Social Network of Dogs Seeking Members: Join the Fun!
June 30, 2010 • Travel • Trends
DPFamily, which stands for “Where Dogs and People Are Family,” is an online site created in 2008 by Bob Shaughnessy of Manhattan. It has grown to include 239 canine members from all over the United States and numerous countries around the globe.
FIDO Friendly recently had the opportunity to interview the founder of this paw-some group who is always on the lookout for fellow FIDO-loving members! Best of all it’s free, fun, and Fido fabulous!
FIDO Friendly: Can you tell me about DP Family, how it got started, when, and what it is?
DPFamily: Many of the original members of DPFamily met on a dog social site, Dogphoria, which closed in 2008. We then looked for a new home and tried all the other dog social sites but done of them felt like home so we decided to create our own site.
DPFamily was born on June 9, 2008.
The site has now expanded to have many different features but yet the primary feature is to post a photo of your dog and tell as story about the photo from the dog’s point of view. This photo/story is called a phory.
Other features are groups, events, and contests which are sometimes just fun but we also tackle serious problems, raising money for dog charities, puppy mill issues and we even foster a dog monthly from the North Shore Animal League.
Meetups and travel have also developed into some serious fun.
FF: Who can join and how?
DPFamily: DPFamily is a non profit site without ads and is by invitation only. The typist must be at least 18 years old and have a love of posting photos of their dog and writing as if their dog was doing the typing. (This takes some getting used to but soon becomes very easy.)
We now have 240 members from around the world. If you are interested in joining DPFamily send Cuba ( The site creator) an email and tell him about you and your dog. cuba@chelseacommons.com.
FF: How many get togethers have you had and where? (2-3 images would work great)
DPFamily: As the human friendships developed on the site, (many are good friends now) we decided to have a weekend get together. The first weekend event was in 2008 in Manhattan. Humans/Dogs started arriving on Thursday with events planned through Sunday. Hotels, Restaurants, Private Parties, Tours and Shopping were all designed for the enjoyment of the dogs and their humans.
For most of the humans and dogs, this was the first time they met in person and of course there was some apprehension, how would the dogs get along, but more important how would the humans get along?
Well, not one growl or bite from any of the dogs or humans and lots of fun for all.
So, we decided to make it an annual event.
In 2009, we had a wonderful weekend in Charleston S.C. and just a few weeks ago we held our 2010 annual meetup in Philadelphia, again another pawfect weekend.
Our 2011 weekend’s planning is already under way and it will be held in Washington D.C. in April.
In addition to the annual weekend event we have smaller local meetups or picnics during the year. They have taken place in St. Louis, Maryland, Pennsylvania, NYC, South Carolina, Florida and NJ.
FF: Is this for smaller Fido owners or can big dog parents join too?
DPFamily:We have all size dogs on DPFamily but of course it is easier to travel with small dogs so 30lbs is probably the largest dog to attend a meetup but we know we will have at least one large dog attending the Washington event next year plus we hope Bo will be able to attend too as he is a recent member of DPFamily.
FF: Where is the farthest distance a member has traveled to a get together?
DPFamily: So far the dogs that traveled the farthest have come from Seattle to attend an annual meetup in NYC but next year one of the Moms from Australia hopes to meet us in Washington D.C. Unfortunately because of strict quarantine laws her Standard French Poodle, Cody, will not be able to join us.
FF: Who does the planning and where is your next event?
DPFamily: The annual events planning is conducted by a member who lives near the selected City but we form committees to help with all aspects of the weekend. It takes quite a bit of planning to arrange for dog friendly events.
FF: Are there any fees or costs involved?
DPFamily: DPFamily is free to its members.
FF: Tell me about Cuba, his hobbies, his interests, and his passions. What does he like best about FIDO Friendly magazine?
DPFamily: Cuba is a Havanese and loves being very social. He enjoys to travel by car, subway, plane, and train. He loves to meet people everywhere possible. His favorite pastime is to go out to restaurants and have his own chair during dinner.
He is also a true Havanese, very mischievous and a true show off at home.
He was crowned NYC’s Top Dog at this year’s Skybark event and just did his first commercial. This week he will be on the “DogWalk” at the Inky Blue Sea Benefit.
He has a girlfriend named Tasha, a Morkie, who he fell in love with at puppy school when they were 12 weeks old. Three years later their relationship is still “pups in love.”
Cuba loves Fido Friendly Magazine, especially reading about places to travel and different dog events around the country. The articles inspire him to plan the next DPFamily event.
He also enjoys answering the daily questions on the Fido Friendly Blog. You can find him on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100000579504723.
He has an event planned next week too so check it out on Facebook and if you are in NYC come join us. About 20 or so Pals are going for a carousel ride at the new Hudson River Cove Park and then off to dinner at the Frying Pan.
