Tuesday, October 4, 2011

All Things Dog Blog

All Things Dog Blog

Twitter Barkers Announces SafeHowlOween Twitter Party

Posted: 03 Oct 2011 09:15 PM PDT

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

In Honor of World Animal Day:
Halloween Safety for Dogs


Hello Twitter lovers! All Things Dog Blog is teaming up with Dogtipper for a fun new way to bring you spooktacular pet solutions for Halloween. Our goal? Get Halloween Safety information out to dog owners, while allowing you to win great prizes and have some online fun.


We're calling ourselves the Twitter Barkers, a duo of dog writers with a current mission to help you keep Fido safe on Halloween. We've even got ourselves a guest co-host from Fidose of Reality. So, warm up your keyboards for some rip roaring Tweeting. 


Never been to a Twitter party before? Now's your chance. There's nothing to it once you have a Twitter handle. I'll be offering some simple tips over the next few weeks, for those who'd like to brush up on how a Twitter party works, so be sure to keep checking in and watch for helpful hints.


Once you have a Twitter account, you're definitely ready to join in. Just remember that you do need to RSVP below, in order to win prizes or ask questions at the party. Everyone is welcome to participate in the questions and join in the fun. Be sure you follow other party attendees so you can make new friends along the way.


To let us know you'll be attending, just enter your Twitter handle in the linky list entry form at the bottom of this post. Need help? Just email your question to TwitterBarkers@gmail.com and one of us will answer.


Here are the details and more information on the prizes you can win:


Date and Time:  Sunday, October 23, 2011  8:30 PM - 10:00 PM EDT
SafeHowlOween Hosts: @Dogtipper and @AllThingsDog (yes, that's me!)
Guest Co-host: @FidoseofReality
Guest Expert: @BalancedCanine
Sponsors: @TerraPaws and @BalancedCanine
Prizes Provided by: @TerraPaws @AllThingsDog and @Dogtipper
Party Hashtag: #SafeHowloween


© courtesy Terrapaws
Did your ears perk up when you saw "Prizes?" We'll be having a barking good time handing out bunches of Terra Paws dog treats, Halloween dog toys, great orange leashes, and mini safety flashlights for trick-or-treating with Fido and  an adorable, dog-themed Halloween tote bag. There's something for you and Fido in this great party, so we hope you'll all give it a try.


There's more! You can help with party discussion in advance by submitting your questions about dog safety on Halloween. Dr. Mark Nunez, the veterinarian who pens All Things Dog Blog's Ask the Vet column will be sitting in to answer some of the best, most helpful safety questions that are submitted. You can find out what Halloween treats are the most scary for Fido's tummy and also learn what to do if Bowser steps on a hot sparkler or munches on a costume. 


© Carrie Boyko
Tanner Guards
his Terrapaws Treats
You tell us. What would you like to know about keeping Fido safe when you answer the door and he bolts, or perhaps demolishes a bowl of your party snacks? We'll pick some of the best ones for the Twitter party and hopefully Dr. Mark will find time to answer some of the others on the blog.


Send your SafeHowl0ween questions to:
Participant perks not only include prizes and helpful safety information, but you'll also get some great opportunities to scare up savings from our sponsors. Watch for promo discount codes from both Terra Paws treats and Dr. Mark Nunez's Veterinary pharmacy. I'll be sharing those throughout the next few weeks on my Facebook page and in coming blog posts as well.


Got a blog? You can post the badge above using the code from my sidebar. I appreciate any help you'd like to give in getting the word out. 


Win this Handbag:
Part of the Grand Prize
Speaking of shout outs, anyone can help us let others know where to join in by posting the tweet below. If you copy and paste it from below, including the hashtag #SafeHowloween, you'll automatically be placed in a drawing for a great prize. One winner from the pre-tweet drawing will score major treats from Terra Paws, a Halloween toy or leash for Fido, and a  #SafeHowloween mini-flashlight. So go ahead, get on out there and start tweeting. You may be the first prize winner in the Twitter Party. Here's the pre-tweet:
Join me 4 #SafeHowloween #TwitterParty w/Vet @balancedcanine, great prizes, and @Terrapaws #dog treats. Details: http://ow.ly/6LRnd 
In addition, TwitterBarkers will be running a Halloween photo contest and entries have already started.  That means the clock is ticking, so it's time to get busy coming up with a fun theme. Scroll down or click over to check out my post at Halloween Fido Photos: A Contest for Your Devilish or Darling Dog for more details. And if you'd like a sneak peek at Tanner's corny costume, stop by 5 Minutes for Fido to check it out. He's pretty vocal about his complaining!


