Pet Blogger Challenge

Today I am taking the Pet Blogger Challenge. Thanks to the folks at http://www.gopetfriendlyblog.com for hosting it.

1. How long have you been blogging? And, for anyone who is visiting for the first time, please give a quick description of the subject of your blog.

I have been blogging since September of 2010. My blog started to help me cope with the overwhelming feels I had with getting a lot of dog in Hailey. It is now the lives of   my two dogs, Hailey and Zaphod and sometimes a little bit about our lives/travels. 

2. What is the one thing that you accomplished during 2015, either on your blog or because of it, that made you most proud?

I am proud that I had 336 posts last year. Blogging regularly (and I only miss several consecutive days when traveling) is my goal, so achieving this makes me happy. 

3. Which of your blog posts was your favorite this year and why? (Please include a link.)

Hmmmm, this is very hard. Looking back, I think the posts that featured Cinder were my favourite. I didn't start 2015 knowing for sure it would be the last year for awhile (if not ever) I would have a cat. The last post I wrote as a tribute to him can be found HERE.  I was also really thrilled with the participation at my Festival of Lights that raised money for Wounded Warriors PTSD service dog program. It can be found HERE. Using my blog to help others is beyond my expectations.

4. A common theme from last year’s challenge was that many of us wanted to increase the size of our audiences. Whether or not we intend to monetize our blogs, it seems we’d all like to reach more people. It feels good to know that we’re connecting with others, sharing a laugh or supporting a cause, and it’s motivating to see those numbers grow! What is one thing you’ve done in the past year that has brought more traffic to your blog?

I think by regularly reading more blogs and participating in Blogville events has helped. I blog because I love to write and I am a little obsessed with my dogs and it is nice to share them. I see it completely as my hobby. I am still thrilled every day that people, who are not my parents, sister or husband, care to stop by my blog. 

5. Which of your blog posts got the most traffic this year? Why do you think it was so popular? (Please include a link.)

This is where I fail as a blogger. I have no idea how to check this. I can figure out month or all time, but not 2015. I honestly rarely look at the stats, I am more interested in what people are saying. 

6. What is one blog that you read religiously – other than your own – and what makes you such a devoted reader? (Please include a link.)

Wow, this is a really hard question. I have about 100 pet blogs I try and visit as regularly as possible. I love them all for different reasons. If I was going to pick one to share with others, I would pick The Dog Who Doesn't Fetch.  It is also a Canadian blog. The pictures are beautiful. I love the "voices" of the dogs. Ojo and my Hailey have a lot in common. (We have decided they are "cousins"). 

7. What resources do you rely on to enhance your technical, writing, photography, social media, or other skills that improve your blog?

Any improvements in these are inspired by other bloggers. 

8. What is the best piece of advice you can offer other bloggers?

Write it for yourself first and foremost. This will keep you grounded and honest and will attract other people. All my favourite blogs are honest if nothing else! 

9. What is your vision for your blog in 2016? Do you have specific goals?

I think it is about time for a blog make over. The graphic design is outside my wheel-house and interest really. I will have to figure that out. I always want to improve my photography, so that is something I may tackle. 

An even bigger goal is to meet some fellow bloggers at the Blogville Awesome Retreat. The idea of it is exciting and scary at the same time!

10. You have the attention of the pet blogging community – is there one blogging challenge you’d like help with, or one aspect of your blog that you’d like input on?

I think the  "design" areas are where I am lacking - for example - creating headers, badges, changing the look, and fun photo editing. If there are idiot proof resources for that, I would love to have them. 

Third Annual Pet Blogger Challenge

Bonus Post: Just found out it is Pet Blogger Challenge 2013! Man I need to do a better job at keeping up with blogs. This is event is sponsored by http://www.gopetfriendly.com to help bloggers connect with new blogs.

1. How long have you been blogging and provide a link to your post from last year’s Pet Blogger Challenge so we can refresh our memories.

We have been blogging since September 2010. You can find our answers to last years pet challenge here.

2. What do you consider the most important goals you set out in last year’s post?

I didn't really set a goal, I just hoped to help Hailey to be happy, which I think we have, for the most part. 

3. Have you made progress toward those goals, or have your goals changed over the past year?

My goal these days is more to keep up with posting (which I love to do, but sometimes find it hard to write) and more importantly, and which is harder, to find time to read all the other amazing blogs out there. I find them so inspiring, and fun, and I love it, just it can be hard to carve out that time for me to read. My goal is to read them all 2-3 times a week. 

4. How often do you post?

Pretty much daily. I do of course miss days when I am on vacation etc. 

