It’s that time again! Time for the 6th Annual Pet Blogger Challenge hosted by Go Pet Friendly. It falls at a perfect time (right in the beginning of a new year) and it’s a great opportunity to take stock of your blog, share thoughts and ideas and get input from your readers and fellow bloggers.

If you’re just hearing about it now don’t sweat it, you can grab the questions over at the Go Pet Friendly blog and the hop is open through Monday the 11th.

Let’s get to it shall we?

1. How long have you been blogging? And, for anyone who is visiting for the first time, please give a quick description of the subject of your blog.

December 1, 2015 I celebrated my 5th year of blogging. Originally my blog started out on the free WordPress and was jodistone.wordpress.com but when I decided to self host, Jodi Stone was taken. So I struggled to come up with a unique and original title that might draw in readers. One day I saw a saying about how much nicer the world would be if everyone had a heart like a dog.  I ran with it.

My tag line is “The Good, the Bad and the Oh My God of Life with Dogs.” Mostly I just share personal stories about my dogs, our achievements and challenges. I try to always find the humor in my situation because I’d like people who are struggling with training challenges (or challenging dogs) to feel like they aren’t alone. That they can have a dog that challenges them, and still keep their dog.

2. What is the one thing that you accomplished during 2015, either on your blog or because of it, that made you most proud?

I was pretty pleased to actually have two posts that I was paid for. I’ve been paid in product before, (which is awesome) but you know the green is what puts food on the table and keeps the lights on. 

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

This was a hard one for me. I really love writing humor, but being funny all the time is hard and it’s sometimes hard to find the humor in every situation, but I did find this one, The Sky Is Falling, which I thought was pretty funny and which I enjoyed writing. THEN AGAIN, The One, was a post I wrote for Sampson’s birthday, it was sweet and loving and I thought it came out really good and pretty much expressed how much this dog touches my soul.

4. A common theme from last year’s challenge was that many of us wanted to increase the size of our audiences. Whether or not we intend to monetize our blogs, it seems we’d all like to reach more people. It feels good to know that we’re connecting with others, sharing a laugh or supporting a cause, and it’s motivating to see those numbers grow! What is one thing you’ve done in the past year that has brought more traffic to your blog?

Truthfully? I don’t know that I HAVE brought more traffic to my blog. (I’m so not good at reading and analyzing those statistics etc..) I do try and have variety in my posting. And I try and limit my product reviews to unique and new products, and I only promote products that I use myself.

If I had to choose one thing, it would probably be that I’m trying to get better at being active on my Facebook page.

5. Which of your blog posts got the most traffic this year? Why do you think it was so popular? (Please include a link.)

According to the Jetpack stats, Happy Birthday My Love still gets the most traffic. I’m not sure how accurate that is, but that’s what they tell me.

We’re Trick Training So You Can Win Treats, was the one that was written this year, that got the most traffic. That was a really fun post because I made a video to go along with it and I personally loved the video.

6. What is one blog that you read religiously – other than your own – and what makes you such a devoted reader? (Please include a link.)

Honestly, I’ve really been struggling trying to keep up with all the blogs that are out there and I don’t get to read them as religiously I’d like to.

However, if you’re looking for a good read, I’d suggest Life at Golden Pines. Kim shares her home with senior dogs (mostly Goldens) she has her own, and she fosters as well for her local rescue. Her writing is beautiful and she really inspires me.

7. What resources do you rely on to enhance your technical, writing, photography, social media, or other skills that improve your blog?

You’ve read this blog right? I don’t do shit. The technical stuff is over my head. Mostly when I have a technical issue I ask my more knowledgeable friends.

Writing? My writing hasn’t improved. I start sentences with And.  AND I use siriusly instead of seriously.

Photography? Take a look at my photos, I use a little point and shoot and it shows, almost all of my photos are on the fly. There’s no real skill in there. 

8. What is the best piece of advice you can offer other bloggers?

Be yourself. I think some of the best compliments I’ve gotten are the ones that say, “Your blog is like sitting down with a friend and a cup of coffee and catching up, or your blog is just like talking to you in real life.”  I think if you’re honest and authentic it shows and it will draw others to you.

9. What is your vision for your blog in 2016? Do you have specific goals?

Today. Right now. It’s to keep blogging. I waffle back and forth with this.