Questions? I'll be giving you all the FAQs on how to participate in a Twitter Party. Simply watch for my tips posts during the next few weeks.  Happy tails!




Twitter Party Rules: 
  1. Follow your hosts and sponsors @allthingsdog, @dogtipper, @fidoseofreality, @balancedcanine and @terrapaws
  2. Party open to anyone with a Twitter handle. Prizes are limited to the U.S. and Canada, with the exception of Quebec. Sorry Quebec residents; your laws do not allow us to give prizes to you :(  Giveaways are void anywhere they are prohibited by law.
  3. Canadian winners will receive a substitute prize for the Terrapaws treats due to border restrictions on shipping of pet food.
  4. RSVP below and be sure to check in upon arrival at 8:30 PM EDT on October 23rd
  5. Must be in attendance to win a prize. Winners will be DM'd to request address info.Canadian winners will also need to provide phone number.
  6. Detailed rules for winning prizes on All Things Dog Blog may be found at my Giveaways and Contests Rules page.
Full disclosure:  Treats for the Twitter Party are being provided as a promotional opportunity by Terra Paws. Other assorted prizes to be awarded at the Twitter party have been acquired as samples and conference swag from a variety of brands and sources. Flashlights and handbags were purchased by All Things Dog Blog to be used as prizes.

Twitter Parties 101: RSVP to Join in the Fun

Posted: 03 Oct 2011 09:01 PM PDT

by Carrie Boyko, CEB
© Carrie Boyko
No More Treading Water
Twitter Party Signup Made Easy


We are already hearing from our readers that Twitter parties are an exciting new adventure. The tweets have begun and the guest list is growing. Some have asked how to RSVP. This post is designed to walk you through the steps of letting us know you'll be attending. I promise it is quick and painless.


If you don't already have a Twitter account, you'll need to start there. Sign up at http://Twitter.com. When you return here, follow these instructions for adding your name to our guest list by using the linky list at the announcement post. 

Steps to RSVP for the Twitter Party: 
  1. Click over to the Twitter party post at this link.
  2. Scroll to the bottom and find the  blue lettering that says "Click here to enter" 
  3. Click the blue link and a new screen will open. 
  4. Type your Twitter handle in the first box that says "Link Title or Blog Title". It will look like this: @(MyTwitterHandle). Be sure to include the @ sign connected to your handle. This is a link to your page on twitter. Mine is @AllThingsDog.
  5. Type your Twitter url in the next box that is labeled "Link". It will start with "http://twitter.com/" and you include your handle after the slash, without the @symbol. Mine looks like this: http://twitter.com/allthingsdog/
  6. Optional entries are offered for including an email and your name. This is a good idea when you're unsure if you've entered the correct information. It allows the blogger to contact you another way to get it straightened out. Without this, some blogs may not have any way to get in touch. 
  7. Scroll down to hit "Enter your link" and you're done.
Need help with following a Twitter party? Feel free to ask questions. I'll also be writing more posts about managing your twitter party experience. Watch for these and feel free to drop me your Twitter Party questions at TwitterBarkers@gmail.com. See you at the party!

Halloween Fido Photos: A Contest for Your Devilish or Darling Dog

Posted: 03 Oct 2011 09:01 PM PDT

by Carrie Boyko, CEB
© courtesy SewDoggyStyle
Erika's Cheesehead
It's that time of year again, when Fidos and their family members are getting into the Halloween spirit. Whether your Bowser will be a princess or a ghoul, we'd like to help you enjoy this time of year with some fun prizes. We're teaming up with Dogtipper to bring you an even bigger contest with opportunity to vote for your favorite pups.


Prizes will be awarded in 3 categories:


Cutest Costume
Most Original Costume
Best Overall Costume

Our panel of 3 independent judges will be tackling the tough task of selecting the finalists from all the submissions made by All Things Dog Blog readers and those of our partner's site, Dogtipper. What's really cool is YOU get to vote on the winners from our judges' pool of possibilities. Tanner and Oliver will be dressing up, but they won't be included in the judging. You can see Tanner's costume at 5 Minutes for Fido, where he is busy complaining about costume stuff. Keep reading for more on prizes, how to submit your pup's pic, and how voting will work.

