2014 was the first time I participated in a pet blogger challenge. I skipped 2015, mainly because I believed not much changed from the previous year.
2016 I jumped back on the “challenge caravan” and as a “seasoned” blogger, I had a little more to say.
It was not my intention to skip 2018 but renovations, a new job and our environmental allergy war occupied my time and my mind! #devastatinglosses
WHAT’S THE CHALLENGE? –
Thanks to Go Pet Friendly, the pet blogging world has “virtually” joined together for the last eight years to reflect on the previous year’s accomplishments and victories. We learn more about the brains behind the bloggers we’ve enjoyed and discover a few we never knew. We commiserate through our struggles, offer and accept ideas/advice as we start a new year.
So, grab your favorite beverage(hot, cold or alcohol based) and read my answers to the list of prepared questions. I’d love your input/advice/suggestions. After – all – I write for you 🙂
HERE ARE THE QUESTIONS FOR THE 2019 PET BLOGGER CHALLENGE –
FOR THOSE WHO MAY BE VISITING MY BLOG FOR THE FIRST TIME, HOW LONG HAVE I BEEN BLOGGING AND WHAT IS MY MAIN TOPIC?
Groovy Goldendoodles was born in the spring of 2012. I finally figured out what I was doing about two years later!! #learningcurve
Information about this growing phenomenon of intentionally cross-bred hybrid pooches was of interest to many people. Sharing the joy they bring to me and everyone they meet is super easy and fun.
By 2015, a shift towards health, training, and grooming became popular brought on by correspondence from our readers. Sharing their food regimen, recipes, grooming techniques, training tricks and secrets became regular topics in our post rotation.
Our relocation to Charleston SC allowed two additional topics for my niche website due to her “over the top” pet friendly city philosophy and the Boys employment as hospital therapy dogs.
WHAT WAS MY PROUDEST BLOGGING MOMENT OF 2018?
Sharing WORKING WITH MY DOGS with everyone. I was (still am) on such a “high” about my new position. Everyday is truly like a holiday for me. It is an honor to to be a part of a program so well supported by hospital administration and staff. I see it as a blessing to witness those magical moments they create with the patients and their family members. I was over the moon excited to share that post with you!
WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST BLOGGING CHALLENGE I FACED IN 2018 AND HOW DID/WILL I TACKLE IT?
The mere fact that I was able to blog!!!! Prior to 2018, I was relentless about posting at least three times a week, no less than two. Rarely did I miss multiple posting dates. In 2018, the massive renovations were in full swing and unlike 2017 – 108 posts, 2018 came in at – 70. #itwashard
I’ve created a writing schedule for 2019 to keep me on task. One can only pray and try.
WHICH OF YOUR 2018 BLOG POSTS WAS MY FAVORITE AND WHY?
THE OTHER SIDE OF PET THERAPY #pawsdown my favorite because I wrote about a personal experience intimately connected my scope of work. A true story about an accident that showed me pet therapy power from a patients point of view – without a tragic ending I might add…
WHICH OF MY 2018 POSTS WERE MOST POPULAR WITH MY AUDIENCE? WHY DO I THINK IT DID SO WELL?
Hummmmm….
Looking at my analytics, there seems to be several categories.
LET’S GO FIDO BAG – I am so selective with product reviews. I try not to “push” products all the time. When I write about a product – I’ve honestly used it, truly love it and really want to share it with you… 
STRAIGHT COAT GOLDENDOODLES – there is much to learn and share about this cross bred hybrid ball of love. This post continues to generate comments and emails…
PET THERAPY – therapeutic techniques using canine assistance with rehabilitation is new and fascinating. Sharing the Boys experiences allows everyone into their working world…
JUST THE THREE OF US – comical whimsical adventures about my life with the Boys. This is how we started, and for many, the chronicles of Harley and Jaxson never get old…
DID I IMPLEMENT A NEW SERIES, FEATURE OF PRACTICE ON THE BLOG IN 2018 THAT I AM ENJOYING?
Yeppers! Pet Therapy.
AS THE SOCIAL MEDIA LANDSCAPE CHANGES, HOW AM I PROMOTING MY BLOG POSTS AND CONNECTING WITH NEW READERS?
Accepting more magazine assignments (online and print) seems to have introduced new readers to our blog. While I still believe social media is the devil LOL – I’d love to increase their Instagram account #hinthint
LOOKING FORWARD TO 2019, IF I ACCOMPLISH ONLY ONE THING THROUGH MY BLOG, WHAT DO I HOPE IT IS?
To have an online presence where people associate me with “everything Goldendoodle.” #agirlcoulddream
WHAT STEPS AM I PLANNING TO TAKE TO ENSURE I REACH MY GOAL?
Strengthen my writing skills, increase our video library, and tackle my disdain of the devil (social media!).
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO READ ABOUT MORE?
Please let us know in the comments below…
January 23, 2019
We always just love reading about all your success, and how you have really found your sweet spot in the dog and blogging life. You are truly fortunate to have a job doing what you love. Your reviews are usually something super useful. Mom is still bummed those leashes you reviewed didn’t work out for us, but maybe one day they will. We hope to see more posts from you as we noticed posting was more random in 2018, but we understand life can get in the way. You can’t force writing, so if you are not feeling it, don’t do it.
February 3, 2019
Thanks Joy – I am so sorry that the leashes didn’t work for the girls, but perhaps it will work out a little later. We had great success with them. I do feel extremely blessed to have the job that I have (trust me – I’ve got to be having fun to come out of retirement!) and I love sharing our adventures with you! Thanks so much for your support. Looking forward to 2019.
