It’s that time again, my friends.  Trees have been knocked over by intrepid feline Magellans and claimed by dogs confused by the sudden appearance of decorative indoor toilets.  Stockings have been knocked off the chimney with care by cantankerous cats and then been mistaken for dog toys. Traditions abound.

One of those traditions? The Pet Blogger’s Gift Exchange (or, as I like to call it, the PBGE) hosted by the brilliant Pamela from Something Wagging This Way Comes.  Instead of gifts wrapped in paper and bows, we exchange compliments, encouragement, and love.

I’ve been paired up with some pretty fantastic bloggers in the past, and this year is no exception.  You may be familiar with Jan from The Poodle (and Dog) Blog.  If not, you’re in for a real treat today – prepare to find a new blog to add to your must-read list!  Jan’s been blogging since 2005, showing us all how it’s done.  She’s smart, funny, and generally just the greatest.

So… today, I’m dedicating a link roundup to The Poodle (and Dog) Blog and all of its awesomeness.  Join me as we explore some of the many reasons to love this blog (and, at the end of this post, find out how you can help me make this gift really special).  I’ve picked some links from 2014 to highlight, but trust me when I tell you that all of the archives are worth checking out. (Chuck Norris agrees.)

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Ready?

1. Jan tells stories that make me feel good.  Bring on the success stories and heartwarming tales!
2. She tells stories that are weird… but weird in a good way.  (Also sometimes weird in a mysterious way.)
3. It’s not all sugarplums and candy canes, though. Jan has an uncanny ability to call out stupidity. I salute her judgy pants skills.
4. In that vein, I love her monthly Golden Poodle Awards, where she recognizes the good, the bad, and the stupid. (Some of the categories? The Neanderthal Award and the Lizard Brain Award.)
   

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5. The Poodle (and Dog) Blog is also educational. (Grammar, FTW!)  I seriously learn a lot of stuff.  For example, the saga of the NC State mascot was new to me.
6. You might notice that Jan is a bit of a sports fan.  I love the way she weaves the sports and animal stories together so seamlessly.  I also learned about the greatest sports injury of all time from her.
7. I also learned where to find super cool unicorn slippers.
8. Canine readers can learn a lot too.  Next year, your dog will be ready for Christmas if she reads these tips.  If your dog can read, you might as well ask her to take a look at this list of holiday foods to avoid as well.  (And then get your dog an agent and a book deal.  Trust me.)
9. She has a post about a cross-dressing squirrel.  Come on, people. That’s gold.

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In sum, Jan is one of the good ones. She brings important causes to our attention, she finds cool stuff to share, she lets me know about cool clubs I can join, and she reminds us that there’s good in the world (in spite of all the stupid that’s out there too).  She doesn’t shy away from a good pun.

Finally, she alerted me to this important news.  Very important.

Now it’s your turn, dear reader. Help me give Jan a fabulous gift by doing at least one of the things below. (For extra credit, do two. Or three.)

• Stop by the blog and tell her how awesome she is. (While you’re there, follow her on Bloglovin or add the blog to your feed reader.)
• Connect on Twitter and say hello.
• Share some of her posts on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and Pinterest.

Okay, fellow pup fans… you have your assignments. Let’s give Jan a fantastic gift!

For more feel-good bloggy goodness, check out the other blogs participating in this year’s PBGE:

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