Check out the brand new Cute-a-Rater by Pet360 Media!
Vote on the cutest pet in each matchup of pets from the Pet 360 partner sites and communities. Get your dog(s) in the action!
Check out http://www.doggyspace.com/Cutearater to get voting now!
Check out the brand new Cute-a-Rater by Pet360 Media!
Vote on the cutest pet in each matchup of pets from the Pet 360 partner sites and communities. Get your dog(s) in the action!
Check out http://www.doggyspace.com/Cutearater to get voting now!
BlogPaws is thrilled that our second keynote speaker, social media pioneer, Clara Shih, will be gracing the conference this year. Shih joins our other keynote speaker, Steve Dale, CABC (certified animal behavior consultant), who reaches more pet owners than any other pet journalist in America. You can follow all of our speaker bios and info on the BlogPaws speaker page.(bookmark it now)
Clara Shih’s bio and resume is impressive to the max. Here at BlogPaws we like to get to know the person behind the persona and why they are interested in addressing the biggest, most influential group of pet bloggers and microbloggers at the BlogPaws conferences. I had the opportunity to interview Clara and ask her a few questions that the inquiring minds of pet bloggers want to know. Here’s the scoop:
Clara Shih is the CEO and Founder of Hearsay Social and a pioneer in social media. In 2007, Clara developed the first social business application, called Faceforce, and subsequently authored the New York Times-featured bestseller, The Facebook Era: Tapping Online Social Networks to Market, Sell and Innovate, now used as a marketing textbook at Harvard Business School.
Carol Bryant for BlogPaws: In your keynote message, you will be addressing primarily pet bloggers and microbloggers. What can attendees look forward to hearing from your keynote?
Clara Shih: We are seeing a seismic shift in communication – spanning everything from personal relationships to business to consumer. For many, the relationship with their pets is a significant part of their lives – in San Francisco, more people have dogs than have children (we even allow dogs in our offices). Social media is a wonderful way to find more information and connect with others who have pets.
Kobe, a Pomeranian Mix, that Shih pet sits from time to time
BlogPaws: We love that dogs are allowed in your offices, just like ours! What do you most look forward to in attending the original social media conference for pet bloggers and microbloggers?
Clara Shih: Social networks offer a very lighthearted medium for sharing photos, videos, and stories — gearing this towards your pet is no different. I look forward to seeing all the creative ways that people represent their pets online and how social media can help foster relationships between like-minded people.
BlogPaws: We love pets and so does our community! Do you have pets and if so, who are they?
Clara Shih: I don’t have pets, but I’m proud to say I’ve pet sat for many of my friends and colleagues. I’m even the godmother to my friend’s cat.
Remy, a domestic shorthair cat that Shih to which Shih is godmother
BlogPaws: Just for fun, what is something about you people would be surprised to learn?
Clara Shih: After not watching tv for 15 years, I’ve become completely addicted to Downton Abbey.
In case you are wondering who should attend BlogPaws Conferences or Events:
BlogPaws conferences deliver educational sessions on topics ranging from finding content for your blog, to search engine optimization (SEO), to turning your blog into a business or a book, to holding a marketing or fund raising event on Twitter (we call it a #BlogPawty), to using specialized contest apps on Facebook, how-tos on Google+, Pinterest, Tout.com, and much more. While a majority of the attendees publish about — or in some cases AS their pets — the topics apply broadly to anyone who wants to learn more about effective use of social media.
In May of 2013, BlogPaws will host its fifth annual conference in Tyson’s Corner, Virginia, located on the Washington D.C. border. BlogPaws is a pet-friendly event that has made its mark in Ohio, Colorado, Virginia, and Utah thus far. Registration is open and the founders expect another record crowd for the event: May 16-18, 2013. http://registration.blogpaws.com.
This article originally appeared on BlogPaws.com.
As pet parents of two mixed breed rescue dogs, we sometimes lament the lack of cute pet products that tout our favorite breed: rescue.
Last year, two Cincinnati dog lovers and entrepreneurs got together and launched Project Blue Collar, an initiative that focuses on the positive side of adoption. Carole Feeny and Kristin Waters met in 2010 at the gym and quickly learned of each other’s interest in animal welfare. “Although we worked with different rescues (Carole with a foster-based rescue and I at a no-kill shelter), we started networking dogs together and helped each other out at different times when our respective groups were full,” recalls Kristin.