5. Has your opinion of blogging on a schedule or as the spirit moves you changed?

I tend to blog when the spirit moves me, but I have more of a schedule. I am trying to participate more in blog community events such as Mischief Monday, Wordless Wednesday, Thankful Thursday and Black and White Sunday. 

If you don’t publish on a schedule, why? How do you think your decision affects your audience? How do you know when a topic is “post-worthy?”

If I want to talk about it, it is blog worthy. I love that people read my blog and I do think of the audience, but this is my blog and I will share/not share what I want. 

6. How much time do you spend writing your blog per week? How much time visiting other blogs? Share your tips for staying on top of it all.

I probably spend on average 30 minutes a post (some take more time, some less), so that is 3 or so hours writing. If I had my way I would spend an hour a day reading other blogs. My hope is to have 5 hours a week to do this. 

7. How do you measure the success of a post and of your blog in general (comments, shares, traffic)? Do you look strictly at the numbers, or do you have a way of assessing the quality of those interactions?

When I gauge the success of an individual post, I look at the number and the quality of the comments it’s gotten. It’s pretty easy to tell if you’ve been able to excite people when you look at the comments they leave. However, when I measure how well the blog is doing over all (and I do that once a month), I rely on my traffic numbers from Google analytics.

8. If you could ask the pet blogging community for help with one issue you’re having with your blog, what would it be?

If it made me laugh or smile, or I think it made someone else laugh or smile it was successful!

9. What goals do you have for your blog in 2013?

Keeping up with my blog. Having some creative, fun posts. Keeping up with other blogs!

I'm taking the Pet Blogger Challenge - 2012

I saw this was happening on another blog last week. Right now I can't even remember to give that blog credit! It had been my dream to put the button about it on my blog, however, I have been unusually busy the past few days and didn't get to it.


1. When did you begin your blog?
 September 2010

2. What was your original purpose for starting a blog?

To let the people who rescued Lee know where she was and to share my puppy stories with my family and friends. 

3. Is your current purpose the same?

Sort of. 

If not, what’s different?

I now use it to connect with the dog community locally and across North America. Sharing stories helps me survive life with dog(s). There is comfort in knowing you are not alone and there is a lot of knowledge you can tap into for free!

If so, how do you feel you’ve met your goals?
I think I have created something that at least my family and friends find amusing so they check in. They don't comment on the blog much, but they do comment to me a lot. 

4. Do you blog on a schedule or as the spirit moves you?

Both

If the former, how often — and what techniques do you use to stick to it?

I suffer mild OCD, so not posting for a day is stressful for me, so I try and avoid this.
 I often write things in advance when the mood strikes and post them later when I don't have time to write or it has been a quiet day. 

If the latter, do you worry about… well, whatever you might worry about (e.g. losing traffic, losing momentum)?
My goal was never traffic, so I don't worry about it. Don't get me wrong, I am always excited to see that more people have visited, but if they don't, I don't stress about it. I view the blog as my journal that I have left on the table that people can read or not. 

5. Are you generating income from your blog?

Nope. This is purely my hobby. 

If not currently, do you hope to in the future — and how?

 I think making my hobby a business, when I have enough business to deal with, may take the fun out of it. 

6. What do you like most about blogging in general and your blog in particular (bragging is good!)?

I love to write so that is what I love in general. It allows me to be creative about something I love. I do love my job, but it can be very high stress, so this gives me an outlet not related to work to have fun in!

My blog - I think it is stories of an average Jane living with pets. I think it is a rather honest look into the pet ownership side of my life. I try and tell it like it is, the good, the bad and the ugly.

I think my blog is funny (I am often laughing as I read it). In general I am the type of person who finds humour in 99% of things. I believe what doesn't kill you, you can laugh about later. I bring this to everything I do and try to bring it to my life with my dog (and this has probably saved her more times then she could count!)

That being said, being a pet owner isn't all fun and games. Life's a bitch and then you die, a fairly wise guy has told me repeatedly.  I have  been sharing is my struggle with grief after the tragic death of Gemini, which to date has not brought my humour to my life (although we do joke that our dogs don't live to double digits, and that white or light coloured animals have short life spans in our home). I do add moments of this, because that is the real world. One moment I may be laughing at something crazy Hailey has done, and the next my heart is aching over loss.

7. What do you like least?

I am a horrible speller, so I hate dealing with that.
If I disliked doing it, I would stop. Life is to short to have hobbies you don't love!

8. How do you see your blog changing/growing in 2012?

I have no specific plans for it. I didn't expect it to last this long and lead me to this large pet blog community to begin with. So we will just see where it goes. My biggest concern is that as my pup settles, I will run out of things to write about. Maybe if that happens I can convince hubby it is time for another furry pack member:)