Why are you here?

    • Gold Top Dog

    Why are you here?

    Jackie made a valid point about us old timers not starting new threads, and Tina started the idea by mentioning some things she likes about our community, so I thought maybe it would be nice to talk about the things that matter to us.

    Yep, the new format is a PITA, yep, at least I, have a hard time navigating, yep, it can be very slow, but, I'm still here. Despite the stuff I don't like, there is plenty here, about the people and the community, that I do like.

    As a group, we've shared an awful lot over the years. We've had marriage and divorces, births (one in a bathtub if I recall) and deaths, severe illness or conditions. We've prayed or sent good vibes for family members, dogs, cats and heaven knows who or what else. This forum helped to pray my Mom from "you need to consider signing a DNR" to released to assisted living and still going strong 9 years later. This forum was the ONLY place I could go where I didn't have to be strong for anyone else, when we were all devastated by the death of our son Michael. I truly don't know how I would have gotten through the nightmare of his death without the love and support of the people here.

    Here is where we can find companionship, education, entertainment and support when we need it. Sometimes we get cranky or short with one another, but overall, we are there for each other.

    So, share. Why are you here?
    • Gold Top Dog

    I came to learn better ways to feed, train, and take care of dogs in general. I stayed for the fellowship. Nobody talks dogs like dog people.

    • Gold Top Dog

    I came when I got a dog who had hip dysplasia and separation anxiety.  I was trying to figure out what to do.  I ended up finding so much info on a variety of dog topics and learned SO much.  In the process I made some pretty awesome friends.

    Most of the time I don't contribute b/c I don't feel like I have much to add.  I feel like others know so much more and I don't want to give wrong/bad info, and sometimes I just don't know.  

    When I take the time to do it, I like sharing pictures of the kids and dogs with the friends I have here, who aren't on FB.  

    I like seeing what's going on with the people I have come to consider friends, and their dogs who I have also developed a virtual bond with.

    • Gold Top Dog

    I stumbled on this forum by accident back in 2007 or 08. I was looking for a retriever forum. :)  Discovered some good trainers here who were wonderful about sharing information and resources. Sometimes it was just nice to know that other people had dogs that weren't perfect. lol    

    These days I come here to see what my old friends are up to. I also like to offer advice and help to people with dog problems if I can.

    • Gold Top Dog

    Steph, I think that sometimes when you don't know the answer for sure, just posting what you THINK can help others formulate their own thoughts.  

    That brings up a good point Jackie.  I stumbled across this forum back in 2002 or 3.  That was wayyyyy back in the days when it was pretty much a free for all train wreck and owned by an individual.  I don't know if dog.com bought from him or from another owner in between.  All of us old timers have seen a lot of changes, that's for sure.

    • Gold Top Dog

    I stumbled across the original iDog forum back in early 2005.  I had never participated in a forum before, but this one popped up when I was hunting online for information.  Our dog had been battling chronic anal gland infections for months, and removal surgery was looking like the only solution.  He was a 9-year old Bullmastiff who'd never had surgery, and he was our baby.  I was at a loss what to do.

    I lurked for a while, reading what I could find in the older threads (the search feature back then was good -- and the forum was so incredibly active that you could find LOTS of info just by reading old posts).  I eventually posted a question about the surgery, got very helpful replies, and then lots of support during Tonka's recovery. His health rapidly declined later that year, and when we lost him in 2006, this was truly the only place I could feel comfortable expressing the profound depth of my grief -- for as long as I needed to.  The support I received here is something I will never forget.  The kindness of everyone was what kept me here, even though it would be 5+ years before we got another dog.

    During those 5 years, I learned a great deal about dog care, health, training, diet, etc.  Even topics that weren't specifically relevant to my life at the time were educational.  But along the way, things became more personal, and despite only having met one forum member "in real life" since 2005, I feel I've made some good friends here.  Being fellow dog people definitely is the foundation of the enjoyment, but it's more than that.

    And while I truly miss the variety of people who used to be here (there were threads that were as entertaining as stand up comic shows, I swear!), I stick around because I don't use Facebook and would like to keep up to date with how the remaining "iDoggers" and their human and pet families are doing.  So, the members who are still hanging in there will keep me doing my best to navigate what has become a complicated format.

    • Gold Top Dog

    You have taken me through the good times and deaths of two dogs, always there for me. I now have Ava who is 3 now, I've been here it seems like forever and sure do miss the old format. Was so easy,  The only thing I really read now is this chat, I come every morning to check it, now much here anymore though which is very sad, hope to see more of you soon.

    • Gold Top Dog

    Why am I here?

    Well, I'd like to give a shout out to the idiot admins who claimed this new system was going to make things better!  Puuf puff pass please cause whatever you have has got to be some good SH*t!!!  Really, do you not read the posts and realize that hardly anyone comes here anymore?  

    That being said...SWITCH THINGS BACK TO THE OLD FORMAT AND STOP BEING AN OBSTINATE LITTLE ....

    I loved coming to this forum at one point!

    • Silver

    wow, that last comment was pretty, hmmm...intense..  um, I like coming here to chat with nice people and get good info. They have alot of cute pictures and videos and everyone is very helpful.  

    • Gold Top Dog

    I'm here, very randomly these days to pick on Glenmar!! LOL!

    I'm not going to make multiple posts about your issues/complaints but will post in the  other thread addressing your complaints/concerns.

    The real reason I am on the forum when I have a few spare moments is to share my knowledge, experience and passion for dog...as well as post about my own dogs and happenings. This is a fantastic community filled with lots of folks with great knowledge and experience as well as folks coming to learn from us.

    enjoy!

    • Moderators
    • Gold Top Dog

    There is so much I want to say all of this makes me so sad. My intention, our intentions as admins and moderators is to bring light to a community that loves dogs! Hoping that past members and new members will participate in our discussions, post fun pics of their dogs and create a fun and informative place to go for dog people. I have done rescue now for over 15 years and having a place to go for advice and support is huge. I still have hope that we can make this forum something great if we all work together, learn and grow, we can all make new friends here. I've learned over the years and have seen it first hand. You can have all different interests and lifestyles but we all love dogs. We try to put fun posts as well as advice. All of us have so much to offer, one piece of advice we give to someone who needs help may save a dog one day or give someone a shoulder when they are down or having a bad day. Dogs can bring people together. through rescue I have met so many different people and my friend circle has grown so much, because of these wonderful creatures. Please let's try to work together and make this a forum for everyone. I know it's not easy all the time but if we can productively discuss issues we can make this work. Change can be annoying sometimes, but we can learn and grow together. Sorry for the long post I just want to make things good and have us all get along and help dogs. That is what the community is all about those 4 legged fur balls we love so much.

    • Gold Top Dog

    I'm here, very randomly these days to pick on Glenmar!! LOL!

    I KNEW it!  

    • Gold Top Dog

    haha ....old timers!!!

    I'm here to pick on whoever needs to be picked on!  Any takers???

    • Gold Top Dog

    @glenmar

    I'm here, very randomly these days to pick on Glenmar!! LOL!

    I KNEW it!

    I knew you would enjoy that!  You miss me putting you in a time out and giving you a smack on the hands every now and then.... I know you do!