From her experience at the rescue, Carole knew that rescue dogs undergo a wonderful transformation on the road to adoption, a change that the general public often misses due to massive advertising campaigns 
that “engender our pity with tragic images of animals in need and leave us thinking of them as damaged goods. While these marketing campaigns are successful at raising funds they are not helping rescuers show the positive qualities of adoptable animals. This realization prompted me to think of a way to promote the value of the rescue dog and get them to be the marketers of their own movement. Thus, Project Blue Collar was born.”
Carole and Kristin quickly came together on this project they named Project Blue Collar – Support the Underdog™. The blue collar, modeled on popular silicone cause bracelets that signify a wearer’s affinity for a movement, identifies the dog’s background and its transformation from a homeless animal to a cherished family member.
As with a cause bracelet, the blue collar serves as a conversation starter. “We hear story after story about people asking about the Blue Collar on their dogs,” explains Kristin. “That’s the whole purpose: To create conversations and inspire others to learn about the joy of adopting a rescue dog. When 10,000 dogs are needlessly killed each day in our nation’s shelters, we need to educate people about the value of rescue dogs, and then change will begin to happen – one dog at a time.”
Carole, the company’s president, says when the conversation begins, it gives the pet parent a chance to share their pet’s story. “The story of rooting for the underdog to transform into a superhero is a compelling theme in our culture. Our movement translates the power of that possibility to orphaned animals. We believe that by growing this movement one grassroot at a time, we will create a groundswell of change and impact the course of animal welfare in the future.”
And Project Blue Collar isn’t only for mixed breeds like our Irie and Tiki but for all rescues. Explains Carole, “Whether a purebred or a mixed breed, rescues are rescues and people who have adopted them are proud. Our Blue Collar gives people a way to display their pride and tell their story. Their enthusiasm inspires and educates others to follow their example.”
Photo courtesy Project Blue Collar
This article originally appeared on Pet360.com.
by Carol Bryant
In light of the recent Boston sadness and tragic events, the topic of my blog post this week deals with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As people, we have witnessed many emotionally devastating events in the past 15 years. Just as the visual nightmares have a tendency to stick with us, the use of social media has become both a blessing and a reminder: Of a society that has dealt with many national tragedies.
What about our canine family members? Do dogs react to stressful situations and have the propensity to suffer from PTSD? According to many experts, yes. Military dogs returning from war zones are often diagnosed with PTSD. Sometimes they exhibit signs that they are affected with nervous exhaustion; others appear distressed or confused and forget routine commands. These dogs require post deployment immersion into society where folks train them, provide a loving environment, and work on basic skills before they can be adopted out to a new home. Sadly though, the health and deployment histories of dogs are not tracked like their human counterparts.
Household dogs who have experienced trauma can also suffer from emotional issues and/or PTSD.
What The Experts Say
“Post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is not a fully recognized veterinary behavioral phenomenon but some believe it exists and is probably more common than we think,” according to Nicholas Dodman, BVMS, Dipl. ACVB. Dodman is one of the world’s most noted and celebrated veterinary behaviorists.
Consider dogs then who are dumped at shelters or are fostered from one family to another, perhaps being exposed to abusive or neglectful situations. Dogs might exhibit behavioral changes, snap or snarl at strangers, or engage in excessive barking if stressed. Some pets pant, pace, yawn, or have changes in eating patterns. Like people, the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and trauma vary from dog to dog. This is not to say it cannot be treated.
Just Ask Freddy
I received an email about Freddy in early March. It read, “Urgent Foster needed in Connecticut. Freddy is tied to a dog house 24/7 the owner no longer wants him. He cries for attention. A concerned neighbor has got the owner to agree to give him up. He is 8 years old. Please help us find a foster so he doesn’t spend another cold and lonely night tied to a dog house.”
Fortunately, a good Samaritan stepped in, connected with the Life’s Little Paws Rescue Group, and Freddy was taken from the situation. It was not clear whether Freddy was a male or a female dog because he was so badly matted and skunked. Imagine living your life on a chain, tied to a doghouse, no human contact, and left to the emotional isolation of your own thoughts. That was Freddy’s life.
