Ok folks, I’m gonna go way off topic here. I have a good number of people requesting help and/or feedback with their dog issues and I’m truly happy to give you what I can. It’s an honor to have people think enough of me to post on our blog, thank you! Some of you do a fantastic job of asking for help (thank you!) but some of you make it really difficult for me and these are the people I’m directing this post to.

I’m going to post a few tips below that will help me to help you and will also help you post on other blogs so as not to make things so difficult on other blog owners.

Blog Etiquette Tip List

1. Don’t type everything you have to say in a big blob. Do you have any idea how hard it is to read posts (especially long ones) that have no paragraph breaks? I’ll give you a look-see at what I get quite often below this list of tips. Just in case you don’t know how to make paragraphs on a blog it’s really very easy! Strike the ENTER key twice to make your paragraph. When you carry on a verbal conversation with someone even the most excited person has to stop and breathe now and then. Think of making paragraphs as your inhale state.
   
2. Check your spelling and punctuation. I realize that some of us have challenges in life and I do understand we may not be the best speller or grammar artist but what I get often are inquiries where it’s obvious no effort whatsoever has been made by the author to use good spelling and grammar techniques. My claim to fame does not include a degree in spelling and grammar but I do make a good effort to be correct. I got an email from someone who’s dog is a Pomeranian but the author spelled it palmeranian. Ok, so that was an easy one … but really … not being able to spell your own dog’s breed is an insult to your dog! Think of it this way, if you can’t spell it I can’t guarantee I’m reading what you said correctly and need me to read in order to respond to you. Not only can I not see what went on or is going on with your dog, if I can’t make out what you’re saying, if I’m guessing what you’re saying — how can I give you any thing close to a reasonable response?
3. Whatever happened to proof-reading what we write? If those who write in blobs and have difficulties with spelling or grammar were to go over what they’ve written before they click the SEND button it would be kind of like seeing ourselves in the mirror. When we see ourselves in the mirror I don’t think there’s one person alive that doesn’t primp at least once! It’s just not normal to visit the mirror and walk out without primping, so how about primping what you write?
4. Dog behavior issues are quite complex for us everyday humans. Dogs understand one another just fine, they speak the same language after all. But humans understanding dog-speak is still way behind this century. Three short sentences on a serious dog bite issue for example is a guarantee that I will not be able to give you any feedback, comments or suggestions. There is no way to put enough information into a few sentences for me to formulate any kind of gut feeling, conjure up past experiences to grab from nor is there enough for me to do any research on if I need to. In answering two blog comments tonight I had to tell the author I couldn’t help them because they didn’t give me enough information.

All of these examples means it takes me longer to get through the inquiries I receive. Everybody wants a response in a reasonable amount of time which is a valid request. One of the reasons I get behind on my responses is because it takes me so much longer to get through inquiries that fall under one or more of the four list entries above. I’ve actually had to put several blog posts aside numerous times and come back to them later (wash, rinse, repeat) because I’ve gotten so frustrated trying to figure out what’s being said and that just delays a response to you.

Example of No Paragraphs

I copy and pasted multiple copies of the first three paragraphs of this post below. Have a look at this and then have a look at the real first three paragraphs at the top of the page. Which do you find easier to read? Our eyes are not meant to read in such a continuous fashion as the “blob” of words below, they need a break in between the various thoughts within a page. I don’t know about you but if I try to read straight through what’s below, I find myself having to go back numerous times in order to try to make sense of what I’ve just read. Now imagine what it’s like to read a blob of words like this when there isn’t any repetition. Break up your thoughts, people!

Ok folks, I’m gonna go way off topic here. I have a good number of people requesting help and/or feedback with their dog issues and I’m truly happy to give you what I can. It’s an honor to have people think enough of me to post on our blog, thank you! Some of you do a fantastic job of asking for help (thank you!) but some of you make it really difficult for me and these are the people I’m directing this post to. I’m going to post a few tips below that will help me to help you and will also help you post on other blogs so as not to make things so difficult on other blog owners. Ok folks, I’m gonna go way off topic here. I have a good number of people requesting help and/or feedback with their dog issues and I’m truly happy to give you what I can. It’s an honor to have people think enough of me to post on our blog, thank you! Some of you do a fantastic job of asking for help (thank you!) but some of you make it really difficult for me and these are the people I’m directing this post to. I’m going to post a few tips below that will help me to help you and will also help you post on other blogs so as not to make things so difficult on other blog owners. Ok folks, I’m gonna go way off topic here. I have a good number of people requesting help and/or feedback with their dog issues and I’m truly happy to give you what I can. It’s an honor to have people think enough of me to post on our blog, thank you! Some of you do a fantastic job of asking for help (thank you!) but some of you make it really difficult for me and these are the people I’m directing this post to. I’m going to post a few tips below that will help me to help you and will also help you post on other blogs so as not to make things so difficult on other blog owners. Ok folks, I’m gonna go way off topic here. I have a good number of people requesting help and/or feedback with their dog issues and I’m truly happy to give you what I can. It’s an honor to have people think enough of me to post on our blog, thank you! Some of you do a fantastic job of asking for help (thank you!) but some of you make it really difficult for me and these are the people I’m directing this post to. I’m going to post a few tips below that will help me to help you and will also help you post on other blogs so as not to make things so difficult on other blog owners. Ok folks, I’m gonna go way off topic here. I have a good number of people requesting help and/or feedback with their dog issues and I’m truly happy to give you what I can. It’s an honor to have people think enough of me to post on our blog, thank you! Some of you do a fantastic job of asking for help (thank you!) but some of you make it really difficult for me and these are the people I’m directing this post to. I’m going to post a few tips below that will help me to help you and will also help you post on other blogs so as not to make things so difficult on other blog owners.

Lesson over, back to your regularly scheduled life.