allows you to befriend your friend’s pets and even give them bones or other treats to show your support and affection. You can also reach outside of your social circle and sniff out some new pets to befriend. We all know that these sights are not designed for our pets and that they are just another way for people to socialize online; however, we can’t help but pretend we are our dog when writing his profile. Try it out for yourself; it goes a little something like this. “Hi, my name is Roscoe and I love to wag my tail and sniff all the new people I meet when out walking with my Mommy who thinks I am the cutest dog on the block”. It is entertaining and interesting for pet loving people and it allows them to meet other pet loving people in the process. With Dogster recently surpassing 500,000 users; websites like UnitedDogs and UnitedCats and others are popping up to meet the growing demand.

If you and your dogs are social creatures and you want to take your networking to the streets never fear, there are companies busy developing RFID (radio frequency identification) tags for your canine companion. These RFID tags hang from your dog’s collar and send and receive signals from other dogs with the same type of tag. The tag exchanges signals when two dogs using the same technology come into close proximity to one another. When the two signals cross the devices collect information on that dog and the owner. This eliminates the problem dog owners face when they walk away from meeting a new pooch and remember the dog’s name, but can’t quite put their finger on his owner’s name. With the RFID collars you will have the name and contact information of the other party conveniently at your disposal. These tags are also designed to monitor and track your dog’s behavior and movements when he is home alone. Simply remove the tag, plug it into a base station and download the information onto your computer.

With all of this information at your finger tips you may be wondering what to do with it. That’s simple, pick up the phone and call one of your new found friends and schedule a pooch play date. Socialization is an important component in raising a happy and well adjusted dog. You might also enjoy getting in a little human socialization as well. Of course, if you are too busy you could take a minute to post a comment on your pooches new friend’s profile telling her that her new collar (if you are interested - find some great ideas & gifts for dog lovers) is fantastic and makes her look 5 pounds thinner.