This blog is like a drug to me. I loathe it at times but yet I can’t stop myself being drawn to it and putting more of my heart and soul into it. I’ve put so much into it, I don’t want to give it up yet there are times when I feel so discouraged with it and my inability to make it what I want it to be.

10. You have the attention of the pet blogging community – is there one blogging challenge you’d like help with, or one aspect of your blog that you’d like input on?

I notice that very few of my posts get shared on Facebook. Is there something I can do to make my posts more shareable? And of course…how do I increase my readership? ;-D

That’s it; another Pet Blogger Challenge in the bag. If you have a few minutes grab the questions and link up. I promise you’ll get some great reads and some great advice.

Many, many thanks to Amy at Go Pet Friendly for creating and hosting this amazing hop.

Welcome to the 5th Annual Pet Blogger Challenge hosted by Go Pet Friendly.

This is my third or fourth year participating in this challenge.  Seriously I could look it up, but right now I’m too lazy, so let’s just say three and jump into the questions, okay?

1. How long have you been blogging? And, for anyone stopping by for the first time, please give us a quick description of what your blog is about.

I celebrated (with no fanfare mind you) my fourth blogaversary (really, how do you spell that?) on December 1, 2014.  Heart Like a Dog is a personal blog where I write (mostly) about life with my two lovable labs, Sampson and Delilah.  At times there is drama and sadness but I do try and infuse my crazy sense of humor when sharing some of the (let’s call a spade a spade) bizarre outrageous insane situations I find myself in with these two nutty dogs.

2. Tell us one thing that you accomplished on your blog during 2014 that made you proud.

In September the Caring for Critters Round Robin took place.  Forty two bloggers participated with over fifty posts!  Those posts are all linked on the Community Page of this blog.  I’m so proud at what we accomplished together and while I’m sad when someone needs to use it, I’m so grateful the page is there for those looking for some support.

3. What lessons have you learned this year – from other blogs, or through your own experience – that could help us all with our own blogs?

Have I learned any lessons?  (Honestly, I’m quite dense sometimes.)  Can I read everyone else’s response before I answer this?

4. What have you found to be the most successful way to bring traffic to your blog, other than by writing great content?

Shit!  This is a lot harder than I remember.  Truthfully when I stopped expecting this blog to make money, I stopped worrying about the traffic.  BUT I have discovered that you have to expose your blog to many different venues.  What I mean is, don’t be afraid to try new things.  Join a different blog hop, add your voice to a Round Robin.  Also, if you have a feature on your blog you’re not loving anymore, let it go.  If your heart is in what you are doing, it will show, and it will bring traffic to your blog.  

Reach out to other bloggers and bounce ideas off them.  See if you can combine your creativity.

5. What was your most popular blog post this year? Did it surprise you that it was your most popular?

My most popular post was Five Pills in One Gulp.  Don’t ask me why it was popular, maybe a lot of my readers give multiple pills to their dogs?  And yes, it did surprise me.  I have some damn funny posts and that one was serious!

6. What was your favorite blog post to write this year?

I like writing the funny posts and to me, nothing is funnier than poop, so I’d have to say, “The Grimm Business of Poopies.”

7. Has your policy on product reviews and/or giveaways changed this year?

My policy on product reviews has not changed.  I really feel like I should be paid for sharing a product with my readers, HOWEVER if I really love the product or the incentive is great I will do a  review.  This past year I think I had four reviews, which is a lot for me.

If you do reviews, what do you find works best, and what doesn’t work at all?

If I’m not getting paid to do a review, I do like to be able to offer something to my readers in the way of a giveaway.

If you don’t do reviews, is this something you’d like to do more of? What hurdle is getting in your way?

8. What’s your best piece of advice for other bloggers?

Stay true to yourself and if you aren’t loving what you are doing, don’t be afraid to try something new.

9. What goals do you have for your blog in 2015?

Ideally it would grow, really, really big.  So big I’d be making mad money and I could stay home and spend time with the pups.  Baring the blog exploding, I think it would have to be continue to develop and grow my readership.

10. If you could ask the pet blogging community for help with one challenge you’re having with your blog, what would it be?

How do I get my blog to grow really, really big? 🙂