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[Kathy, Harley & Roxie]

Are these ad's doodlekisses recommended? In particular the breeders

 

[Adina P]

The ads we have had on our site from the very beginning (yes, day one) are Google AdSense ads.  We do not choose or approve these ads but we have the ability to block ads and categories of ads (which we actively do).  Google has been serving breeder ads on DoodleKisses.com since the very beginning.  All Google ads populate based on the content of the page. Since our site is about doodles and there aren't too many doodle-centered businesses that advertise on google besides breeders, their ads will come up frequently.  We do not feel it is reasonable to ban all ads with the term "doodle" in the text and there is no 'breeder' category to ban. 

When a puppy broker (vs. a breeder) ad shows up and we are alerted we will remove that specific advertiser.  We have already done so when alerted by a members.  We will continue to do so.  So please alert us to any ads that you find offensive.  (You will need to click on the ad to find out the URL the link goes to and provide us with that URL to block.)

DoodleKisses.com does not recommend/promote any breeders.  We never have.  Members may do so in the appropriate groups.  Even in the groups where we allow breeder members to advertise we make it clear that it is a "Buyer Beware" situation and link to our article on choosing a breeder.  None of this is new.  We will not vet breeders individually because that kind of work is really up to the individual. 

 

As to supporting Doodle Kisses, we are not a rescue or a charity.  We do pledge to keep this site free to use for all members because that is exactly the kind of site WE want to be a part of.  But that does not mean that there is not significant money and time spent providing this "free" site.  There is.  And that is why we raise money by various methods: donations, ads, sales of products, etc.  We support rescue efforts very strongly and thus we donate 25% of all proceeds to rescue from any revenue generated by the site.  We offer various ways for members to support the existence of this site because no one way has generated enough revenue on it's own.

Hope that makes sense!
Adina

[Kathy, Harley & Roxie]

completely! And thank you for a wonderful, informative and open forum site.  :-)

The breeder ad's just caught my eye because I have "get Harley a playmate...aka new puppy fever".  lol

[Elizabeth & Cosmo]

I spend a lot of time on the web, and ads follow me everywhere I go. I think that advertising is just an expected presence, and I have learned to ignore it, mostly.

I deeply appreciate Adina and Clark's commitment to this site and to keeping it free. I think that is critically important to the growth and vigor of the the site. I also appreciate their vigilance about ads from puppy brokers--but, to me, all the other ads are just fine and well worth it.

[Michael Gurley]

I appreciate the ads because they keep this site free for me to use. I'm a college student working a minimum wage job, and after all my bills and paying for gas and dog food and food for my reptiles, last month I had $15 left over so I treated myself to dinner at a restaurant. I simply can't afford to give anything to DK at this point in my life, but I appreciate everything that DK provides for me as a member and if I could, I would support the site financially. Until I win the lottery or land a multi-million-dollar salary job, I'll just put up with the ads.

[ClarkP]

Thanks Michael... and for you, FREE DK FOREVER!  (Oh... I guess everybody gets that so it's not too great a prize.  ;-)

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I've watched this discussion and other ad discussions. I have not posted.  This one though, does make me want to speak up. I enjoyed the accountant's perspective, I'll add ( ad ) the advertising, dog-loving, bad puppy mills, what we want to represent in our opinion-- argument.  As difficult as it is to jam it all in here.. I'll try.

Advertising WORKS.  I am a true believer in advertising, after all, my first formal education was Marketing and Advertising.

I have been given a few advertising awards; An academic scholarship which enabled me to attend another year of college, all expenses covered.  I also received the  Marketing and Advertising Student of the Year, 2000 of my graduating class, among other recognitions in the field of advertising.

That said, I hope you understand my ideas are not to dismiss the ads, but rather, promote quality ads for a quality web site that DK truly is and represents to all of us. 

Not only is it fun and creative, it serves a valuable purpose.   If an ad is shown here, it is a representation and extension of ones beliefs.  A new member now sees this as a collective of how we all feel.  She thus, creates a need and strives to belong to the group.  How advertising is working on DK is disturbing. 

 

Ads-What drives people to buy.

 As an advertiser, what your goal is, is to create and stimulate the buyer using emtions, urges that work, many times, on the brains subconscious.  It creates the wants and desires and drives our buying behavior.  Actually, what drives people to buy is complicated--otherwise, in this economy, it would be simple.  Advertising can be an extension of an entity.  Ads on DK would say, " Hey, we promote and encourage you to purchase that puppy mill dog on the right"

Puppy Mills, Poor Breeding, Sick Dogs...... (need I go on with this introduction?)

