Nitro and I had an amazing time at the 2015 National BlogPaws Pet Blogging and Social Media Conference at the Sheraton Music City Hotel in Nashville, TN last weekend. When I decided to take Nitro this year to  the BlogPaws 2015, I thought it would be a good idea not only because he is five years old already but I also thought it would be a great way to really show the pet blogosphere just how much Deaf Dogs ROCK! I knew it would be a lot more work on my part with packing, traveling and keeping him safe. I was also trying to be realistic in realizing ahead of time that I would not be able to network as much as I normally do but I thought it was important to put the extra effort into Nitro going to BlogPaws. After all, Nitro is the real reason Deaf Dogs Rock exists.

 

As we walked into the hotel our first evening we were greeted by this light display on the floor so we knew we were in the right place.

Nitro and I by the front fountain in the front lobby of the host hotel. 

I can tell you now that we are home I was correct in knowing that taking Nitro to the conference was indeed a lot more work, but well worth my efforts. If you are a first timer to BlogPaws and you are planning on attending the 2016 BlogPaws Conference (get more information on the 2016 BP Conference by clicking here), I don’t recommend taking your pets with you to your very first conference. The reason I write this is because it is so important for newbies  to stay focused and meet as many people and brands as they can in such a short amount of time. By staying focused, you will meet so many wonderful bloggers, pet product brands, and you will get the opportunity to take educational sessions and meet the speakers.

I was lucky this year because I invited three of my blogging friends to join me in Nashville at the 2015 BlogPaws Conference. Every year I room with my friend Kristin Elliott with Doodie Pack and this year I invited our DDR Rescue Warrior friend Bernard Lima Chavez with Dog and His Boy blog and author, trainer, and friend Michelle Huntting. The four of us had so much fun hanging out and catching up.

As BAD luck would have it, I caught a 24 hour stomach bug when I got to Nashville and I was very sick on Wednesday (which was the first night for the bloggers who arrived early – The BP Team held a Ice Cream Social). None of our group was arriving until Thursday with the exception of Bernard. I was so sick all day Wednesday and I was counting down the minutes until Bernard made if from the airport to the Sheraton so I could ask him to drive me to the Urgent Care Center a few blocks from the host hotel.

Thank God for Bernard! He is one of our Deaf Dogs Rock Rescue Warriors who works for the Humane Society of Greater Miami and also has a very entertaining blog called Dog and His Boy. As soon a Bernard landed in Nashville he took Nitro and I to Urgent Care so I could get some anti-nausea drugs. He kept Nitro “entertained” while I was waiting to see a Doctor. Oh and did I mention this was the first time we had ever met in person. I felt an immediate connection to Bernard. It was like having my brother show up to take care of me. I am a lucky girl for sure!

Bernard got me to Urgent Care and since I got really sick when I walked in the door (I barely made it to a trash can), the medical staff put me on the “fast track” list to get me into the doctor right away. I finally got my anti-nausea drugs and those little pills kicked in right away but not in enough time for me to attend the BlogPaws Ice Cream Social that evening. The good news for poor Nitro (who had been stuck in my hotel room all day) was that Bernard was going to be his date for the evening (Bernard has two of his own deaf dogs). I knew Nitro would be in great hands if they attended the Ice Cream Social together so off I sent them to go meet new friends and have fun. They had a blast together and I think Nitro had been missing his daddy. He had a “fill in daddy” for the rest of the conference. He loved wrestling and playing with Bernard!

I took this photo two minutes before Bernard and Nitro left to go down stairs to the BlogPaws Ice Cream Social. I think they both look so darn handsome!

For the rest of the evening I rested but I noticed a couple of new texts coming in on my phone.  I started receiving the cutest little “selfies” of Bernard and Nitro. In my opinion God always has a bigger plan for all of us.  Looking back on the evening of the BlogPaws Ice Cream Social, God made it possible for Bernard and Nitro to meet some wonderful pet bloggers and advocates.  Bernard is one of our biggest deaf dog advocates I know and I am so proud of the work he does to help deaf dogs in need.  He has recently adopted TWO deaf dogs. Foster and Edison. Foster was the last deaf puppy I asked him to go get out of a bad situation down in Florida. When he told me he was going to “foster” the deaf puppy, I had a feeling the puppy might become a “failed foster” and I was right. When it came time to list Foster available for adoption Bernard couldn’t stand the thought of anyone else taking Foster so he adopted him.

 

This is one of the text messages I received from Bernard after they left my hotel room. It was Bernard’s way of saying “Don’t worry all is well.”

Be still my aching heart..all is well…all is well with my soul.

Photo by Bernard Lima Chavez for Dog and His Boy Blog – hahaha…I love this photo so much!

Unfortunately I was so darn busy making sure Nitro was safe (lots of doggies, some friendly, some not so much) and comfortable at all times, I did not get to meet or talk to as many of the Pet Product Brands as I would have liked (I think we talked to 3 or 4 at the most) so next year in Phoenix my number one focus will be to meet all the vendors/product representatives and really check out their pet products. I am already working on getting SIX of my friends/bloggers to join me in Phoenix, AZ.

 

Photo taken by Pet World Insider – from L to R: Christina Lee, Nitro, Michelle Hunnting, Bernard Lima-Chavez and Kristin Elliott

I took these photos of Nitro greeting my sweet friend Kristin. He adores her! 

