A month or so ago, I read a post over at Go Pet Friendly, Bullied by the Blog, and it struck a nerve. I was feeling badly that I had not blogged in a while and after reading this, I decided that I was wasting time with these negative feelings. Our blog is about feeling good about our relationships with our dogs and if I am spending time worrying about my blog, I can't be spending quality time with my dogs, my husband, or my children, and then I won't have anything to write about in our blog!!! I hate when those vicious, circular, rock-and-a-hard place things rear their ugly heads! So thank you Go Pet Friendly for helping me to realize that I don't have to be bullied by my blog and that it's really in both my readers' and my best interest to do what works at my house in my life. Thank you readers for your support and your understanding -- I know that you will read a better blog now at Gone to the Dogs. Happy New Year!!!!
1. When did you begin your blog? March 27, 2009
1. When did you begin your blog? March 27, 2009
2. What was your original purpose for starting a blog?
We had just decided to open our own dog training business and I was feeling very unsure and vulnerable about this big decision. It came following a very tumultuous time in our lives and while I knew it was what we wanted and needed to do, I was very nervous. Having the blog gave me a creative outlet for sharing my thoughts about this time in our lives and a place to share our passion for dogs, our family, and other things we feel strongly about.
We had just decided to open our own dog training business and I was feeling very unsure and vulnerable about this big decision. It came following a very tumultuous time in our lives and while I knew it was what we wanted and needed to do, I was very nervous. Having the blog gave me a creative outlet for sharing my thoughts about this time in our lives and a place to share our passion for dogs, our family, and other things we feel strongly about.
3. Is your current purpose the same?
I would say so -- some of the life circumstances have changed, but I still have the same questions and the same passions.
I would say so -- some of the life circumstances have changed, but I still have the same questions and the same passions.
If so, how do you feel you’ve met your goals? I wanted to share with people the every day life of a professional dog trainer -- to show that we are not magicians, that our dogs can be "rotten" (and wonderful!) too, and that we all can communicate effectively and share our lives together.
4. Do you blog on a schedule or as the spirit moves you?
As the spirit moves me...
As the spirit moves me...
If the latter, do you worry about… well, whatever you might worry about (e.g. losing traffic, losing momentum)? Absolutely!!! During the holidays, with all our foster puppies and everything else that goes along with the holiday season, I didn't blog at all. I missed it terribly, but it had to take a backseat to life temporarily. I don't have a huge number of readers (yet!), but I felt badly that I was not able to communicate with them -- since communication is an important thing for me, that was difficult.
5. Are you generating income from your blog?
No, I don't know much about that. I would love to know more and investigate the possibilities.
No, I don't know much about that. I would love to know more and investigate the possibilities.
If not currently, do you hope to in the future — and how? yes, but I don't know!
6. What do you like most about blogging in general and your blog in particular (bragging is good!)?
I like that I get to share my thoughts, experiences, and feelings (mostly) about dogs and dog training. There are so many dogs in rescue and dogs that spend their lives in the back yard because families don't know what to do or how to train their dogs. Dogs are such insightful, supportive, loving creatures that make life more wonderful just by being around. It's a shame when people don't know how to communicate with them to have the life and relationship with their dogs they desire. I hope I have shared with people even a little bit of how to do that and enjoy the journey they are on with their dogs.
I like that I get to share my thoughts, experiences, and feelings (mostly) about dogs and dog training. There are so many dogs in rescue and dogs that spend their lives in the back yard because families don't know what to do or how to train their dogs. Dogs are such insightful, supportive, loving creatures that make life more wonderful just by being around. It's a shame when people don't know how to communicate with them to have the life and relationship with their dogs they desire. I hope I have shared with people even a little bit of how to do that and enjoy the journey they are on with their dogs.
7. What do you like least?
I wish I knew more about designing on the computer because I don't love how our blog looks. I don't know how to make it look like it does in my head! It's okay, it suits the purpose, but in my head it's so much better!
I wish I knew more about designing on the computer because I don't love how our blog looks. I don't know how to make it look like it does in my head! It's okay, it suits the purpose, but in my head it's so much better!