This site seemed to be founded on the strong beliefs that we should strive to strengthen the breed, encourage others to do the same, give good advice, and educated  those seeking to purchase puppies.  We came here believing OR learning and teaching others about good quality puppies from good quality breeders. Many have gone to help those unfortunate dogs who did not come from this background.  We have gone on to fight against the puppy mills and bad breeding practices.  We have gone on to educate new members because of our heart wrenching, sick experiences with these dogs from greedy breeders.

As a member, an owner, and a dog advocate, I feel obligated to object to the ads.

Advertising

While I understand that advertising supports this site.  GREAT.  Go for it. I'll be glad to buy Donald Trump's bed, when I make as much money as he does.  Some of the ads have been interesting.  Not all are bad.

 

This Discussion

Just WHY ARE WE LOOKING AT some of the worst breeders in our discussions???? I live daily with the problems  a disgusting breeder, money hungry, puppy milling bastards created.  This is why I have chosen to post in this discussion.  The fact that I hope we do not promote or permit PUPPY MILLS to come into this wonderful site and promote more sick puppies, dogs, and life-long problems. 

We have new people signing on each day.  This entire discussion was started because a newer member wanted to know if the ad she was looking at was promoted by this site and should she purchase this dog??? 

" Those who complain should present a solution"

Clark, can you refuse these ads.   Can  you offer some of the well known breeders of this site, good quality breeders, a chance to advertise here?   Just an idea. 

[Adina P]

If a known puppy mill is advertising we can, AND DO block their ad.  But you must let us know about said known puppy mill as we cannot monitor all the ads.

 

As for as allowing 'quality breeders a chance to advertise' -- I can't visit all breeders and for me to feel confident in making a DK endorsement of a breeder, I'd have to be able to make those visits and spend as much time researching each breeder as I would if I were buying a puppy myself.  And that's not realistic. 

 

That's why we:

--Post guidelines on what to look for in a breeder

--Require member breeders to answer health testing questions, and require certain guidelines for members who want to promote their breeder. 

--But if breeders were willing to pay a reasonable fee to advertise on here, then their ad would mean more to members than the random Google breeder ads and we'd have an exponentially higher responsibility to vet these breeders beyond what is reasonable. 

Regarding your comment on what drives people to buy stuff.  We are not the ones marketing the breeders, or the dog walking service sites, or the other products/services advertised on here.  We are accepting Google ads to be shown on our site as a way to make revenue.  We are not the advertisers. The advertisers are the ones who will succeed/fail based on whether their ads are compelling and people click on them.  If they are compelling then we make some money based on the fact people clicked on them to learn more.  If not then we don't.  We can block ads by website URL or category. There is no 'breeder' category to block. So any breeder, broker, etc that is deemed to be a known puppy mill/broker we can block but we have to know when these pop up for you (and others) and the name of the site or URL so we can block that specific business.  So feel free to private message me to let me know when such comes up for you so we know. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

I understand and agree that you could not possibly vet the breeders and that you would not want to be responsible for that. But I agree with Joann that associating the ads so closely with the website creates the unintended effect that you endorse them Broadcasters and newspapers do have categories of ads they will not accept. If Google ads does not have a breeder category can we work to change that? Or find some other ways to block questionable ads. There are ads for Beneful, not a good food according to the Food Group standards. Maybe ads are not the way to go. Maybe there are other products like the calendars and shirts you can endorse with confidence. It is hard, I recognize, that this is a doodle related site, so many of the ads relate to doodle products. But perhaps individual products could be endorsed. You did it with the dog bed after all. There could be an ever present "ad" to DK endorsed products. I think we have good endorsements in the Food Group and perhaps, Champion, Fromm's and such producers could be enticed to be endorsement sponsers. There are many good brains on DK. Maybe we can come up with some good ideas if you ask us.

[Adina P]

Have you seen Fromm ads on other sites?  Just curious how often they advertise on other websites.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I haven't but I really don't cruise dog sites except for this and one other. But it doesn't matter does it? They may be open to new ideas, as may other companies.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Food ads I have seen on pet merchandise sites.  I don't purchase Fromms so maybe I've turned them out.

[ClarkP]

Blue Buffalo is the only premium dog food manufacturer that I have seen advertise through AdSense.  I have seen their ads on DK.

 

We would LOVE for major companies to advertise on our site and make direct ad buys from us.  But we are simply too small for them to make that effort.