A few weeks ago I did a book review here. Embedded in the review was an affiliate link for the book, which I made clear by tagging it with (affiliate link). I’ve been doing a little thinking about blogging, money, and advertising, and have come to a conclusion about the focus and purpose of this blog.

This is a blog about dog training. It’s goal is to educate people about dog training. Anything that isn’t about training is off-topic. I lost that focus for a few months and have decided to change some polices and my approach regarding ads, product reviews, and guest posts. Off-topic isn’t inherently bad – we all need a break and some humor, but going 2 or more weeks without training posts is no longer acceptable.

I will no longer be running ads on this site.

In actuality, you are reading this post in mid-August while the ads came down in mid-June. I was only only running one set of syndicated ads, and as of right now I haven’t received any money from them. They were very subtle and low-key and apparently not very effective.

DogSpelledForward.com is, strictly speaking, a “corporate blog.” Dog Spelled Forward (me) offers dog training classes and private sessions. This is not a statement of purity. I offer training and if you live nearby I hope you’ll consider hiring me. I may at some point offer an e-book (or write a more traditional book,) offer DVDs, or some other product. I don’t know right now.

But online ads don’t seem to be worth the risk or the distraction. I can’t control the content of syndicated ads, and to be honest I am not comfortable with most of the training companies or pet product companies that buy syndicated ads. Selling my own ad space would be very demanding and time-consuming, and I don’t have enough readers for it to be worth it anyway.

I Will Be More Selective About Product Reviews

I’ve done some terribly off topic product reviews. Enough said about that.

If I do a product review there’s a good chance there will be an affiliate link or two. If I make enough money off them in 3 months to buy a package of poopy bags, I’ll be shocked.

I Will Be More Selective About Guest Posts

I’ve been pretty open to guest posts, and even ran three in one month if memory serves. Going forward guest posts will either be about training or be about a topic that I consider very important or relevant to dog owners. Period.

Those are my new policies. The fact that you visit here each week to read my posts means a lot to me, and I hope that sharing my thoughts on advertising and reviews helps you understand where I am coming from.

What are your thoughts on blogging and advertising?

Quite off-topic note: I’m taking next week off. There will be no post. Have a great Labor Day and see you after the break.

• Willie Under Water . . . Well, sort of. » TheOtherEndoftheLeash

• New York strengthens dog fighting laws | PetConnection.com

• Wylie’s Fight for Freedom: A War Dog’s Journey | Life With Dogs

• Guest Post! It’s About Time: Delving Into Animals’ Memories | The Thoughtful Animal, Scientific American Blog Network

• The great penguin rescue [video] | Science | guardian.co.uk

• Doctor Kicks Blind Man and His Service Dog Out of Clinic | Life With Dogs

• Shiba Inu Puppy vs. Mirror | Life With Dogs

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Short list this week! Enjoy!

• Not Faking Death . . . But What? » TheOtherEndoftheLeash

• Consumer Reports: Pet Insurance is Bad Investment | Life With Dogs

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

A few weeks ago I went on my first dog friendly vacation in over a decade. The difference between this recent trip and the trip to Hyannis years ago was the proverbial “night and day” in terms of how we and our dogs were treated.

What’s driving the trend from “pet tolerant” to “pet friendly?” One major factor is magazines and websites like Fido Friendly. Fido Friendly’s comprehensive ratings and coverage of truly dog friendly travel makes doing a better job of welcoming pets good business.

This week fellow Animal Cafe’r Edie Jarolim spoke to Fido Friendly’s Social Media and PR Director Carol Bryant. In addition to the PR and Marketing work Carol does for FF, she does a fair bit of travel with her beloved Dexter, a travel savvy Cocker Spaniel.

Carol spoke to Edie about her criteria when she is reviewing a place for the magazine, how the travel industry has changed the past few years, and about FF’s upcoming 50th issue. It’s a great talk. Have a listen!

I have posted about the importance of puppy socialization on this blog before. Puppies need to get off to a good start when it comes to learning about what is safe and fun.

Operation Socialization (OS) is a program dedicated to helping puppy parents get socialization right. I am an OS Certified Trainer and will be introducing the program to my first puppy class at K9dergarten in Jersey City this Saturday.

The keys to the program are a “Puppy Passport” that contains a complete socialization program, as well as local “Socialization Destinations” that are approved and listed by OS. I am working on putting together destinations in Jersey City right now. (If anyone knows of any, let me know in the comments!) Trainers are also provided with some great class material that I am looking forward to using in my next class. Founder and President Ariana Kincaid has put together an exceptional program, and it continues to grow.

I interviewed Ariana Kincaid for the Animal Cafe podcast this week. We discussed how and why she started Operation Socialization, some advice for trainers and puppy parents for dealing with skeptical vets, and OS’ Puppy of the Month contest. (Enter your puppy by emailing Ariana here.) We also talked about OS’ programs for trainers and owners and the excellent puppy socialization information her website.

My father instilled a love of the spoken word into me. When we were in the car chances were good that we were listening to tapes of old time radio and not music. I still listen to a lot of old time radio, and spent a lot of time and effort tracking down pirated copies of “CBS Radio Mystery Theater,” which my Dad and I listened together in the 70s, only to see it later released in a “legal” collection.

