The 2010 Dog-O-Lympics Video Trailer

False Alarm

 

 

 

 

 

Group Dynamics

As 2009 winds down, there is so much to consider. It's easy enough to let the holiday madness swallow me up, but more often than not I find my thoughts turning to...dogs of course! I have to admit that being immersed in dog culture - the blogs, the people, the dogs themselves - is completely addictive. I simply can't get enough.

That said, many of you have heard me espouse the virtues of  Facebook more than once. I'm a big fan. I love visiting blogs and catching snippets of what is happening with our friends. But there is only so much one can make room for in a blog post, and it's impossible to find time to track down hundreds of bloggers individually to have meaningful conversations that go beyond what we are able to convey in comments. In other words, it's not easy getting to know all of these fantastic people that we visit hundreds of times each year. That sucks.

Of course, many of you have been on Facebook for some time or have found it in the last year. It's been so much fun to see some of our blogging friends joining and getting completely hooked. In some cases, it would seem that blogging has actually taken a back seat to Facebook interaction. There are so many dogs and dog lovers that you can lose yourself for days just taking it all in. It's tremendous fun. What impresses me most is the sense of community. It is not uncommon to see dog lovers unite for the sake of causes, and to see such acts of kindness on a daily basis is inspiring beyond description.

I'll stop flogging this and get to the point. As much as I love blogging, there is no substitute for interacting with the great people behind the blogs. It has been a privilege getting to know so many of you this year, and in an effort to facilitate more (and better) interaction between us, I have developed a new Dog Bloggers group here. If you are on Facebook and are not comfortable connecting your personal profile to those of us you do not know, this group will allow for dynamic interaction while letting you decide what level of privacy you wish to maintain. In other words, you don't have to connect to my profile.

Feel free to breathe a sigh of relief. I'm well aware of the fact that I'm considered by many to be a nut job. : p

In addition to social interaction, the new groups plus platform is great. It is adware free, virus free, and feature rich. There is a calendar for group members to add events to - anything you like. Fundraisers, reunions, dog birthdays...you name it. There is a poll generator, so we can tap in to group opinions for important issues. Files can be uploaded. Find a great dog related resource in a PDF? Just upload it! The same goes for links, pictures and videos. There is a discussion forum and the ability to PM other members as well.

So why join? Well, for starters, seventy or so of us have done so in the past two days alone. My expectation is that this group will be robust and relevant. In addition to being able to communicate on an entirely different level, there is another giant benefit: exposure. I invite you to "pimp your blog" so to speak. In other words, the art of shameless self promotion is appreciated. That's what the wall is for. If you have a post that you are dying to share, or happen across something you think the rest of us should see, this is the perfect place to shout about it. Another benefit: the group is now listed in the Facebook directory, so more Facebook members will find it as they search for dog groups.

There are millions of dog lovers on Facebook, and many of them are dog blog readers. This is a great place for them to discover you. Join us as we usher in 2010 with a few new tricks up our proverbial sleeves. I'll do my best to promote the group, create an exciting environment, help you with blogging questions, and get you more readers. The rest is in your paws.

Our celebration of you begins now.

It's time to mix it up, break out of the routine, and say thank you to our friends - old and new. We've been barking all year, and it's been a great one. So join us as we salute dog lovers, life with dogs, and the remarkable creatures that make it all possible.

When it comes to dogs and the people who love them, our position is the more, the merrier. As more of us congregate, there is simply more to share. Those who become aware of pressing rescue situations will have a broader audience. Important news will be heard by more of us. And the fun factor will skyrocket.

With that in mind, it's time to offer up the first of many goodies to come. Our Tell a Friend contest begins now.

The prize: A $50.00 gift card to PetSmart. :)
The contest: This is easy. Find your dog loving friends. Find out if they are already in our Facebook fan list. If not, invite them.

See, that was cake. The catch: well, someone has to win, right? Of course! So the person who brings the most dog lovers in to our circle of friends by midnight EST this Saturday wins.

The not so fine print: Our current list has been saved, so only those who are new will be counted. Be sure to check before inviting! In order to confirm new fans, please ask your friends to click on the become a fan button at , and send an e-mail to lifewithdogs@ymail.com.
Please ask them to use the following subject for the sake of our sanity as we count:

I am here thanks to: (your name)

Also, please be sure that they use your full name or we may not be able to count them.
E-mail addresses will never be shared, sold or divulged to anyone ever, period.

Thanks to PetSmart for making this gift available, and for another piece of exciting news - they have decided to open up a Q&A session to our readers with Dr, Robyn Jaynes. Dr. Robyn is the director of Veterinary Services and PetSmart’s resident dog and cat expert. She will be happy to entertain questions you may have about a behavioral issue, a quirk you have wondered about, or a training challenge.

If you have ever wanted to understand your pet more fully, this is a great chance to do so without hiring an expensive behaviorist. Please e-mail all questions to lifewithdogs@ymail.com

For more information, and to take some interesting quizzes and browse informative videos, look for "If Your Pet Could Talk" at http://www.pets.com.

In the coming days, we will have much love to share in the form of dog goodies, so stay tuned. Thanks for making this a great year, and for joining us as we continue to celebrate life with dogs.

That Time of Year

 

Scary Movie Night, Saturday

It's that time again. Once a year, I give myself permission to drop out for a bit - to leave pressures behind, catch up on neglected responsibilities, and enjoy the simple pleasures. This is that week.

Winter is rushing to replace fall as the days shorten noticeably from one week to the next. The dogs are fired up. Nigel may love his seventy degree days, but the Labs live to surf powder and make snow angels. As we walk, they now pause frequently to catch the scents of fall. Their wheels are spinning, as are mine.

This new blogging season (summer does not count - at least not for us) promises to be extraordinary. There are mountains of projects to tackle, some huge surprises in store, and as always, so much to share. You may notice a few small changes as we prepare for the coming months. One change to note - our giveaways will increase in frequency but will now take place on our Facebook page. It's our way of saying thanks to all - not just those who have signed up for Blogger accounts.

The next week will feature limited posts if any. Our Facebook page will remain active, and has become a great place to share general dog information. Please join us there if you have not yet done so. I'm actually considering a wordless week, but maybe that idea should be saved for the depths of winter - something tells me Sola and Truffles may have a sledding trip planned.  :)

Heartfelt thanks to all who have made this year so enjoyable. While I may call this week a break, behind the scenes there is so much happening that I don't know where to start.

It just keeps getting better.

Send your dogs our love. We'll be barking again in a few days...

Riddle Me This

Off The Wall #2

You bet I'm going there again. Twice.



Join us on Facebook if you can, it's a blast.

Off The Wall

If you are not on Facebook you're missing out. The banter alone makes it worth signing up.

Click to enlarge and spare yourself the eye strain.



Sadly, Nigel did not achieve his objective.