All my Elka stories are new again (plus a new one)

I make the joke, somewhat seriously, that I started this blog to give the people around me a break from dog things.

I can talk about different dog topics, from breeds to training to health, longer than most people I know. It's one reason the Internet is such a great place. There's a message board for that. Or Twitter or Facebook, or another blog. I've spent a lot of time on Doberman Talk, and learned quite a lot. Learned enough that I'm able to give some of that knowledge back when new members come aboard.

When trying to educate on dog message boards (warning, .gif post)

We've had a spate of new (and some not so new) users on Doberman Talk who have bought their puppies from less than reputable breeders and are being very public about how it was their choice, they're going to love their dogs anyway, we're all meany butts, etc. etc.

Okay. Fair point, it is their choice. And at least one of them is a troll, more likely than not. It doesn't take a lot of Doberman Talk browsing to learn what the hot buttons are: taking a puppy home too soon, bringing a male puppy into a house where there are other males, ear crop issues when a natural eared puppy was purchased from a backyard breeder and the new owner is searching for or has found a less than optimal cropping vet.

I'm not the most knowledgeable of members on Doberman Talk. There are many people there who have been in Dobermans for longer than I've been alive. There are people there who have been picking up the pieces from bad breeders for years and years, working with rescues, getting puppies shoved at them, almost anything you can imagine.

Made by Meadowcat: Custom Doggie Fleeces

As you know, gentle readers, we do occasionally put clothes on Elka, but only for necessity. She has a hoodie, and a fleece vest, for those occasions when it's super cold, super windy, and her teeth are chattering. Or, sometimes she asks for the hoodie, though she doesn't really have a separate word for that yet. But I digress.

One of the mods on DobermanTalk, Meadowcat, has taken to making fleeces for dogs. It started out just for her own dogs, as so many of these things do, but she's expanded into a small business and is working on getting an Etsy store up. You can visit her Facebook page, Made by Meadowcat, to see both the custom fleece coats that she makes, and also the snoods, though I am sharing just one image below, of Harley, who is owned by a member of Doberman Talk:

(photo from Made by Meadowcat Facebook page)

They're easy, they're comfy, they're snuggly. Oh, and for orders through the rest of February? Meadowcat is having a "Share the Love" special. Not only is the order 10% off, but 10% of profits this month will go to the Doberman Assistance Network! You can contact her with any questions (and I assume orders) at Madebymeadowcat AT gmail DOT com.