My 7 Links

Thanks to Dawn, who writes afFurmation, for nominating me on this!

The purpose of the 7 links is:

THE GOALTo unite bloggers (from all sectors) in a joint endeavor to share lessons learned and create a bank of long but not forgotten blog posts that deserve to see the light of day again.
THE RULES1)     Blogger is nominated to take part
2)     Blogger publishes his/her 7 links on his/her blog – 1 link for each category.

I feel excited and honored to have been nominated for this; I only just started my blog in April, and there are many older blogs out there that, perhaps, haven't gotten this kind of nomination. It's been a short road, and can feel like a long one!

My most beautiful post:  Perhaps not my most poetic, nor the one containing the absolute best picture of Elka ever, but I have a fondness for The Walk Before the Storm.  The pictures in it are nice, I think, and there is at least one very good one of Elka, besides including some of the creek frolicking which she holds so dear.

My most popular post:  According to Blogger's stats, my most popular post is Special Needs Dobermans, and a specific Doberman in need (Whisper!).  I showcased the organization, Special Needs Dobermans, which helps fund Dobermans in need of medical care, and also funds the foster/ownership of senior Dobermans.  I also happened to post it around the time Whisper, a dog owned by a member on DobermanTalk, was involved in a hit and run by an SUV and was in need of help. Thankfully, Whisper is making a pretty good recovery, and has an orthotic now so that she can get herself around and build her muscles back up.

My most controversial post: This was a hard one, because I haven't had any "good" arguments in comments, or any trollers, or anything. So, I think Dog Fighting, Crime or Culture? is probably my most controversial post, and it might in fact be telling that I got only one reply.  A lot of people don't think there's anything wrong with dog fighting. A lot of people are absolutely horrified by it (and, well, it is a felony).  So, it's a post on a very controversial topic, anyway.

My most helpful post:  10 Things You Might Be Doing Wrong Walking Your Dog is, I think, my most helpful.  It got good reception when I re-linked it on Twitter, and it includes a lot of points that I feel are good ones.  It includes a lot of mistakes that I, in fact, see people making every day.

A post whose success surprised me:  Breed Prejudices: They Always Surprise Me.  Not a whole lot of comments, again, but this is my post that's gotten the second greatest amount of hits.  I guess breed prejudices surprise other people, too!  Much like how people are surprised to learn that there are still kill shelters, they're also surprised to learn about Breed Specific Legislation in places like Denver, Ohio, and Ontario.

A post that didn't get the attention I feel it deserved: Fear Itself .  I think that learning and paying attention to your dog's body language is very important. So many people, when walking their dogs, seem to mistake pulling and lunging and growling for protective behavior, or for "plucky" behavior (if it's a little dog versus, say, my Doberman), and I can typically see that dog is very fearful, and I wish the owner was able to pick up on it.

The post that I'm the most proud of: Where Do Puppies Come From?  I feel that puppy mills and backyard breeding (i.e., only having a few dogs, but clearly breeding them without regard for health and temperament, and for the only money) are a big problem that your average person doesn't know about. Nobody thinks about, or seems to want to, about where those dogs in the pet stores come from.

Now it's my turn (and Elka's!) to nominate 5 other blogs to do what I just did!

1. Emily, at Doodling Dogs

2. Katherine, at Life with Arie

3. Bailey be Good!

4. Crystal, at The Reactive Champion

5. Kim, at CindyLu'sMuse

Thanks again to Dawn! Whew, that was tough!