We all talk to our dogs. Now talk to us.
Dogfession: noun; A confession concerning canines; a secret in your heart that you'd only share with your dog; or a secret you wouldn't want your dog to ever find out!
ABOUT DOGFESSIONS
What are Dogfessions?
Dogfessions are confessions about dogs. Your Dogfession can be about a dog you have, once had, once knew, wanted, saw on TV -- whatever. Also, your dog can have a Dogfession too. He might need some help decorating his card and mailing it. Last I checked, they don't let dogs into the post office. REMEMBER: When making your Dogfessions, think “confession” rather than “caption.” The best Dogfessions are the most real. Captions are cute, but real Dogfessions are unique.
Why did you decide to do this project?
Well, for starters, I thought it was a cute idea and I figured that people would be into "telling on themselves" about their dogs. I think it touches something very deep in people. And, I have some Dogfessions myself!
Do you have dogs?
Yes. I have two Schnauzers. They are wonderful friends.
Can I email my Dogfession?
Not at the moment. The idea here is that you take the time to decorate a card or send it in the mail. It's a lot more fun that way.
Does my Dogfession have to be on a 4x6 postcard or piece of paper?
Yes, give or take a couple of inches. It's best if there's some continuity to the project. Here are the directions.
Should I decorate the front of my card?
Yes! That's half the point of this. Do something elaborate if you're artistic or something simple if you're not. There is no right or wrong way to do this. The image you use in your Dogfession must be owned by you or you must have permission to use it. Dogfession cards become copyright of Dogfessions upon receipt.
Will you post all the Dogfessions you get?
So far, yes, with a couple of exceptions.
Is that your home address I'm sending my Dogfession to?
Nope. It's a Mail Boxes Etc. They are very nice people, so feel free to visit them. Oliver, in particular, is very helpful. Unfortunately, when no Dogfessions arrive, I put Oliver in the proverbial “dog house” until they do, so if you want to save Oliver from this fate, please send in your Dogfessions!
What return address should I use?
You can use your own or the mailing address.
What do you do with the Dogfessions after you scan them in and post them to the site?
Right now, they are going lovingly into a pink folder on my desk!
How often will you put up new postcards?
Ideally, once a week or so.
When is the Dogfessions book coming out?
June 1. Very excited! Part of the proceeds go to dog charities.
Owner of Dogfessions, Nikki Moustaki, MA, MFA, is a dog trainer and animal expert in New York City where she lives with her two Schnauzers and four parrots. She is the author of nine books on dog care and training, including the latest, Pocket Pups (Kennel Club Books, 2007), and also writes extensively on avian care, training, and behavior, with books such as Parrots for Dummies and Your Outta Control Bird. She also currently writes for Dog Fancy Magazine, Popular Dogs, Pet Style News, Pet Product News, and Bird Talk, among others. She has also written for Jane, Latina, Zagat’s, and the Village Voice. Nikki has appeared and been featured on national television and radio shows, including the BBC and the Tony Danza Show, and currently co-produces and hosts NBC/MSN’s new online show, The Celebrity Pet Dish, which launched in October, 2007.
“My love of animals started when I was a small child -- I was the kid in the neighborhood who brought home all the stray animals, and even some wild animals! As soon as I was 15 and could work, I got a job in a grooming shop, and then worked in various pet stores for the next 8 years, doing everything from cleaning cages to being “fish girl” in charge of 100 tanks. I also maintained and serviced other people’s aquariums and had salt water tanks of my own. Over the years I had dogs, cats, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, rabbits, snakes, turtles, frogs, fish, and even a turkey. When I was 18 I got my first bird, and I fell in love with the avian family. I started a bird hobby, collecting, breeding, and rescuing hundreds parrots over the years.
When I got to grad school, I could finally have a dog of my own, so I got Pepper, a Miniature Schnauzer, from a shelter. Now I wanted to learn everything there was to know about dog care and training, so I set out on a lifelong journey to become a dog trainer. Luckily, I was able to use my knowledge of bird behavior and training on dogs, and I learned quickly. I got another dog after a few years, a Schnauzer mix, Ozzie, also from a shelter. I had the idea for Dogfessions a few years ago when I was training dogs nearly full time. I realized that we all have secrets about our dogs -- it’s a relationship like any other. There are things we don’t want them to know, and we imagine that they have secrets of their own. Sometimes our secrets are funny, and sometimes they are dark, sad, touching, and weird . . . these are our Dogfessions. So, I decided to start a site where people could share their Dogfessions in a creative way. It worked! People began sending in their dog confessions . . . and the rest is history!”
from modern dog magazine
IT’S OFFICIAL!
Dogfessions is going to be a book from Harper Collins Publishers, available at your local bookstore in May 2008. Want to see your dog in a Dogfessions book? Send in your Dogfession for possible inclusion in a second book!
THE BEST OF DOGFESSIONS AWARDS!
By submitting information to Dogfessions, you grant Dogfessions a perpetual, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, modify, publish, distribute, and otherwise exercise all copyright and publicity rights with respect to that information at its sole discretion, including storing it on Dogfessions servers and incorporating it in other works in any media now known or later developed including without limitation published books. If you do not wish to grant Dogfessions these rights, it is suggested that you do not submit information to this website. Dogfessions reserves the right to select, edit and arrange submissions, and to remove information from the Dogfessions website at any time at its sole discretion. No image from this site may be used for any purpose without expressed written authorization, with one exception; you may post one image as a link to this site.
Cat secrets? www.catfessions.com
Dogfessions
676A Ninth Ave.
#321
New York, NY 10036
ALL advertising dollars from our sponsors go DIRECTLY to the Sabbath Memorial Dog Rescue to help homeless dogs. Want to advertise on Dogfessions with a tax-deductible donation to the shelter? Please email me at dogfessions@verizon.net