Prizes: 

© Carrie Boyko
My Lil Jack-o-Lantern
Curious about the prizes? Every Trick-or-treater is looking for tasty goodies, so we'll start with treats from our sponsor, Terra Paws. Fido is sure to enjoy these yummy, easy-to-serve treats that are not sticky or gooey. We also love how easy they are to break into smaller pieces for our pint-sized pups, or simply for training.

To make sure Fido has some fun-filled Halloween playtime, each of the prizes will include a Halloween dog toy or a terrific orange leash to get out and about with in the spirit of this month's big event. We also want to help assure that you both have good visibility on Halloween night, so we'll be tossing in a mini flashlight that can also clip to Fido's collar to make sure he is visible to passing cars. Our Best Overall Grand Prize will include an adorable dog-themed, Halloween handbag for Fido's favorite mom.
Win this Doggie Bag!

Photo Submissions: 

Photo submissions are super easy for our photo contest. You can start today! Just send your pic of Fido in his Halloween digs to 


I will be posting many of your photos on our Facebook page in order for you to sit back and enjoy the show. Submissions are open as of this post. Entries will close at 5 PM EDT on Tuesday, October 18, but don't wait till the last minute or the trick may be on you!

Finalist Selection and Voting: 

We'll be presenting slideshows of your entries on Dogtipper and All Things Dog Blog on Wednesday, October 19. Be sure to check out both, as each of our sites will display half of the photos that you send in. The two slideshows will most certainly bring a smile to your face.

Our panel of three judges will then get to work sorting your pics into categories and selecting the finalists. Voting will commence at 5 PM EDT on Thursday, October 20th and end promptly at 5 PM EDT on Sunday, October 23.

The winners of our Halloween Fidos Photos contest will be announced that same evening at our SafeHowlOween Twitter Party. Winners will also be emailed from TwitterBarkers@gmail.com. Be sure to place this email in your contacts list to allow our correspondence through your spam filter. You do not need to be present at the Twitter party to win. Good luck!

Rules:

Every party has its rules to protect privacy and keep the dogs in line:
  1. Only photos of dogs will be accepted. No humans please.
  2. Limit one entry per dog.
  3. Readers from the US and Canada, with the exception of Quebec, may participate.  Only submissions from these areas can be accepted.This offer is void wherever it is prohibited.
  4. Prize winners from Canada will receive a substitute prize for the Terra Paws treats mentioned above. This is due to regulations with regard to shipping of pet food over the border.
  5. Large images must be submitted to assure our ability to share in a slideshow: 400 px please.
  6. By submitting your photo, you agree that the photo was taken by you and is owned by you. No professional images can be accepted for copyright reasons. Please read additional details at our Giveaway and Contest Rules page.
  7. All entries must be emailed to TwitterBarkers@gmail.com. This contest is a joint effort between two blogs and no entries sent elsewhere can be accepted.
  8. Please include your name for correspondence and your dog's name in your submission so that we may identify Fido's name for voting.
  9. Our judges' selection decisions are final. Voters will choose from the finalists presented in voting.
  10. Winners will be announced at the SafeHowloween Twitter Party on Sunday, October 23rd. Winners will also be emailed and must respond with their address and phone number for shipping purposes.
That's it; let's get cracking on those costumes!





Full disclosure:  Treats for the photo contest are being provided as a promotional opportunity by Terra Paws. Other assorted prizes to be awarded at the Twitter party have been acquired as samples and conference swag from a variety of brands and sources. Flashlights and handbags were purchased by All Things Dog Blog to be used as prizes.

K9 Kamp Heats Up!

Posted: 03 Oct 2011 06:55 PM PDT

by Carrie Boyko, CEB
© Carrie Boyko
Tanner Demonstrates "Go Jump"
This week's K9 kamp had me, Tanner and Oliver back in agility training and having some fun with our workout step. I'll have to admit I had to dust that bad boy off after storing it under my bed sometime ago. We also discovered our core ball and wondered if we'll be getting an intro to Treiball via kamp. Hmmm.....


The good news is the dogs still remember the "Go Jump" command and they seemed totally entertained watching me step up and down. Despite my travel to Barkworld, the boys and I were able to pull off a reasonable hour plus to just make the minimum workout. Whew!


As I write this post I am waiting on my return flight home, ready to get back to a good dog walk after a few days of hobnobbing with fellow social media enthusiasts. What do you suppose Koly and Kelly have in store for us this week? Whatever it is, I'm glad to be home and dig in again. Happy tails!
Posted by iLoveApp at 5:53 PM

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