January 23, 2019
It’s so good to catch up with you, Cathy! Thanks for joining the Challenge. You and the boys are doing amazing work and I’m delighted for you.
Social media is not actually the devil – and I just followed you on Instagram, so you’ve at least increased your following by 1. Getting traffic from Instagram to your blog is hard, though. If you’re looking for one platform to help increase your blog traffic, focus on Pinterest. It’s been my best source of traffic from social for years.
Good luck to you in 2019 – I can’t wait to see where the adventure takes you!
February 3, 2019
Hello Amy – Pinterest is even harder for me than Instagram LOL I am working on a system that prayerfully will help me develop a system to consistently keep all our social media accounts active. One could only pray LOL
January 24, 2019
Hi Cathy! Glad you joined the challenge this year! I’m not sure I’ll be joining; but I’ve been enjoying everyone else’s posts so far. 2018 was a very challenging year for the girls and me, blogging and otherwise. As for social media, I’m right there with you – I have a love-hate relationship with it myself, especially Facebook. Instagram is ok; Twitter is eh; and the rest I have no real interest in at all.
I enjoy reading about your and the boys’ adventures and pet therapy! And your Charleston hotel and restaurant reviews. In fact, I enjoy reading all your posts!
February 3, 2019
You and I are kindred spirits when it comes to social media. But if we’re going to blog, we’ve got to embrace it I guess. Thanks so much for your years of friendship and support. Much love 🙂
January 24, 2019
Hi Carly.
It’s great to meet you through the blog hop. I share tips on my other IG barkcommunity if it’s any help to you. Looks like you already are doing so well and here’s to a great 2019.
February 3, 2019
Hello Hannah – I may have to check that out, I could use all the tips and inspiration I can find. Thanks so much for stopping by –
January 24, 2019
Happy 2019! Congrats on the Pet Therapy. Sounds amazing and I hope to try that some day – though maybe with a future dog.
Time is an issue for me, too, and I was definitely down for the number of posts in 2018. Oh well, hope to do better in 2019.
I love that Fido To Go Bag, too. Super handy and well-designed. Love that fun, last photo of the three of you! Such a joyful shot!
February 3, 2019
Hello Ruby and Kristin – Nice to meet you! My Fido To Go Bag “goes” all over the place with us. For 2019 – I’m going to try extremely hard to master a social media schedule. I can only try LOL Looking forward to keeping up with you this year. Let’s keep in touch!
January 25, 2019
Congratulations on the pet therapy program. It can make such a difference for people.
Social media isn’t really the devil – it can be an awful time suck though. I could be on facebook for hours and not realize how much time has past. I’m try to build my Plush’s instagram and that can be a big time suck too.
February 3, 2019
Some have told me to work on my pinterest account, that to me is worst than Instagram LOL I’ve got to find a way to spread it out throughout the week. A few hours on each one and then I’ve got to move to the next one. It’s a process…
January 25, 2019
What you are doing with the boys is so exciting, and I love reading about it. I’ve always been interested in this breed too, maybe one day….
Just keep sharing about your life, that is what I enjoy! If you can keep it going through that big move and renovations, you can achieve all your goals, I’m sure.
Honestly, I don’t know how some people who do so much find time to blog at all. I barely fit it in to my relatively simple life. And when life throws something unexpected at me? I go off the rails, so to speak. 🙂
February 3, 2019
Jan I feel the same way about your blog – I love reading about all the new things you’ve incorporated into your life. You’ve done a 180 and you haven’t skipped a beat. This city girl is learning so much about farming, ducks, veggie gardens and more. So please keep writing!
January 25, 2019
Bravo for getting back on the blogger challenge circuit! As members of a pet therapy team ourselves, we love reading your pet therapy tails and tales and look forward to many more adventures in 2019.
February 3, 2019
Hey Monika – Ditto to it all 🙂
Much love girlfriend, let’s have a blast for 2019
January 25, 2019
I also loved your post on the personal side of pet therapy. But I’m sorry for what you had to go through to write it.
BTW, aren’t you already the woman everything thinks of when they hear the word “Goldendoodles?”
February 3, 2019
Hey Pamela – I too am sorry for what happened. Maggie hasn’t been the same since! I feel extremely blessed to have not been seriously hurt, and I will never forget the experience I had in the ER with the therapy dog. Even now, I make sure to never forget how important that visit was, this is what will help me each and every day make sure our teams are doing their very best reaching the patients and sharing that special puppy love.
Can’t wait to see you again this spring!
January 26, 2019
You need to be on Pinterest. Your dogs have the right amount of Pizzazz to stand out. Try it. I am just learning and one thing I learned was make the Pin the right size!!!!!!
I hope you have a good 2019!
February 3, 2019
Hi Marjorie, I have a pinterest account for them, but it’s so sad 🙁 I have no real clue what I’m doing. Perhaps I need to youtube a few “how-to’s” and try again. Thanks for reminding me.
January 26, 2019
You know how much I love you and the Doodle Dudes, right?! I am so proud of all the amazing things that happened to you in 2018 and I know 2019 will be furbulous.
February 3, 2019
Hey Melissa – the love is mutual that’s for sure. We’re going to try and write a little more and share a lot more – so get ready. Take care my friend!
April 21, 2021
Love to now about this challenge. I always love to enjoy pet activities. Great reading for me. Thank you for sharing it.