How AI Play Date Matching Works
Pawgloo's AI compatibility engine scores every potential pet pairing before surfacing it as a match. Here's what goes into that score.
What the AI evaluates
Breed compatibility
Certain breed combinations are statistically more prone to conflict — large guarding breeds with small prey-driven dogs, for example. The AI accounts for these tendencies without excluding any breed outright.
Size and weight
A 5 kg Shih Tzu and a 40 kg Labrador can play together safely under supervision, but the AI factors in the risk difference and scores accordingly. Similar-sized matches score higher by default.
Temperament
Owners describe their pet's temperament during profile setup — playful, calm, shy, dominant, nervous. The AI avoids pairing pets with strongly conflicting temperament profiles.
Vaccination status
Only pets with current core vaccinations appear in match results by default. Vaccination status is self-reported and flagged visually on each card.
Play energy level
Age is a strong proxy for play energy. A 2-year-old Beagle and a 10-year-old Labrador may not be ideal playmates. The AI weights energy compatibility.
Distance
Matches are sorted by proximity first, then by score. A 95-score match 20 km away may rank below an 88-score match 1 km away.
What the score means
| Score range | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 85–100 | Excellent match — highly compatible on all dimensions |
| 70–84 | Good match — minor differences that owners can manage |
| 55–69 | Moderate match — some incompatibility; extra care advised |
| Below 55 | Not shown — too high a risk of mismatch |
What AI matching does not replace
The AI score helps you make a better-informed decision. It does not guarantee that two pets will get along. Always:
- Read the other pet's full profile and temperament notes
- Start with a neutral-territory meetup
- Keep both pets on lead for the first 5–10 minutes
- End the session if either pet shows persistent stress signals
See play date safety tips for a full guide on introductions.