 

Although I did not get the opportunity to take as many photos as I usually do, I did get a photo of the these adorable little mini pigs Priscilla and Poppleton the celebrity piglets.

Since Chris and I are so challenged when it comes to making videos I am kind of hoping we can get the BlogPaws Team to consider asking Kenn Bell to do a Video 101 session on- “How to Video, Edit, and Post To YouTube for Dummies”  or maybe he could call it “Video 101 – For Clueless Pet Bloggers” or how about “How to Have Fun With Your Video Camera and NOT Be Intimidated by YouTube”. I think we should all work on the BlogPaws Team to get  Mr. Bell to Phoenix. If they could offer a special early session on videos, I would be signing up for the early session to learn as much as I can about filming rescue dogs.

Molly, Kenn Bell, and Kristin during the Nose to Nose dinner. 

I was so proud of my deaf dog Nitro. He is such a sweet soul and he is a happy dog as long as he is with me. It doesn’t matter what we are doing but as long as we are together. Nitro was so good in all the BlogPaws sessions. We got to see our friends Laura Nativo (Home and Family/Hallmark Channel) , Larry Kay (with Positively Woof), Caroline Golan (with High Paw Media), and Carol Bryant (with Fidose of Reality). All the sessions where very educational and it was such a pleasure seeing these talented Social Media experts and Animal Advocates in person.

From L to R: Harrison Forbes, Laura Nativo, Sandy Robins and Chloe DaVita in “Creating Your Public Persona: Create Your Destiny”

 

 

It was such a pleasure meeting Laura. She is a Rescue Warrior Woman and Advocate!

I was so excited to get to spend time with Michelle Hunnting and Bernard Lima-Chavez! Photo bybecka.com

I introduced my two friends Michelle and Bernard a few weeks back via FB so they could room together at their very first BlogPaws Conference.

I love this photo of Michelle, Nitro, Bernard and I! – Photo courtesy of Michelle Huntting

Nitro snoozing during our friend Carol’s session.

 

Nitro in Larry and Carol’s session. 

 

Larry and I “chillin like villians” last year at the Lake Las Vegas BlogPaws Conference – photo by Kristin Elliott. 

This year Larry got to meet head dog at DeafDogsRock.com and we got to do a little photo session. They look great together don’t they?

We also got to meet sweet Molly with Rescue From the Hart! She was such a delight and so much fun to hang out with at the Nose To Nose Dinner and Awards Ceremony.  Molly works with Annie Hart with Rescue From the Heart.

Kristin and I were disappointed Annie Hart was not at the BlogPaws Conference this year but I know she has been struggling trying to recuperate after her back surgery. Hopefully we will see Annie and Molly in Phoenix next year. Molly and Annie are both Rescue Warrior Women!

Nitro, Kristin Elliott with DoodiePack.com and I on the Red Carpet prior to the Nose to Nose Award ceremony

 Photo courtesy of  BlogPaws bybecka.com

All in all, Nitro and I had a GREAT time and it was so much fun to share this amazing experience with our friends. Next year pack your cowgirl boots, your cowboy hat, and meet us in Phoenix, AZ. I have already registered for next year and I encourage all of you to do the same!  I highly recommend inviting friends and fellow bloggers to join you because it’s just more fun with friends.

Each year the BlogPaws conference gets better and better! I truly believe the reason the BlogPaws conference gets more enjoyable with every year has to do with getting to know and develop friendships with “like minded pet bloggers” who are “crazy cat and dog people” just like myself. All the attendees who come every year to the BlogPaws Conference come because they all love animals.

Bernard in one of my cowboy hats. He looked so handsome! We thought he resembled Kenny Chesney! 

Nitro, Bud, Chris, and I are so honored to have Deaf Dogs Rock recognized by our peers and awarded the 2015 BlogPaws Nose-To-Nose Social Media Award for “Best Cause Blog of 2015”. We had a blast at the Nose to Nose Red Carpet event sponsored by Mars Petcare. We are so excited part of our N2N Award is Mars Petcare will donate $500 to one of our favorite rescues Green Dogs Unleashed.

Here are a few of our Red Carpet moments…

My sweet PEEPS! – Photo for BlogPaws by bybecka.com

Silly Chloe! She got us all to SMILE before the shot! – Photo by Carol Bryant for Fidose of Reality

2015 Winners of the BlogPaws Nose to Nose Social Media Awards  – Photo courtesy of BlogPaws –  bybecka.com

Bernard and I also participated in the Merrick Petcare Video Challenge and won $500 worth of Merrick dog food for one of our rescues who frequently lets us sponsor deaf dogs in to rescue. Angels of Assisi Rescue here in Roanoke will be getting a big batch of yummy Merrick dog food donated to their shelter pups.

Because we want to support the Brands who support BlogPaws we switched dog food this week. We are now ordering the Merrick Brand for four out of six of our dogs as well as the Honest Kitchen for our senior dogs.

Our new Merrick Dog food Healthy Weight Recipe arrived today! 

To find out more about the 2016 BlogPaws Conference at the Wild Horse Pass Sheraton in Phoenix AZ, please click here. 

Thanks to our Deaf Dogs Rock supporters who participated in our “Send Nitro and Christina to BlogPaws Fundraiser”. Because of your generous support, Nitro and I were able to have this amazing experience we will never ever forget. Thanks you, thank you, thank you!

We love ya!

Christina and Nitro Lee – Deaf Dogs Rock