8. How do you see your blog changing/growing in 2011?
I love multi-media so I hope to add more photos, more video, maybe something interactive (if I can figure it out!). I am going to keep plugging away on learning advanced techniques on the computer and maybe it can start to look like my vision. I would like to learn more about generating income and I want to continue sharing training and communication tips with dog lovers everywhere!
Enjoy reading all the great posts in the Pet Blogger Challenge!
I love multi-media so I hope to add more photos, more video, maybe something interactive (if I can figure it out!). I am going to keep plugging away on learning advanced techniques on the computer and maybe it can start to look like my vision. I would like to learn more about generating income and I want to continue sharing training and communication tips with dog lovers everywhere!
Enjoy reading all the great posts in the Pet Blogger Challenge!
Posts
15 comments:
Enjoyed reading your answers - no surprise there, given that I always enjoy your posts. :) I know what you mean about life getting in the way... and about wishing I could make my blog look the way it does in my head!
I'm so glad that post touched you. I think it's something a lot of us deal with - for those that don't have a blog to bully them, there's the laundry, the grocery shopping and the yard work. (The drawback is, without a blog you don't have a community to commiserate with!) Something else occurred to me recently - we treat our blogs like they are so fragile. If we miss one post hoards of readers will leave. That's simply not true. You didn't post over the holidays, but guess what - you're in my Google Reader and I'm not going to unsubscribe to a blog I enjoy following because they take some time off over the holidays. Thanks for participating in the challenge!
Hi! We took the Pet Blogger Challenge too! Our Mama says she will come back to your blog and read it some more. She wants to spend more time training us. We're good dogs with no real behavior problems (except Lily who still sneakily poops on the floor once in a while when she's in a foul mood) but Mama thinks we could learn even more things!
Nice to meet you through the Pet Blogger Challenge. I scrolled down and looked at your posts, and I just can't get over that too too adorable wagon full of puppies under your tree! I wish Santa had left one of those for me!!
Glad to find your blog through the challenge. More trainers should do that. I also write irregular, so I know what you mean. Looking forward to your posts, and never mind there is some silence between them.
Yay! For multimedia .... photos, videos, etc. Lots of fun, but also VERY time consuming.
I'm really glad for the trainers who blog. It's a big encouragement to see all the wonderful things we can do with our dogs.
Glad you weren't too bullied to participate in the challenge. I loved coming by to see you.
I love that you are not magicians and that your dogs can be "rotten" (and wonderful!) too. It makes me appreciate that we all face the same struggles, although you have focused more heavily on solving them than I have. :) Kudos to you AND your wonderful blog. I'm always happy when I find my way back here.,
It's very nice to meet you :)
As far as the look & feel of your blog- have you tried changing the theme? I haven't worked with blogger in awhile (switched over to wordpress.org last year), but I believe you can update the theme & everything filters through for you.
Let me know if I can help!
9 puppies! Envious & relieved at the same time, that I don't have a house full of them. Enjoy!
Nice to meet you! I look forward to reading more about the life of a trainer, as I think it's one of the four pet-related jobs I've never had :)
I'm like you - that technical stuff is a bit above my head! I have a friend who does web design, she's going to help me with my blog...we'll see how it turns out! I'm impressed with all your dog-training knowledge, and looking forward to reading your tips (could use a few here, ahem...)
Enjoyed meeting your blog through the Pet Bloggers Challenge and reading your Q&A, especially your #6 answer. I volunteer at my local animal shelter and see SO many dogs there due to their "issues" that are no fault of their own. I'm sure I can get some tips from your blog on spending time with my shelter dog friends so I'll be back!
-Chandra at Daley's Dog Years
You are not alone, clearly, in not wanting to be bullied by your blog. Amy and Edie really nailed that one. Nice post. I enjoyed reading it.
I enjoy reading trainers' blogs and I definitely reading enjoyed yours. Those puppies in the wagon at ages 4 and 8 weeks? Pure cuteness!
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