Forum Etiquette - please take the time to read
-Do take your time in posting your first message to the group. Do consider lurking for a few days and do read the various topics to get a feel for the group.
-Do send a personal introduction to the group when you join. This allows the group to get to know you and your pets and it is simply polite.
-Do use a signature to help identify yourself, especially if you have created a username that is not the one you were born with. Feel free to add the names of your dogs or other people in the house if they will be posting under your username (the people that is).
-Don't use ALL CAPS in your posts. Capitilization is used for emphasis on forums and typing in all caps is the equivalent to shouting.
-Do write and edit your posts to the group carefully, especially when you are new to the group and trying to build a name for yourself.
-Do consider emailing a specific member of the list directly, rather than posting a message meant for a single user to the entire board.
-Don't jump into heated discussions (and discussions can get heated) until you are an accepted member of the board.
-Do keep your messages relevant to the topic you've chosed to post them under. If you need help deciding where your question or comment should go, pm one of the administrators.
-Don't be too strong or forceful in your early posts, and don't be demanding or pushy. Let yourself be known gradually.
-Do showcase your knowledge and experience, but do it in a manner that isn't boastful.
-Don't flame other members of the board. If you disagree with an opinion or entire post, you're free to say so, but keep it impersonal. You disagree with the opinion, not the person.
-Do be respectful and tolerant of others. They aren't perfect and neither are you.
-Do be pleasant and polite -- there are emoticons for your use, use them wisely when choosing to be sarcastic or cynical so that you are not misunderstood.
-Do build and nurture a relationship with individual members or the entire group. Forums are a great place to make new like-minded friends.
-Don't just be a user; try to help other members when problems arise with which you have experience
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