 Life with Dogs by Neil BroganNeil’s mission is to fetch the most interesting dog news and videos for readers. In addition, Neil enjoys creating goofy cartoons and dog photos, and starting thought provoking debates on their active fan page. Neil and his wife reside in Northern Vermont. Life with Dogs is a 2010 Pettie Awards nominee for Best Pet Blog. |
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| 1. Who are your pets, and what have they taught you? |
| Our current pets are Sola, a yellow lab (6), Truffles, a chocolate lab (4), and of course Nigel, our nine year old greyhound. We also have a cat. When I remember his name I’ll get back to it.
I could write volumes, but let’s try the short version. Sola taught me that I need to factor 4-7k for furniture replacement with any future Lab puppy acquisitions (we have zero planned). She also taught me unfailing loyalty. The dog lives and breathes me, and I only hope I make her half as happy as she makes me. Truffles (Fudge Pants) has taught me the importance of pet insurance. She’s sporting a 15K+ leg and I see my shattered early retirement dreams every time she waves it in front of me. She also taught me the importance of a positive attitude. She has remained the most happy dog I’ve ever seen in the face of tremendous adversity. She’s infectious. Nigel taught me that when your dog punches you in the crotch it’s nothing personal. That dog has had me singing falsetto so many evening as I’ve returned from work. My spine now boasts a permanent curvature. He’s also restored my faith in humanity by introducing me to tens of thousands of extraordinary dog lovers. |
| 2. What inspired you to start blogging, and when did you start? |
| Great timing. I just wrote a brief piece that touches on that. I started in 2004 or 2005 and dropped it after not really keeping up with it. Things actually picked up in january of 2009 when I started blogging again. I needed a creative outlet, and wanted a lasting legacy for these wonderful animals. |
| 3. What tips would you give new pet bloggers to help them start out on a path to success? |
| Patience. Unless your content is the most amazing, compelling or potentially viral around your chances of growing quickly are slim. With that in mind, stick to golden rule: focus on content! You can have a million fans and a mountain of subscribers, but if you bore them they will fade away. Great content builds loyalty. |
| 4. What pet topic are you most passionate about and why? |
| Most. Sorry, but I’m tough to pin down. it depends on my mood and what I’ve had enough of at the time. One day I want to feel all warm and fuzzy, and some days I want to stir up controversy and discussion – so legislation can always be interesting. In the end adoption always stays at the top of the list. There will always be too many dogs who need homes. |
| 5. What advice do you have for new pet owners? |
| I’m not really the right person to ask from a technical standpoint. I have no qualifications that apply. That said, I will tell you what experience has taught me. Of course, be patient. Your new pet has no idea what your expectations are. Now fix that by starting training early. Be consistent and fair. Above all, love with abandon. |