I am happy to report that thanks to Life’s Little Paws Cocker Spaniel Rescue Group, Freddy is now safe and sound in foster care. He has been checked by a vet, has been groomed, and is awaiting his forever home.
To help acclimate him to the good people of the world, Freddy is currently in foster care and was recently transported to a second family for a week’s stay. Nancy Height is showering Freddy with love, companionship, exposure to her three other Cocker Spaniels, and teaching him manners. He is already thriving in this environment and despite some territorial marking, he is adjusting just fine.
If you can help Freddy and want a forever Wigglebutt friend, visit my buddies at Life’s Little Paws.
Trust Issues
Dogs, like children, are watching our mannerisms. The way we treat a dog will also determine how he or she behaves in general. Putting your hand(s) on a dog as a form of punishment is not only wrong but as harmful to the relationship you want with your dog; counterproductive in fact.
In her book, It’s Me or the Dog famed positive reinforcement trainer and star of her own dog behavior show on Animal Planet, Victoria Stilwell, writes, “When you hit a dog, you teach him to fear you, break his trust, and you weaken his confidence. Insecure dogs are the one who are more likely to lash out in an aggressive display.”
Seek the help of an animal behaviorist who believes in positive reinforcement. Be sure the dog’s veterinarian gives you the green light and a clean bill of health to rule out any underlying medical issues that can cause behavioral changes. Do yourself a favor and check out the Canine Thyroid Epidemic book by famed vet, Dr. Jean Dodds.
Dogs are bigger spirits than we as humans. Watch an abused dog as he or she is rescued from a kennel; I’ve lost count to the number of dogs I’ve seen wag. They trust us, believe in us, and give us second chances. Give dogs a break and a second chance. Teach, strengthen the bond, and simply love them and the rewards they give back will be immeasurable.
This article was originally published on Pet360.com
Dogs rescue us as much as we rescue them. Save a dog from a dog shelter today!
DogShelters.com is a relatively new site dedicated completely to content about dog shelters and dog rescues. From learning what makes a sustainable dog shelter to learning what types of behaviors and issues to expect with a possibly traumatized pup, DogShelters.com offers resources for the new pet parent.
There are articles on celebrities who’ve taken on the cause of dog rescue, and a dog-only “Find a Dog” search.
DogShelters has spent a lot of time posting high-quality images to the DogShelters Pinterest page, realizing that images speak loudly and often directly to the heart. There are high-quality photographs of rescue dogs, taken by professional photographers, showing how much an image can change the trajectory of an adoptable dog’s future. There are also Pin boards for gorgeous dog photography, photos of rescued and adopted dogs, and photos of amazingly beautiful dog shelters designed by animal shelter architects across the country.
The feature that DogShelters would most like to grow is the “Submit Your Story” feature, because success stories are the most engaging and encouraging in an age where so much disaster and criticism exist. If you have rescued a dog or know someone who has, please consider submitting your story to DogShelters.com and allow them to feature your first-person account of how you and your dog have found a mutual connection.
by Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell
Many dogs aren’t worth a lot of actual money, although they are priceless in our hearts.
One dog in Montana, though, was worth more to his dad than the price he had on his heart when the dog ate $500 worth of $100 bills.
According to Today, Wayne Klinkel left the money in a cubby hole in his car when he also left his dog, Sundance, in the vehicle when he and his wife made a stop on a road trip to visit their daughter.
When they came back, imagine their surprise when they couldn’t find the money. All that was left was half of one of the bills sitting in the driver’s seat.
Sundance got his revenge for being left in the car to his own devices.
“This dog, he’s 12. He’s been getting weirder and weirder as he gets older, and he will pretty much eat anything and everything,” Klinkel told the Independent Record, where he works as a graphic artist.
After a dozen years of poop scooping, Klinkel knew that paper doesn’t digest, so he followed Sundance around for a few days, picking out pieces of the mutilated money.
His daughter later brought more pieces they found in the back yard after the snow melted.
