Many thanks to our friend Amy, at the Go Pet Friendly Blog, for hosting this annual challenge. I think this is the 4th or 5th year we’ve participated. Not sure what it’s about? It’s sort of an evaluation of your blog, a sharing of dreams, and the opportunity to ask your fellow bloggers for advice.

So let’s get to it!

1) When did you start your blog and, for anyone who is just seeing it for first time, please provide a description of your site. Would you say your blog focuses more on sharing stories with your readers, or providing a resource for your audience?

I started this blog December 1, 2010. Initially, I had no idea what I was blogging about, but within a couple of months, I’d settled on my dogs. Mostly I share stories about the dogs. The trials and tribulations, the good and the bad, and I try like hell to find the humor in whatever it is I’m writing about.

2) What was your proudest blogging moment of 2016?

2016 wasn’t the best year for me, but I did agree to co-host the Pet Blogger Showcase. I can’t say I’m a great host, but it does make me accountable, and keeps me blogging and visiting other blogs

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

I love Urine Luck. It was funny (IMO), informative and I think I SEO’d the shit out of it. I think they (the people that say such things) call it Evergreen Content.

4) Year after year, one goal that we all seem to share is that we want to reach more people. What one tool did you use or action did you take this year that had the most impact on increasing traffic to your blog?

When I was actually working on the blog, I tried to be more interactive on my Facebook page. Honestly, I can’t keep up with the Social Media, and I think that was one (of many) reasons, that I struggled so much this year. I decided to focus on just one medium and it seemed to work.

5) Which of your blog posts got the most traffic this year? (Please include a link.) Have you noticed any themes across your most popular posts?

You know…I suck at the stat thing, but when I check the one that STILL gets the most traffic is one I wrote to Sampson on his 8th Birthday. “Happy Birthday My Love.” The post I wrote this year that got the most traffic was the Trick or Treat Giveaway Hop.

6) What blog do you find most inspirational and how has it influenced your blog? (Please include a link.)

I don’t visit nearly as much as I used to, but I love Life at Golden Pines. Kim and her husband Carl foster Golden Retrievers. Most of Kim’s fosters are older dogs, who through no fault of their own, find themselves looking for a home. Kim and Carl provide a safe place until a forever home is found, and sometimes…well sometimes they find that Golden Pines is their home.

Kim and her blog inspire me to be a better person, and to try and write my blog with as much love as she shows in her writing.

I’m also a big FAN of My GBGV Life. She posts five times a week, runs Nosework trials, has amazing photos, and just added a third GBGV to the pack. Oh, and did I mention, she works too? Honestly, I’d like to know how she does it all, or maybe she has a Time Turner, or doesn’t sleep. I’m not sure. All I know is she inspires me to try harder.

7) What is one thing your readers don’t know about you or your pets that would surprise them?

Guys, I pretty much lay it all out there. If there’s something you don’t know, odds are I don’t know it either. 🙂

8) What is something you’ve learned this year that could help other bloggers?

Self-care is important. If you aren’t enjoying your blog or blogging, it’s okay to take a break.

9) What would you like to accomplish on your blog in 2017?

I honestly have no idea. I think I’d really like to figure out if I want to keep this blog going, or if it’s time to let it go.

10) Now it’s your turn! You have the attention of the pet blogging community – is there a question you’d like answered, or an aspect of your blog that you’d like input on?

Literally, I’m lost. I can’t seem to find the energy to blog lately. Don’t get me wrong, stuff is still happening. Sampson’s still struggling with his CCL tear, and he’s had Dr. visits. We’ve had DADO encounters, I mean life is still happening here.

The trouble is, I can formulate the posts in my head, but when I sit down to write, I just can’t. So what do you do for that? Is there a way to get past the block? How long does it go on before you just pull the plug? Those are questions I’d like answers to.

Welcome to the 7th Annual Pet Blogger Challenge.