I’m participating in today’s Pet Blogger Challenge! It’s a series of questions that my pet blogging friends Edie of Will My Dog Hate Me, and Amy of GoPetFriendly.com asked–you, too, can participate!

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1. When did you begin your blog?

My first post was on August 30, 2010.

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

I actually wanted to start it to help people understand their dogs, along with presenting stories about experiences I’ve had with my own dogs. The intent was to get people interested in using my dog coaching services. However, I started by blogging for the Never Shock a Puppy 8-week campaign to inspire people to use gentle methods when working with their dogs.

3. Is your current purpose the same?

Yes, overall. As I finished with Never Shock a Puppy, another challenge came up. I decided to blog about specific topics for the Reverb10 project–the creators provided daily topics throughout December to help us reflect on the past year and sets intentions for the year ahead. I turned the topics into dog-related blog posts.

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

I know it’s best to blog on a schedule to maintain reader and search engine interest. However, I mostly blog when I think of topics that may perhaps interest readers. Although disciplined in my work and volunteer schedule, I’m not disciplined in my blogging schedule. Argh. I would like to get better at that! I need to feel guilty more often to motivate me to write!

5. Are you generating income from your blog?

No, not really. I write a blog as an adjunct to my business. I haven’t had anyone say they’ve called me because of my words of wisdom on the blog!

6. What do you like most about blogging in general and your blog in particular

• Freedom! I can write whatever I want! I am responsible and present facts to back up technical material, but generally, it’s great to be able to discuss what I think others would like. I’ve been a journalist throughout my career, which required fact-based, boundary-laden writing. Here, I can spout opinions!
• Interaction! People actually comment on my posts with fresh points of view. I’m always surprised! And thrilled to pieces whenever anyone even makes a one-word comment.
• Making blogging friends! I’ve come to know other pet bloggers who I now interact with frequently. It wasn’t until I went to Blog Paws 2010 and met such motivating people that I realized how big the pet blogging world was! It was definitely a thrill. It’s a support group on which I rely heavily lately.
• Learning! I’m a neophyte blogger, often embarrassed at the thought of presenting my views and my blogging attempts. Who would care? I have never done anything like this. I’ve loosened up in my style–based on reading others’ posts–and actually started to enjoy it!
• Being challenged! I don’t know when I would have started writing posts if it weren’t for the Never Shock a Puppy campaign. I was just in the throes of developing my web site when that challenge appeared. My web designer wasn’t thrilled that I started the blog before the site was up! But hey, I believed in the cause and I was compelled to write about it. That was so difficult for me, as the others in the blogging coalition were such better writers and more sophisticated in blogging than I. But then I started to enjoy it. When Reverb10 came along, I was challenged with the topics, but I realized that I could actually have fun!

7. What do you like least?

• The technical aspects. I’m never sure how to use WordPress correctly, and I still don’t know all of the features. I love some styles that other bloggers use, but can’t figure out how to get from there to here! And you know what? I hate having to look anything up. I prefer to ask someone how. Not good. I mean, I always used to look things up, but now I am blocked in that way. As an example, I tried to use the Linky Tool code that Edie supplied, but nothing showed up, even after signing up and watching the Linky demos! Blech.
• Pressure. I am involved in so many eclectic venues–between volunteering, teaching, and taking editing jobs on the side, dealing with my dogs’ medical issues and all, I’m pooped! Blogging is often the first thing on my mind, but the last thing I do. I meant to write between my last post on December 31 and now–but I didn’t.

8. How do you see your blog changing or growing in 2011?

I was afraid you’d ask that! It’s like the interviewer who asks “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” I honestly don’t know how it will change. I committed–in my mind–that I’d write at least once a week. I have topics on which I’d love discourse. I want to focus in things that matter in the dog world. That said, I’m gonna try!

Now it’s your turn. What do you want to get out of your blog in 2011?

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