After soaking the pieces in a bucket of dish soap and water and carefully putting the pieces back together, he was laughed out of two local banks who told him he had to return the mutilated money to the Federal Reserve to see if they would reimburse him for the money.
According to Klinkel, he was told that he only needed 51 percent of each bill and the determination if he will be reimbursed with a government check could take up to two years.
At this point, Klinkel doesn’t have nothing but time.
The story reminds me of when we would travel with our four dogs. Of course, we had to stop to eat and always locked the doors. In the summer, we also left the air running for them.
If possible, we would call ahead to the restaurant so they could have our food ready and we didn’t have to leave them in the vehicle unattended for more than a half hour.
The moral of the story is to never leave your dog within reach of homework, or money.
What is the craziest thing your dog has eaten?
by Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell
In the silent film era, dastardly evil-doers tied young, helpless women to railroad tracks, leaving the handsome hero of the film to save the day.
This scene played out on a California railroad track, but the helpless victim was a little 10-month-old puppy and the heroes were a Union Pacific Railroad engineer who brought his locomotive to a screeching halt and a railroad special agent who freed the terrier mix.
According to the New York Daily News, the engineer saw a man tie something to the tracks and walk away, when the engineer realized it was a live puppy, he slammed on the breaks of his train, stopping just short of crushing the dog to death.
Union Pacific Special Agent Sal Pena was called to untie the terribly frightened dog and he then set out to catch the perpetrator of this horrible crime.
“It’s probably one of the worst things I’ve seen,” Agent Pina said. “I’ve never seen something like this.”
Riverside Animal Services ultimately tracked the 78-year-old man down, who reportedly seemed senile or confused, prompting officials to decline to press charges, saying the man said his family did not want the dog, but he also appeared unable to fully comprehend what he had done.
The dog, named Banjo in a reference to old railroad signals, was taken to a shelter, given a bath and taken home to be temporarily spoiled by a volunteer while the adoption application process begins.
I come from a railroad town; my community was driven by the railroad industry. Everyone on my block worked for the Santa Fe, including my dad, who was a car inspector for the railroad for 35 years.
Our home was also located near the rail yards and we grew up with a healthy respect for trains and taught never to play near the tracks. Most people do not realize that trains cannot come to a quick halt; it sometimes takes a mile or more to stop a train at full speed.
It is quite the miracle that the engineer was able to see the man tie Banjo to the tracks and that he was still able to stop the train in time.
Hopefully, Banjo will now get the happy, loving home he so deserves and since this man will not be prosecuted, I hope his family will also seek help for him and have him committed someplace where he is not a danger to anyone or any other living being.
For more information on Banjo, visit the Riverside Animal Services website.
Editor’s Note: Photo of Banjo from Riverside Animal Services site.
Do you think this man should have been prosecuted, or at the very least, committed so he cannot harm something else?
This article was originally published on Pet360.com
By: Kelly Lange
Do you have an angelic pet that’s capable of doing devilish deeds? I sure do! That’s why I had so much fun decking my Louis out as a cute lil’ devil with our new Facebook app. You’ll have a blast dressing your pet up as a lil’ angel, lil’ devil or even a lil’ of both! To give it a try for yourself here. You’ll also get the chance to enter to win $1,000 of dreamy gifts hand-selected for you and your pet!
Like many pet parents, I occasionally come home to find that my sweet little boy has gotten into mischief while I was at work. It’s hard to imagine such an angelic pooch being capable of wreaking such havoc, but believe me…he has his moments!
Bathroom doors are no longer left open when Louis is home alone because the trash can is equivalent to a treasure chest of gold in his eyes. Sometimes I wonder why I even bother making the bed in the morning because Louis has no problem tearing the pillows and sheets off in order to find the perfect spot to take a mid-afternoon nap. And I can always tell when Louis is feeling envious of the “work” person I seem to spend so much time with because he scatters my belongings throughout the apartment – shoes in the hallway, mail on the dining room floor, even clothes in the kitchen! He really can be such a lil’devil!
Don’t get me wrong. Louis’ mischievous days are few and far between. 98% of the time he’s a perfectly behaved pup full of love and sweetness. His favorite pastimes consist of playing fetch, snuggling on the couch and following mommy around the house. I couldn’t ask for a better bud!
