Dog Community

The Flip Side - how do the boards enrich your life?

Posted : 3/17/2007 1:39:54 PM

I am all for a good clearing of the air and agree that grievances must sometimes be raised - it's a good thing if we all get something out of it.
However, it seems to me that what with the upheaval last week and the fallout from it, there has been an awful lot of negativity around here recently so I thought I'd counter that with something positive. I think one thing which we have all had reinforced this week is that there really are 2 sides to every story and it's important that both sides are shared.

So, what do the dog.com forums do for you? Why did you come here, and more importantly, why do you stay? None of us are posting here at gunpoint, and some of us spend quite a hefty chunk of time reading and replying to threads, so, why?

For me - on the dog side of things - although I have owned dogs before, getting Ben was a bit of a culture shock. I'd never had a puppy and he is the first dog in my life for whom I am completely responsible. I have learned more than I ever thought I could about care, training and nutrition from these boards. The vast majority of the time, that knowledge is imparted from the knowledgeable with care, courtesy and respect. It is obvious that most of the members here have the welfare of dogs first and foremost in their minds. Not just of their own dogs, either, but dogs in general. Having learned so much over the past several months, I am glad now to have a chance to pass on some of that to those people who were in the position I was in when I got Ben.

On the personal side of things, I have made some incredible friends here. One, at least, really will be a "friend for life". We're starting a business together (more on that later, folks) and many months ago she went from being a "net friend" to simply being one of my best friends who happens to live several thousand miles away. A few others are people I know I can count on to brighten my day, to give me helpful advice on many different aspects of my life, and are truly people I cherish and feel proud and lucky to have met. One day I hope to buy them each a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and have a really good laugh for a few hours.

Ben is a better dog for this forum, and I am most certainly a better owner than I would have been without it. Thanks to some of the people here, I am probably a better person than I would have been without it.

Kate

Xerxes

Posted : 3/17/2007 1:48:49 PM

Kate, to answer your post best would simply be to agree with you. [

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I have learned alot, gotten to know some people, been told some really good jokes, I've learned alot about the person below me, and I think I've made some friends. I've also gotten to learn alot about different doggie personalities, been exposed to several different training philosophies, several different viewpoints with respect to behaviorisms and perhaps I've been able to share a little of myself along the way.

lisa baker

Posted : 3/17/2007 1:54:01 PM

I come to meet other dog lovers... Brag on our dogs and their accomplishments and to encourage others.

I found great friends off from forums but the air was completely different than this board.

angelabarry

Posted : 3/17/2007 2:02:03 PM

What I have learned from the forum is immeasurable! From nutrition, to awareness of breeding practices, to health and training tips.....the list goes on and on.
I certainly have healthier, happier dogs as a direct result of this forum.
And I have a place to come when I need a quick answer!

the_gopher

Posted : 3/17/2007 2:07:19 PM

I came here as part of my research toward our *future* pup. I've worked with dogs, but sadly depsite going to high school for this knowledge, there were several gaps in my education. Chiefly nutrition and better methods of training. I was taught science diet was great food...I've since learned a heck of a lot from reading many of the threads here. Also, when I was taught dog training, I was taught traditional "jerk and pull" "show your dominance" and "rub their noses" in it method. I hated it, and b/c at the time I was working with a shih tzu with a trachea concern, it was out of the question for me. I have learned LOADS of valuable information here about other methods, particularly clicker training. I seriously cannot get a dog soon enough to put all this research and new knowledge into action (plus I have puppy fever heh).

Plus I simply wanted to connect with other dog lovers like myself, though I feel terribly akward here most of the time, b/c my SO and I are currently dogless.

Raja19

Posted : 3/17/2007 2:30:29 PM

I came here because I had just gotten Raja and I had NO idea what to do with her. She was like a wild dog. I learned so much from Nutrition to training, I can say I know I am a much better dog owner because of this forum.

Oh yes another reason I came here is because noone I know loves dogs like I do, other then my mom. And at 19 if you tell your friends how much you love your dog and tell them to not get a BYB dog and tell them to give Holistic food....they think you are crazy. And here everyone else feels the same way and they dont think I'm crazy at all!!

calliecritturs

Posted : 3/17/2007 2:34:35 PM

One of the reasons I started here almost 3 years ago was because despite the fact that I have lots of 'experience' this was a place where I could learn and get great input.

I'm not sure I could have handled Billy's IMHA crisis last spring/summer without my buddies here. The support they gave me was incredible -- yes, every day while Billy was in ICU up at U of FL vet school hospital I would cut posts for him into a document and FAX it up there and the students READ it to him -- it kept him encouraged. He knew all the 'names' and hearing HIS name said followed by "Glenda says" or "Willow's Mom says" or "Tonka's Mom says" ... it HELPED and I know it helped him survive!

Beyond that ... I used to be a major TV addict (I was one of those folks who could literally quote TV guide from Sunday a.m. to Saturday p.m.!!), and I came to a point in my life where I just plain walked away from it. We have a tv but don't watch it. I find more good things in life instead by spending time helping folks and their dogs online. So ... in essence I use it.

I have to be very careful to balance my time and my life, but what time I spend on here is precious. I love helping folks, but I love learning too. It's a good place.

Enriched my life? You bet.

Cita

Posted : 3/17/2007 2:49:38 PM

I think the most valuable things I've learned here have been about nutrition and vaccinations. Before coming to this forum I really had no idea that vets weren't typically the best to ask about more "holistic" approaches, and it can be hard to find trustworthy information on the internet about such important issues. I never in a million years would have thought to ask for titers instead of renewal vaccs, for example! I've also learned a lot about how to train puppies, something which I have never done and probably will never do (SO much work!), but maybe some day I'll be able to use my knowledge to help someone else.

