When PatchPets founder Josh Fritz moved to Brisbane from North Queensland with his puppy Quincy, he recognised the need for a platform that could connect dog owners while also pointing them in the right direction to find dog-friendly cafes, businesses and of course parks. Cue a team of ‘dog-loving tech geeks’ and a few months of hard work – and the PatchPets app was born. Free to download on both iOS and Android devices, the app enables dog owners to create a profile for their best mate, check-in and interact with others in their local canine community.

An interactive map allows you to track down your nearest dog park and check out which other pups are there as the app updates in real time using your current location, nearby city or postcode. Explore user profiles and filter your favourite breeds and preferred size of dog to find the right socialising companion for your trusty sidekick, then message owners and ‘favourite’ the chosen few before creating group chats to line up puppy play dates. You can also search the app’s business directory packed with everything from dog-friendly eateries to pet stores, groomers and more. Download PatchPets from the iTunes App Store or Google Play now.