Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Pet Blogger Challenge

Today, I'm sending a bark-out to the Pet Blogger Challenge with my wagging answers to their questions!


1. When did you begin your blog?
My blog debut was last September. I wrote "Flying to my Swiss Home" just after my first transatlantic trip.
2. What was your original purpose for starting a blog?
Not many miniature dachshunds get to live on both sides of the Atlantic pond. Living in northern Idaho and southern Switzerland gives me a unique canine perspective that I wanted to share. It's hard to blog without opposable thumbs, but my human mom is a writer, so Dad and I convinced her to start "Bicontinental Dachshund." We love contributing to the dogosphere.
3. Is your current purpose the same?
Yes. It's very much a family activity.
If so, how do you feel you’ve met your goals? With "Bicontinental Dachshund," I inspire Mom to write often, which benefits her other ongoing writing projects.



4. Do you blog on a schedule or as the spirit moves you? Both!
If the former, how often — and what techniques do you use to stick to it?
I generally post new material at least twice a week. My mom uses her pocket notebook to collect all our new ideas for posts. The next step is a ruff draft, followed by a painstaking editing and peer review process. For me, writing without revision or editing is like eating dry kibble without water. I prefer kibble with water.
If the latter, do you worry about… well, whatever you might worry about (e.g. losing traffic, losing momentum)?
I'm more concerned with the quality of my posts than I am with the frequency. I strive to provide quality content on a reasonably regular basis. But I like to be a reliable and regular source for canine reflections because I enjoy maintaining my connections with my fur and human friends.
5. Are you generating income from your blog?
Not enough to buy my Dr. Hill's Science Plan dog food!
If so, how (e.g. sponsor ads, affiliate relationships, spokesperson opportunities)?
I use Google Adsense. I write a family-friendly blog where puppies are welcome, so I block sketchy ad categories.
If not currently, do you hope to in the future — and how?
I'd love to have sponsors, and I'm still figuring out how. Suggestions are most welcome!



6. What do you like most about blogging in general and your blog in particular (bragging is good!)? Wag: Blogging connects us with furkids and their humans all over the world. It's a sweet community. And since you ask, here's my dog-blog wag-brag: I am a punster and I love playing with language in our cartoons.
7. What do you like least?
My tail doesn't wag so much when I publish a really special post or cartoon, yet my readers don't respond to it. I know readers are busy, though, so I keep on wagging.
8. How do you see your blog changing/growing in 2012?
I will continue to blog about my broad interests: travel, hiking, art & literature, and current events, all viewed from my low and furry angle. I am currently planning a series of posts to document unique features of Switzerland and another series about common European misconceptions about America. I will continue to entertain my readers with my quirky cartoons and doggy comebacks. I am also planning more interviews with public figures to try and make sense of current events, and I will soon begin sharing my collection of doggy signage from Europe and America.



Thank you for the opportunity to answer your questions, and thank you for visiting my blog.
Wag it forward to the other blogs in the Pet Blogger Challenge 2012!
Love, Tootsie
























34 comments:

  1. Thanks so much for joining the challenge, Tootsie! We're always pleased to meet another traveling pooch. And how interesting to split your time between Idaho and Switzerland! Our boys have never been to the other side of the pond - too hard to have the Winnebago fitted with pontoons, you know. It was fantastic to meet you. I have a feeling we might become good friends.

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  2. Dear Amy,

    Thank you so much for running the challenge and giving us this opportunity to share. BOL: a Winnebago on pontoons would be super fun--kind of like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

    I have a feeling we'll become good friends, too!

    Thank you, again, and keep on wagging.
    Love,
    Tootsie

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  3. Wow Switzerland and the USA how unusual I am going to read your blog in the future

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  4. Thank you!

    Mom and I just took a look at your blog. It's so neat. We love your book reviews, especially because we're reading Rin Tin Tin right now!

    Keep on wagging,
    Tootsie

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  5. That's cool that you live on two continents! You must have some great experiences, and I will be sure to come back and check it out. I sniffed around and think your cartoons are pawesome! And, the hairy furry dog you met in one of your previous posts, Flurine, looks a lot like Bocci from Bocci's Beef. So fun to meet up with you. You know, Kelly is part long-haired dachshund so we're been fans of yours!

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  6. Thanks so much for visiting my blog. I had wondered if Kelly was part dachshund when I visited your site and saw her beautiful photo! I look forward to keeping in touch. Such a great day visiting all these pet blogs!

