Since this is our first publication, I'd like to take the opportunity to introduce myself and explain a bit more about the newsletter. I'll also tell you how to gain access to your Free Dog Lovers Gift-Giving Guide, but first, let me introduce myself.

My name is Emily Cunningham, I live in the mid-sized town of Winston-Salem, smack dab in the middle of North Carolina. I work as a real estate investor and enjoy playing with my dog Kera while I "pretend" to work from my home office.

Being a dog lover for years, I grew up "Dogless in Seattle" because my parents were not dog lovers and didn't want the responsibility of a pet. I filled the void by poring over every single dog book available in my local library and through the years, developed quite a canine reference library of my own. I moved to North Carolina for college and have been living here ever since.

Now that I'm no longer under my parents' roof, I finally have the opportunity to raise the dog I've always wanted. Kera is my first puppy, a golden-retriever, yellow lab mix. Born in March of 2003, she is currently about 14 months old and a real sweetheart. However, she will not be mine forever.

You see, Kera was born to do a very special job - when she is old enough she will go to live at a dog school in Florida where she will learn to become a guide dog for the blind.

Kera was born at this school, Southeastern Guide Dogs, Inc. in Palmetto, Florida. This non-profit breeding and training facility is dedicated to providing guide dogs free of charge to the blind and visually impaired. They are a great organization, if you are in the South and would consider opening your heart to a puppy to raise and socialize until it is old enough to go to Guide Dog School, you can find out more about them at www.guidedogs.org.

Raising a future service animal comes with a lot of perks. Kera gets to go with me everywhere. I mean EVERYWHERE! Sure, she comes to the park and out on walks with me, but she can also go to restaurants, movie theatres and the mall.

Today we spent time touring a police station and fire station, met the men in uniform, and listened to the best their sirens could do - all with the intention of socializing Kera so that when she is working as a guide for the blind, she'll be used to anything and everything she might come across. Spooked dogs don't make good guides! (Now we just have to get her used to fireworks!)

Kera is a great dog with a big role, and I am simply volunteering to raise her for a year and a half until she has the maturity to handle the responsibility of working in a harness and leading a blind person.

I think she'll be a super guide dog, and I'll dedicate a portion of this newsletter to detailing her exploits in and around North Carolina! Even if you never have the opportunity to raise a service animal, you'll get some great ideas for fun things to do with your family and your pets and goodness knows we all need inspiration when it comes to new things to do and see!

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In addition to the "Kera-the-Wonderdog" portion of the newsletter, where I will brag about all the fun things I get to do with my dog, I'll share some great training tips with you. Since starting to raise Kera, I've really gone through a wide array of emotions. At first it was very frustrating with all the potty training accidents, the crying in the night (her, not me!), and the running around the house like a crazy dog. (Experienced dog owners will recognize these "zoomies" for the harmless fun they are, but for me it was quite a shock... they didn't go over that in my books!)

Fortunately, since Kera is in a special program, we do a lot of training with her and I've picked up few good tips that I will be happy to pass along. Of course, I ALWAYS welcome feedback from my readers. If you have learned a good way to keep your dog out of the garbage, stop her from stealing the socks from the laundry basket, or avoid those annoying barking jags, email me to tell me about it! I'll publish the best responses and perhaps even start distributing some cash prizes for your super ideas... Stay tuned for details!

Likewise, if you're having a problem with your pet, let us know! I'll do my best to answer and maybe we can get some reader feedback, too. Lots and lots of heads are better than one when it comes to outsmarting our dogs! Don't forget to check out the web journal for up-to-the-minute dog lover conversations!

We want everyone to be happy with his or her dogs and remain pet lovers! If a serious training issue is coming between you and your dog, get some training help. Your dog will thank you for it!

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Since the context of this site is "gifts for dog lovers" we know that everyone out there loves to spoil their dog with the best treats, safe toys, and beds and clothes available. Likewise, you probably want to dress the part of trendy, savvy dog-owner, and help your friends do the same. Impressing everyone with the coolest new dog duds to wear to your dog shows, training meetings, and AKC events, or just around the neighborhood.

We will do our best to keep you posted with the latest and greatest ideas for fun presents for the dog and the dog lover. We promise to find you the best prices on popular items and great, creative ideas for gifts.

The better you can train your dog to behave with your family and friends, the more you will enjoy her company, the more she will be allowed to do with you, and the bigger dog lover you will become!

See you next time!

Emily