DogTime.com

DogTime.com is an online community for dog-enthusiasts and -owners. The site offers information and discussion forums on dog adoption and ownership.

History

DogTime.com is owned by DogTime Media, which was launched in October 2007 in San Francisco, CA. It is the first venture capital-funded pet company since the 2000 collapse of the two largest pet-related websites, pets.com and petopia.com, due to the dot-com bubble. The site has 12 million unique subscribers, and averages over 100,000 unique visitors per month.

The website's founders have a specific goal of keeping dogs out of shelters. The company is active in animal welfare societies, such as the ASPCA and Humane Society. DogTime has also founded its own initiative called "Are You Ready" which seeks to educate potential dog owners about the responsibilities of dog ownership/adoption.

In addition, the company has been active in pet-related legislation, and has played an active role in encouraging the adoption of abused dogs seized from NFL player Michael Vick as a result of dogfighting charges resulting from the Bad Newz Kennels dog fighting investigation.

Format

The website is divided into separate sections providing information for current dog owners, prospective owners and dog enthusiasts. Its main interface is divided into tabs outlining the dog adoption/purchase process, each with its own specific topics and message board.

Sections include:

"Am I ready?"
This section includes a "ready or not" quiz for those considering bringing a dog into their home which assesses lifestyle and living arrangement compatibility with dog ownership.

"Finding the right dog"
This section includes search tools for matching prospective owners with appropriate breeds and types of dogs based on lifestyle and living arrangements.

"Your new dog"
Advice and information are offered on the transition involved with bringing a new dog into an owner's home.

"Life with your dog"
Information on day-to-day pet care is provided, along with a bulletin board-style forum where readers can find dog-related resources in their local area.

"The older dog"
The final tab of the site's main interface focuses on the health issues and ownership benefits of elderly dogs and resources for further information.

Additional Information

A news & press section provides a feed of current dog and pet ownership topics from news and internet outlets, and an "All Breeds" section provides an alphabetized, encyclopedia-style list of dog breeds with exhaustive descriptions of each.

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See Also

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