One fond memory is when my father went on a tear listening to various motivational tapes during a career change. One of the best speakers was Charlie “Tremendous” Jones. I still remember Jones’ talks and refer back to memories of them when the going gets tough. Charles Jones had an impact on my 10? 11? year-old mind.

So imagine my surprise when Charlie Jones’ daughter not only shows up on Animal Cafe, but with a motivational book told from the perspective of a dog! As George Constanza would say, Worlds are colliding!

Tracey Jones’ book True Blue Leadership: Top 10 Tricks from the Chief Motivational Hound provides us with tips and tricks for leadership and motivation, told from the perspective of Mr. Blue, her Australian Shepherd/Basset mix. I’ve embedded the book trailer here:

This isn’t a book on animal behavior, and don’t look for criticsm or validation of any particular theories on dog training. Do look for a book on leadership and motivation with an, ahem, excellent pedigree.

Dr. Lorie Huston’s interview with Tracey Jones covers some of Tracey’s biography, as well as how she met Mr. Blue and came to write a book from his perspective. You can find it here. Give it a listen!

The book BTW, is available as a downloadable PDF. Check it out here.

Minimizing shelter euthanasia is an idea everyone can get behind. While there is some (unnecessarily vitriolic) disagreement on strategy and tactics, I like to at least believe that we all have the same goal. (Seems hard to tell at times though, doesn’t it?)

Reducing the population of stray and/or “unwanted” cats and dogs via spay/neuter has had a lot of success, but there is still resistance. Spay/neuter are surgical procedures and they can be costly. Even in areas where very low cost procedures are available, there is resistance.

FoundAnimals would like to find an alternative, and they have put their money where their mouth is. The organization is offering $50 million in research grants and a $25 million award for someone who develops a single dose oral contraceptive for cats and dogs.

This week on Animal Cafe co-host Mary Haight spoke to FoundAnimals’ Executive Director Aimee Gilbreath about the grants, the research, and some recent developments (and otherwise) in the field. You can find the interview here.

Photo credit: andrewr

Kirrie helping out

This week on Animal Cafe I spoke to Dr. Risë Van Fleet, President of the Family Enhancement and Play Therapy Center. We discussed how play with dogs can be used to help children deal with behavioral and emotional problems. How does Dr. Van Fleet use targeting to help a child with fear of the dark? How can counter-surfing be useful? What kind of temperament works best for this kind of work? Dr. Van Fleet answers these questions while telling some very entertaining stories.

This is one of my favorite podcast interviews so far. Dr. Van Fleet is a wonderful guest, and this is an application of animal-assisted therapy that is truly fascinating. I can’t wait to chat with her in the cafe on Wednesday! Please join us at 9PM!

Dog food quality is a big concern for dedicated pet owners. Over the past decade we have seen a distinct rise in recalls, and it has become very apparent that the oversight and regulation from the government can be described as spotty, to be polite (and to be fair, they can barely handle the human food supply.) What are we to do?

This week on Animal Cafe, co-host Mary Haight spoke to Chef K9 Doggy Bistro and Bakery’s Craig Zeleznik, who is addressing the problem with custom-cooked meals and doggie treats from human-grade components. Craig has a unique perspective on the dog food industry, and this is very interesting podcast that foreshadows what will be a great chat on Wednesday.

Craig has experience both in nutrition and as a (human) chef, but decided to change directions and apply his knowledge and skills to dog food. He did his research and came up with a product and service that addresses not just a dog breed’s special requirements, but an individual dog’s needs too.

All of the components in Chef K-9′s dog food are not just “human-grade,” but they are also sampled and eaten by the Chef k-9 staff. They source their ingredients from U.S. suppliers (with the exception of the New Zealand lamb, of course) that supply many of the fine (not fast food!) restaurants you eat at yourself. There’s a chance this food is better than what you normally eat.

Chef K-9′s dog food diets are designed for different breeds, and then customized based on specific information about each dog. Clients are asked about their dog’s medical history, any health problems, weight, age, climate, and activity level and from there the diet is customized. Meals are delivered already portioned and, since they are made from real food, require refrigeration.

I hope you will join us for the chat on Wednesday night!

It’s that time of year. Gas prices are going up and vacation plans are going into action. Have you made plans? Are you planning on taking your pets? This week on Animal Cafe co-host Edie Jarolim, author of the Will My Dog Hate Me blog, hosts two guests that provide help for travelers with pets: Amy and Rod Burkert of Go Pet Friendly.

A few years ago Rod and Amy Burkert discovered how tough it was to find places to stay with their two dogs and decided to do something to help other travelers. Using that motivation they built a website and database of pet friendly travel locations. Now the Burkerts run their pet travel business and blog from the road; traveling around the U.S in their RV, accompanied by their 2 dogs. This makes their business about as authentic as you can get.

How do the Burkerts manage to travel with their dogs full time in the Go Pet Friendly RV? How do they get their mail? How do they live comfortably in such close quarters? How do they define pet friendly? Rod and Amy discuss the logistics and their reasons for adopting this lifestyle in their interview with Edie, as well as how they decide where to travel and the various challenges they encounter on the way.

This Wednesday Edie will be hosting Amy and Rod in the chat cafe at 9:00PM Eastern time. I hope you will join us!