I'm actually quite shy when it comes to meeting new people and introducing myself in real life.
A while ago, I was asked to look after a golden-doodle (golden retriever crossed with a standard poodle). I looked on-line and found where all the off-leash dog parks are in my neighborhood and tried them all out. I also borrowed The Dog Whisperer series of DVD's from the library because I have never owned a dog or had to look after one before.
I eventually found one dog park that I really liked and began frequenting it, however I felt like an outsider because it seemed to me that everyone knew at least someone else there and I knew nobody. The dog I was caring for had not been socialized with other dogs and was extremely nervous among other dogs. I figured that the only way to socialize the dog was to have it get used to being with other dogs, so I was determined to hang out with the others at the dog park. Due to my shyness, I would hang around where other people and their dogs were, but always keep a bit of distance from the group. Eventually, one of the ladies spoke to me and told me that this was the unofficial 4 o'clock group. In other words, they generally came to the park at 4 PM.
This was the break I needed. Without being formally invited, I assumed she was telling me that they meet at 4 PM so that I could join them at the park at the specified time on a daily basis. I began doing that and when they all walked through the park with their dogs, I would trail along behind them. Eventually I began to pick up some of the dog's names and even a few of their owner's names. Not everyone showed up each day, but on average, there were anywhere from 3 to 6 people there with their dogs.
Eventually, the 4 o'clock group disbanded and hardly anyone was showing up at that time. I too became inconsistent about the time of day that I went to the dog park and I was seeing many new people and their dogs.
I decided that simply hanging around was not the way to meet people and I had to break free of my shell. I began by greeting anyone and everyone I met, regardless whether they had a dog or not (some simply used the dog park as a short-cut). Some people stopped to talk while others simply returned the greeting and carried on. Regardless, I continue to greet everyone I meet while walking and I have actually made a few good friends that way. I now understand that it is unlikely that anyone will take offense to a polite greeting. I have on occasion been ignored, but that's fine too. I'm sure its nothing personal.
