New Year’s Eve and the Gifts are Still Pouring In

I know I was supposed to get all the thankfulness out of my system back in November. But as we come to the end of another calendar year, I’m overflowing with gratitude. I feel so privileged to hang out with such an amazing group of animal lovers.

You truly are S’Waggers. And you’ve won my heart.

What else am I grateful for?

Pet Blogger’s Gift Exchange

Two years ago I wanted to share my affection for other pet bloggers in a way that didn’t involve flour on my arms up to the pits, paying hundreds of dollars in postage, or setting foot in a mall. Instead, the Pet Blogger’s Gift Exchange is about sharing compliments, encouragement, and link love with fellow bloggers. 

This year, I am lucky to have the wonderful Pup Fan of I Still Want More Puppies (and really, who doesn’t?) as my co-host. She’s done an awesome job floating across blogville like a magical puppy fairy sprinkling everyone’s “gifts” to each other with compliments of her own. She’s also been randomly paired with a pet blogger herself, appropriately named The Puppy Tails.

Find all the gifts that have been exchanged so far here. The linky tool will remain open until January 4. So if you’ve been matched with a blogger and haven’t yet shared the love, please get busy.

I’m also pleased to announce that one random pet blogger in the gift exchange won our giveaway of an authentic Kuna Yala mola (this is a fabulous description of how molas are made). The design is a pair of dogs and we bought it from the artisan who paddled her dugout canoe to the boat we were staying on in Panama this September. The lucky new owner of this unique, handcrafted panel is Ms. Taleteller of Tales and Tails.

Congratulations! Your mola will be coming in the mail soon. And I’m so thankful you joined the Pet Blogger’s Gift Exchange.

Train the Dog Month Challenge

The Association of Pet Dog Trainers celebrates January as Train Your Dog Month. And here at Something Wagging we do too.

This is our third year encouraging everyone to grow their relationships with their dogs (and cats and guinea pigs and birds) by working on a training goal over the month. The training goal can be as simple as playing with your dog’s feet every day to make him more comfortable with nail clipping to a complicated plan to make an eager dog and recalcitrant cat to do a trick together (now that’s just insanity).

Although I’m terribly late in getting things organized (but since this is supposed to be a low-stress event I’m going to forgive myself), I’m lucky to have two awesome co-hosts joining the fun: our human co-host, Kristine of Rescued Insanity and our canine co-host Alfie of Alfie’s Blog.

At the end of the month, I’ll set up a linky tool so you can write about your challenge and share it with everyone else.

Start thinking about what you want to do with your dog (or other pet) and join the fun. And yes, it will be fun. This is a no guilt challenge.

I’m grateful to know so many of you who will be taking advantage of this challenge to make your relationship with your dog even better.

The Year at Something Wagging

It’s been a good year. You S’Waggers are the best. I learn more by reading your comments and visiting the blogs of those of you of you who also write than I ever have reading a dog guide by a professional. Your love and curiosity and willingness to learn new things shines through in every encounter I have with you.

Thank you for humoring my silly meanderings. And for encouraging and supporting me through nearly 4 years of wagging.

Happy New Year! May it bring you every blessing.