Plus I really enjoy hearing about people and their dogs and what they're doing together. Whether it's "rehab" from behavioral issues or working dogs or showing... there's definitely a very wide variety of pet enjoyers on this forum, and I love hearing about all the different ways you guys and your dogs keep each other happy! It's great to have a place to go where you can say, "Hey, I finally captured that really cool behavior!" and people will not only know what you're talking about, but will also (at least pretend to) care.

BEVOLASVEGAS

Posted : 3/17/2007 3:04:00 PM

I lurked for over a year before I became a member. I realized during my lurking days that lots of the people here know their stuff. I used lots of advice from behavior & training threads to help turn Bevo from a fear biting monster into the very pleasant, easygoing monster that he is today.

Currently, I have had some upheaval in my personal life & while I have friends here at home to lean on, I have come to find that I also have friends here on this forum that are more than willing to offer advice or a sympathetic ear for me. I can honestly say that I didn't come here looking for friends, but I am sure glad that I have them.

mollymoo

Posted : 3/17/2007 3:08:01 PM

I found this forum when I was searching many web sites trying to find answers when my dog Fluffy was so sick and the vet didn`t know what was wrong with her. I did not join the forum at that time. After Fluffy pass on and when we got Molly as a puppy latter. I remembered the fourm found it again and joined. Molly was eating Diamond dog food when we got her. We switched to Purina Beneful. We didn`t know anything about nutrition as you can see. Joined when Molly was about 3 months old. She now eats Timberwolf. She was spayed before her first heat cycle which without this forum she may not have been.

What I`m trying to say is I have learned so much good stuff on this forum and Mollys life is so much happier and healthier because of it.

kpwlee

Posted : 3/17/2007 3:48:41 PM

not too disimilar - Bugsy is my first dog as an adult (full responsibility) and he's a doosy [

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Seriously, having a puppy was all new and having one that was/is nuts, very large, so very high energy, super bright, crazy prey drive, etc and turned out to have significant allergies contributing to his overall nuttiness I have learned TONS from here. And you do have to sift through the information and make informed decisions just as you do retrieving any information from the net. And you must know your dog!
Bugsy is happier, healthier, & better trained because of this forum.
Additionally it is a wonderful place to share stories (good and bad) and photos with fellow dog lovers

Oh and I've been so busy this week I've missed whatever's been going on!

marynh

Posted : 3/17/2007 6:01:20 PM

I got Molly, via Glenda, through the board.
And the final 2 years of my Sadie dawg's life were probably a result of help from this board. I got so much info here...and all of it extremely knowledgeable and helpful

ron2

Posted : 3/17/2007 6:59:43 PM

I never had my own dog for very long ( a short time, twice) and had been around my grandparents dogs. Then I got Shadow and he is mine. He is Daddy's dog. Jade has turned out to be Mommy's cat. Sure, there equal attention from both to both. But Shadow only eats a full portion of food in my presence.

Anyway, thanks to this forum, I know more about dog nutrition than nearly anyone I have known that have always had dogs all of their lives. I certainly know more about nutrition than the dog food reps I have encountered. Scary, isn't it?

I have a cornucopia of dog training and behavior info, right here. And have fully taken advantage of that.

And there are some stellar people here. Glenda, the petite "old broad" from Michigan with cajones the size of Texas. She has more guts in her pinkie finger than a lot guys have in their whole body. She's been in similar situations as my mother was and that, forum members, is a tough road. Though Glenda raised her kids a bit different than my mother raised us, the results are nearly the same, I think.

Spiritdogs, who stands by her values, regardless of what someone has to say, and backs down from nothing. Science has yet to determine the tensile strength value of her will.

Lori for offering her experiences with Willow, a dog that defies easy solutions and pat answers.

Snownose for sharing my passion for my favorite breed, Siberan Huskies.

Gina, for being an outspoken Texas gal and having a sense of humor like mine.

Billy, for getting away with things I never could.

And just every danged body for accepting me and Shadow, technically a mutt.

I used to go to sled dog central and got breed snobbery from owners of Alaskan Huskies, which isn't a breed but a type of dog. Go figure.

And thanks to Angel Forepaws for liking my hair.[

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Oh yeah, and thanks to Jean for the Calendar.

And if I didn't mention your name here, I meant you, too.

ottoluv

Posted : 3/17/2007 8:05:13 PM

I think belonging to a forum like this gives you the great, rare opportunity to meet people of all different walks of life, different ages, different fields and share info

In a way you get to peer into the lives of people in fields and situations that you are interested in but may not get to be a part of. It's nice to learn a bout the vet side of medicine/nutrition with misskiwi and papillon 806, anne (spiritdogs) always has something interesting to say and has given me even greater respect for the field of animal behavior, I think Gina rocks as well. Jesses mom always has a kind word and advice over on the health board, she always seems to make the OP feel better. I'm always interested in the "dark" side of alternative medicine as I live in the traditional side myself so calliecritturs' posts always teach me something new. I'm sure I'll think of more but my mom just announced the corned beef and cabbage is done!!! Thanks to all who have made this a nice place for me to "hang out"!!!
Kelly

glenmar

Posted : 3/17/2007 8:15:09 PM

(blushing) Ron, ya gotta STOP telling folks what I'm packing under my skirt! Yikes!!

I came here three years ago I think. It became home. There were some wonderful folks who taught me about sooooo many things...vaccines, nutrition, you name it, I learned it here. Many are gone now, but they've left behind a legacy of learning more for me.

Why do I stay? Lordie, some days I just don't KNOW! But then there are days that I so need to connect with my "friends" here and so need their support, and they always come through for me. Ya'll have prayed me though some horrible times in the past year and I know I can always, always count on this forum for that.