Pet sharing is about connecting with each other and making new friendships with a pet.…
Pet Sharing, is it always love at first sight?
Pet sharing is about connecting with each other and making new friendships with a pet. Busy pet parents get a helping hand with their fur kids and social, energetic pets receive a whole lot of extra attention, love and companionship.
It can be love at first sight! While other times it can take time to find your perfect match. In this article we discuss how to pet share using Share My Pet and give some tips on finding your perfect match.
Pet sharing 101
Pet parents love that their pets receive additional exercise and company. Animal lovers (pet borrowers) who otherwise wouldn’t have contact with pets get to enjoy a cuddle and form a relationship with a furry buddy.
The process of pet sharing begins when you create your FREE profile. Either for yourself as a pet borrower or for your pet that you want to share on the Share My Pet website.
Use the “search pet borrower” or “Search pet” facility to see the member profiles in your local area. Once you find a pet or person you wish to contact, simply upgrade to paid membership. The messenger system is then unlocked. Reach out to members to show your interest and start getting to know each other. Via the messenger system you communicate with each other, ask questions, and have a chat about your pet sharing needs.
The day you meet in the real world, you will both already have a good idea about what each other’s pet sharing expectations are. By then you can determine if it is really love at first sight.
Several pet sharing dates later….
Fast forward a few weeks. You have met several times, and taken your new furry friend out on your own for a few outings.
Is the pet super excited to see you? Are you feeling bonded? What happens if you just don’t feel the click? It can happen! And it’s OK. Maybe the pet in question is just too energetic, too strong, or simply doesn’t feel like the right match for you. Maybe you need to connect with another pet and it will be love at first sight.
Communication is key– be honest with each other. Pet sharing should be fun and enjoyable. At no point should you as the pet borrower feel worried or under obligation to spend time with a pet. As an owner if you feel very anxious every time your pet is out and about with a particular pet borrower, heed those feelings. Be polite and honest, and explain that things aren’t feeling great for you. The same goes if the pet involved seems overly anxious or unhappy when being shared. Pet sharing is aimed to enrich and build up pets and people, not cause stress and anxiety.
Sometimes you may have to meet several pets before you find one that you really connect with.
5 tips for pet sharing success
Consider all family members when pet sharing. Will they all get along and feel safe and happy?
Stay local – it is much easier, more convenient and practical to share a pet that also lives in your local neighborhood. When pet sharing fits into your normal routine the relationship tends to last much longer.
Be realistic about your time and commitment. Life is busy, pet sharing should be a joy and not an obligation. Be realistic about how available you are and how often you want to pet share.
Respond to all messages you receive. We get it, life can be unpredictable and priorities may change. To reduce disappointment and frustration we ask all members to reply to all messages. If now is not the right time to pet share please put your account into draft. You can always publish it again when you are ready to pet share and be visible to other members.
Log in frequently, new members are joining up all the time! Frequent sign in’s will ensure you don’t miss an amazing new pet or pet borrower who has joined the community and is super keen to connect.
It’s OK to share several pets before you find your perfect match.
We speak from experience! Dave and I hope our pet sharing journey and lessons help you to get the most out of pet sharing too.
Our pet sharing journey began several years ago and we continue to share both of our dogs, Miss Muppet and Snout regularly. Our kitty Elfie has also been involved in sharing as has the pony. Not only do we share our pets, we also regularly care for other peoples pets.
Pet sharing connects you to your community and you make new friends with like minded people. It is a fun and rewarding way to enrich your life and the lives of pets.
To read about some more mental health benefits of pet sharing click here.
Spending times with pets has been proven to have many positive benefits for our mental health. To read further about how pets boost our happiness click here.
We are always ready and available to help you find a purrfect match.
Woofs & Wags
Lili & Dave
Top Dogs
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