Doggy-style social networking

06 Apr 08

The city of Framingham, Massachussets USA, has now got it’s own local doggy social networking site.

A local woman, Bryna Davidow has lately launched a website on the internet entirely dedicated to local dog services. For a small fee other local dog services — from walkers to washers — can advertise their specialities.

Davidow, a professional dog walker who lives in Framingham, launched MetroWestDog.com in October “after building up a directory of businesses and uploading doggie data.” She had originally wanted to produce a dog-focused magazine, but decided that an on-line service would be easier.

A word-of-mouth approach is common for dog walkers and other sole proprietors or small-business owners with tiny advertising budgets. Which is part of the reason why Davidow set up the site, to help others like her. She charges $35 per year for business listings in the directory on the site.

Davidow launched her business, Must Love Dogs, three years ago. She provides dog walking “every day, in all kinds of weather'’ along with pet sitting, obedience classes, trick training and dog dancing courses. And of course, she has a dog of her own, of course, a yellow Lab mix named Teddy.

Her dog-centred website lists businesses that offer pet supplies, veterinary services, rehabilitation, pet taxi services, grooming, lawn care and carpet cleaning. She offers a listing of pet-friendly apartments and a job board for pet-related businesses looking for workers. A “Hot Dog'’ page offers interesting tidbits on pets.

The site also has a page highlighting dog parks, or places where owners can take their dogs for play and exercise, either on leash or off. She also has a place for articles and welcomes contributions from local writers.

She’ll have a way to catch up with me! But she’s going to make a start, and will soon start writing a dog blog. Woof!

Davidow said her site is the only one focused on pet services in MetroWest. There are national websites that provide information about pet-related businesses but she says they are harder to navigate because of their broad scope.

Superwoof to the idea of an internet based doggish networking website! Though I’ve been dog blogging since I was a wee little puppy, I’ve not started my own doggy-social-networking site…. Yet…

Awoof! (Watch this space) Woof! Archie