    Keep on wagging,
    Tootsie

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  7. Clara, Your other MomJanuary 10, 2012 at 9:17 AM

    Tootsie,
    Please keep up on your blog. It is so nice to hear about the great life that you have now. We
    let Sophie and Sadie know that you are alive and well and having a great time. Sometimes with all of the dogs that come through our doors and we find them homes we never hear from them again. You were our favorite and we miss you so much but are very glad that you have such a wonderful Mom and Dad now. Keep up the Blogs. You are Very Special
    Love,
    Clara, Sarah, Sadie and Sophie

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  8. I think I missed that you live in Southern Switzerland somewhere. My Fiance and I are trying to scape up enough money to hike the 100 miles around Mont Blanc for our honeymoon this August. I don't know how close you are to there but it would be awesome if we were able to meet you. Unfortunately, Chester and Gretel will not be with us :(

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  9. Dear Jessica,

    Congratulations on your engagement! That sounds like a wonderful honeymoon hike!

    We're about five hours by train east of the Mont Blanc area. Mom and I will be in Idaho in August, but Dad might be in Switzerland. He's hiked a lot in the Alps, and you're very welcome to pick his brain with specific questions or concerns! (He also knows a lot about Euro-travel on a shoestring.)

    Thanks for your note!

    Keep on wagging,
    Tootsie

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  10. Dear Other-Mom Clara,

    Thank you so much for taking such good care of me. It's wonderful to read your note; it makes my heart sing!

    Please give my love to everyone and thanks to everyone for all your encouragement with my doggy blogging. It's such a big, wide, dogblogpark world. But I'm grateful and lucky to have buddies like you and Sarah and Sadie and Sophie who continue to send me such good love.

    Thank you.

    Keep on wagging.
    Love always,
    Tootsie

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  11. That was a great interview Tootsie!
    Dachshund Nola

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  12. Just found you from the blog hop. Nice to meet another adventurous small dog. See ya' round!!

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  13. Regarding your comment on not always getting comments... I hate to say that I am one of the many who enjoy your blog, but don't comment often. I'll try harder to let you know how much I enjoy your posts.
    I'm SO JEALOUS of all your travels. I'm pretty much stuck in New Hampshire unless my parents decide to take a road trip. I too am a Dachshund, but I'm a small standard and too large to fly in the cabin like you do. Last year my mother visited her mother in Issaquah, WA and my great-grandparents who live on Bainbridge Island. So I enjoyed hearing more about Bainbridge on your recent blog post.
    Maybe someday there will be a better way for doggies like me to travel. In the mean time I will enjoy reading about your travels! Oh and I LOVE your quirky cartoons - those are my favorite!

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  14. Dear Olga,

    I'm so grateful that you enjoy my blog! Your comment makes me wag!

    More cartoons are coming; you've inspired me.

    I really wish in-cabin air travel was more dog friendly and more accessible to all.

    Keep on wagging,
    Tootsie

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  15. "I'm more concerned with the quality of my posts than I am with the frequency. I strive to provide quality content on a reasonably regular basis." - Hear hear to that!

    This is my first time stopping by, and I must say I love your colour scheme. I've always been a fan of purple and yellow/gold together. Going to go have a look at the rest of your posts now. :) Happy blogging.

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  16. Thanks so much for taking part in this challenge, Tootsie! It was great to meet you. Keep on waggin'...you never know when people are reading, even if they don't comment.

    I am very envious of your sophisticated bi-continental life, by the way. You are the best traveled dachshund I know.

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  17. Wow, you must have some great adventures! We're glad we found you via the Challenge Hop! BTW, we love your cartoons too!

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  18. WOW! You do have a unique canine perspective! That is wonderful!
    It was great getting to know you and I can't wait to hear about more of your adventures!

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  19. Bonjour Tootsie !!!

    Merci pour ton gentil commentaire sur notre blog, nous sommes ravis de pouvoir ainsi faire ta connaissance !

    Nous nous sommes inscrits sur ton blog pour suivre tes aventures, Ă  bientĂ´t !

    Lechouilles et caresses,

    BaĂ¯ka et MademoiselleBlume

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  20. Dear Tegan,

    Thank you for your comment about my color scheme; I'm so glad that you like it!

    Dear Edie,

    Thank you for stopping by. I'm so excited to learn about the ways your blog and your books intertwine!

    Dear Prudence,

    Thank you for your comment about my cartoons. More to come soon!