And let’s be honest…Louis’ devilish behavior puts a smile on my face and makes me love him even more!
This article originally appeared on Pet360.com
by Carol Byrant
Am I weird for wanting to have a blog for or about my pet? Not at all! In fact, pet parents are in the majority and no longer have to feel like tucking their tails between their legs and scurrying into the catacombs of the Internet. Rejoice, pet moms and dads: Pet blogs are all the rage and here to stay.
According to Nielsen Wire, about 6.7 million people publish blogs, with another 12 million considered “micro-bloggers,” such as having a Facebook or Twitter account. Bloggers are well-educated, too: In fact, 7 out of 10 of us are college attendees, with a majority having graduated. But what about the pet blogger? Are we in the minority? No way! We’re soaring.
Basically, a blog is a type of website with information updated regularly: perhaps several times a day like Yahoo.com or maybe once a week. People start blogs for a variety of reasons, including giving their dog a voice, report on animal welfare issues and even to help establish a rescue or dog-themed fundraising effort.
What if you want to blog and have no idea where to get started? Begin by researching your platform. A platform in blog world is where your website will be hosted. Three of the most common platforms are WordPress, Blogger, or TypePad. Talk to folks who blog and get some feedback about what worked (and did not work) for them; then decide which “platform” meets your needs.
Some people write in their own voice, while other bloggers “talk” as if their pet was writing the post. There are general themes to many blogs, so be certain you know what the focus and goal of your blog will be. Are you interested in pet health? Dog travel? Cat behavior? Maybe a variety of topics is more your cup of tea. Have a plan in place.
Attend a pet bloggers conference like BlogPaws. Year-round, BlogPaws is an online community site for pet bloggers and brands. With four conferences to date, BlogPaws is the go-to resource for bloggers and brands to partner on projects and campaigns. So successful are these in-person conferences that BlogPaws is currently planning their fifth right near Washington, D.C. in May of 2013.
What if a traditional blog is not something you are interested in but perhaps having a pet-oriented Facebook or Twitter account is? Use caution with Facebook and pet accounts, as the powers that be have begun cracking down on pet accounts. It would be more advantageous to have a pet business page on Facebook.
On Twitter, however, the sky’s the limit. In fact, millions of folks have embraced the “my pet has a Twitter account” sensation. Have you heard of Twitter parties? According to @CokieTheCat on Twitter, “A Twitter Pawty is an online event, where anipals and animal lovers socialize, play, ‘eat and drink’ virtual hor d’oeuvres from a linked menu of pet related foods (noms) and beverages – dance and cut loose. Twitter Pawties are the ultimate mental break from everyday work and personal stress and drama, allowing you to just ‘be’ your pet for a while.”
Sounds like fun, right? With a personal Twitter account that my dog hijacks from time to time (@FidoseofReality) I feel right at home with the millions of other pet people and their personas on Twitter.
Here are a few links to whet your palate for starting a pet blog:
by Carol Bryant
Some of us consider our dogs our kids, others our companion, some are best friends, and many of us say “all of the above” when asked how we feel about our dogs.
How cool would it be to have a career working with animals in some capacity?
With the economic recession forcing many out of their comfort zone and often into unfamiliar territory, if you’ve ever considered a career with animals in some capacity, why not the present?
Years ago, a search engine result of “careers with animals” would have merited such admiral professions as veterinarian, groomer, veterinary technician, trainer, or dog handler. Today, those results still surface but so do a new host of careers, all involving dogs in some capacity.
As you peruse this list, consider the educational implications, possible initial start-up costs, and if you have the time to commit. If any of these pique your interest, an initial first step can be asking someone currently in the industry if you can talk to them and/or visit their place of business.
Here are some careers in the dog world that have surfaced (and some have been around a long time, but you may not have considered them):
Got a career we didn’t list here? We’d love to hear about it. Any career has its ups and downs, rewards and downsides. However, with the proper research and a true calling beckoning you to a new path, anything’s possible.
Career Ideas for Dog Lovers originally appeared on Pet360.com
Doggyspace is a social utility that connects people with friends and others who love dogs. People use Doggyspace to keep up with friends, upload funny dog videos, and to give their dogs their own cyber place.
