Is there a Tinder for dogs?

Three things people mean by "Tinder for dogs"

The phrase gets used for very different apps. Before you download anything, decide which one you actually want.

Adoption apps

These are the most common. The cards are shelter dogs, pulled from rescue listings across the country. Swiping right usually opens an adoption form or an email to the shelter. They are great if you want to bring a dog home. They are no use if you already have a dog and want it to have friends.

Dog owner apps

Several apps have tried to be the social network for dog owners, with profiles for the dog and a map of owners nearby. Some have come and gone. The idea is simple: find dogs that match your dog's size, age and energy, then meet at a park. The hard part is having enough owners in your town, which is why many of these apps feel empty outside big cities.

Dating apps for dog lovers

A few dating apps put the dog front and center and match people who want a partner that is good with dogs. They are dating apps first. If what you want is a playmate for your dog, this is the wrong tool.

How a swipe app for dogs works

Whatever the goal, the mechanics are the same, and they are what people love about Tinder. Fast, visual, low pressure.

1. Make a profile for your dog. Photos, name, age, breed, where you are, and what you are looking for. On PawOrPass the owner writes it, so you also learn the owner's intent: playdates, a walking buddy, breeder contact, or just showing off a cute face.
2. Swipe. Paw the dogs you like. Pass the rest. Nobody is told when you pass.
3. Match. When the other owner paws your dog back, you match and can chat. A paw can also carry a short note, so you can say why you pawed before there is a match.
4. Meet. Agree on a place and a time. For a first meeting, use the dog playdate checklist: vaccines, a neutral spot, leashes on at first, and an easy exit if either dog is not having fun.

Read the full flow, including notes and what happens when you match, on the pet matching app page.

What a match can lead to

The reason a Tinder for dogs makes sense is that dogs are social, and most owners want the same few things.

• Playdates. The most common goal. Two dogs with similar size and play style, meeting once a week at a park or a yard.
• Walking buddies. Someone on your street who walks at the same hour. Good for shy dogs that do better side by side than face to face.
• Breeders. Owners of intact dogs and breeders of the same breed can find each other and connect with breeders near them or across the country. Health testing, pedigree and a visit in person still matter. The app is the introduction, not the contract.
• A new dog. Breeders and owners with a litter on the way can show the parents, and people looking for that breed can follow along.
• People. Sometimes the owners get along as well as the dogs. PawOrPass is not a dating app first, but it does not pretend that never happens.

Near you, or anywhere

Most dog owner apps only work if there are enough people in your town. PawOrPass lets you set the deck to animals near you or to the whole country. A playdate needs someone close. A breeder match, a pen pal for your dog's social account, or a cute face to look at on your lunch break does not. Switching between the two keeps the deck full even in a small town.

Is there a Tinder for pets, not just dogs?

Almost every swipe app is dogs only, and adoption only. PawOrPass starts with dogs, cats and horses, with more animals planned. Cat owners get a deck of cats, which matters because most adult cats do not want a playdate at all, but kittens often do. Horse owners get a deck of horses and riders, which is how you find a trail riding partner in an area where nobody you know rides.

Rosie 3 years

Beagle, 22 lb

Nose to the ground, tail in the air. Plays well with calm dogs her size. Up for a weekend park meet.

• Up for playdates
• Good with small dogs
• Near you

Sample profile

Before you meet a match

A swipe app introduces you. It does not vet anyone. Keep the first meeting simple and public.

• Meet in a public place with room to walk, not at either home.
• Ask about vaccines and recent illness. Puppies should have their shot series done.
• Keep leashes on until both dogs are loose and wiggly, then let them off only where it is allowed.
• Watch for stiff bodies, hard stares and a tail held high and still. Separate early and calmly.
• For breeder contacts, never send money to someone you have not met. Ask for health test results, and visit where the dogs live.
• Tell someone where you are going, the same as any first meeting with a stranger.

Our support page covers reporting and blocking inside the app.

Why not just use Tinder with your dog in the photo?

Because the match is about you, not your dog. On a dating app, a dog in the photo is a prop. The other person is not looking for a playmate for a reactive 60 pound shepherd, and there is no way to filter by dog size, age or vaccination status. A dog swipe app flips it: the dog is the profile, and the owner is the person you talk to once the dogs look like a fit.

What PawOrPass is, and when

PawOrPass is an upcoming swipe app for iPhone and Android. Every profile is an animal, made by its owner. Paw the ones you like, pass the rest, and match when the owner paws you back. A match can mean a playdate, a walking buddy, a breeder connection, a new pet or a new friend. You can try the swipe demo on the home page today, and leave your email there to hear when the app is out. The dog page has the full list of what is planned for dog owners.

Tinder and Bumble are trademarks of their owners. PawOrPass is not affiliated with either, and this page uses the names only to explain what people search for.