    Dear Jen,

    I'm excited to share more of my adventures. The whole Pet Challenge is super inspiring and interesting.

    Thank you, all, for your sweet notes.

    Keep on wagging,
    Tootsie

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  21. Bonjour BaĂ¯ka et MademoiselleBlume,

    Merci Ă  vous, et Ă  bientĂ´t!

    Tootsie

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  22. So nice to find your blog through the Challenge! I just clicked over to some of your dog cartoons - I love them! I'll be back - adding you to my Google Reader right now. :)

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  23. Dear Pup Fan,

    Thank you! I'm so glad you like my cartoons!

    Keep on wagging,
    Tootsie

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  24. Ofcourse, you know I love your blog! I like my kibble with water too! (warm actually)

    Keep wagging. I can't be on here everyday, but I am sure happy to try and follow!

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  25. Thanks for stopping by! So nice to "meet" you through the challenge. I am looking forward to learning more about you and Tootsie!

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  26. Now how did My Typist miss you yesterday? Slacker.

    What a lucky dog you are! My humans keep talking about taking me on holiday but I know it'll never happen. I am doomed to be a HolidayCamp dog.

    It's funny what you said about editing. My Typist is anal about it too. She'll probably check this comment a few times before posting it. Haha. See you around Tootsie.

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  27. Dear Patty,

    So nice to meet you, too!

    Dear Georgia Little Pea,

    You're no slacker! What is a HolidayCamp dog?

    (I'm like your Typist and checking this several times before clicking post.)

    Love,
    Tootsie

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  28. I am so glad I found you and your blog - I love it! I think I love your cartoons most of all :)

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  29. Thank you so much! It's an honor to have a vet visit. I'm thrilled you like our cartoons!

    Keep on wagging,
    Tootsie

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  30. I'm so glad to make your acquaintance Tootsie! My friend has 3 mini dachshunds and there is nothing sweeter than seeing them run side by side with their little butts a wigglin' and tails a'waggin'. :)

    I have to admit I don't think I have ever met a trans-continental doxie before (or any dog!).

    I like the idea of writing quality stuff. Just read your description of the process your mom and you go through tells me you take your posts seriously. I especially loved your phrase "...a ruff draft, followed by a painstaking editing and peer review process. For me, writing without revision or editing is like eating dry kibble without water. I prefer kibble with water" So true!

    Anyways, welcome to the blogging community. I wish you much success and readers in the coming year!

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  31. Wow! That must be quite a trip going from Idaho to Switzerland. I hope you got to ride first class. One of our best friends is a Doxie named Kona. I can't wait to hear about life in Switzerland. All the best to you in 2012!

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  32. Dear Melf,

    Thank you so much for your welcome to the pet blogging community. I love your description of three mini-doxie butts and tails!

    I just read your post on adoption; it's wonderful, and a fantastic resource.

    Dear Colby,

    I'd love to meet Kona! Is that like Kona coffee? Thanks for your interest. Life in Switzerland is super different than in America; I'll try to write more posts about it.

    Unfortunately, I don't get to ride first class. Still, I love flying KLM in Europe, because a flight attendant always comes to check on me, ME, specially.

    Keep on wagging!

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  33. I received an email comment that I wanted to share with everyone; thank you, Pat the Human, for your support!

    Pat writes:
    Hi Tootsie,

    I have to write to your mom because I cannot post on your blog due to outdated technology. I know that Firefox doesn't work and I tried posting via Safari but that didn't work either. I get email alerts for your posts, and I read them faithfully and enjoy them very much. I'm sure I'm not the first one to come up with this idea, but I can see this blog evolving into a book. What do you think?

    One more question, I notice you often use the expression "woten waven". Excuse my ignorance, but what does that mean?

    A big hug to you and your mom and dad!

    Pat

    And here is my email reply:

    Dear Faithful Reader Friend Pat,

    Thank you so much for your email note, which Mom is sharing with me! I'm so happy you read my blog.

    I love your idea for a book! Wotten waven!

    And per "wotten waven": great question. You are the first person who has ever asked me! I was thinking about writing about my vocabulary in an upcoming post. What do you think about that idea?

    "Wotten waven" is something that Dad started saying a few years ago when I was still an apple in his eye. It's actually a town in the country of Dominica, but we use it to mean something similar to "awesome" or "neat" or "super". I think it gives the whole schnaa more emphasis.

    Keep on wagging!

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