This week I read Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point. I was extremely impressed with Gladwell’s tips and was surprised by how quickly I became invested in the book. The book analyzes why certain trends are made popular while others fade and fail to receive widespread recognition, a concept I have always been curious about. I have always thought there was more to the success or failure of a trend than a coincidence or “dumb luck” so I appreciate that Gladwell goes deeper by using science and research to explain it. I also really enjoyed Gladwell’s writing style and how he was constantly using examples to back up his ideas. Gladwell introduces the concept of the tipping point as the moment an idea catches on and spreads. In order to reach the tipping point, Gladwell credits a number of small isolated events that unify to create a significant trend. He introduces the “three rules of epidemics” which consists of the Law of Few, the Stickiness Factor, and the Power of Context. The Law of Few states that there are three types of people who can spread an idea in the contagious way. Connectors, who communicate with many different people and are capable of bringing diverse groups together, mavens, who are connected in the market and share their knowledge with others to help them make informed decisions, and Salesmen, who use their charisma to persuade others into adopting certain ideas and trends. The Stickiness Factor implies that in order for an idea to become an epidemic it must be “sticky.” This means the idea must be different or memorable enough for the audience to retain. I liked the example Gladwell used of “Sesame Street.” The concept of “educational television” seemed taboo before the creators of Sesame Street used research to target their demographic and create a program that proved to enhance children’s cognitive abilities. The Power of Context focuses on how the environment or historical climate might affect a trends ability to obtain “the tipping point.” In theme with the “How little things can make a bigger difference” subtitle, Gladwell argues that small triggers can come together to create a larger result. For example, Gladwell references the decrease in violent crime in New York City in the 90’s. A number of agencies in New York made it a point to tackle small signs of neighborhood deterioration such as graffiti. Through these small changes in the environment, a larger effect took place. The examples Gladwell provides in this reading were really key for me in understanding the entire concept of the tipping point. Although the book is nearly 20 years old, I still felt the examples used were relevant enough to make a point. That being said, I do wish some new examples were used that referenced social media and how the whole “influencer” industry effects trends introduced nowadays. Gladwell does reference the internet and how it plays a part at the end of the book, but I think a more recent version that references social media directly would be extremely beneficial in today’s society. Overall, I found the information in the book to be extremely beneficial if you are at all interested in trends and why they happen. 

I wanted to continue to share some more of my classmates blog posts since there are so many great ones. All these students give an inside look on what its like being a student reporter. Zach Oliveri, a classmate of mine, has a great blog about what it’s like to serve as a sports and News reporter for WUFT News. I really enjoy this blog because I used to be an Entertainment Anchor and TV reporter for WUFT News so I really relate to it. There’s also a lot of information on UF sports if you’re interested in athletics. Another great blog that gives a behind the scenes look at the life of reporters is Valerie Lyon‘s blog. She does a great job with giving insight on what it’s like to be an aspiring reporter because she got into detail on her personal experiences. Finally, another reporter who gives reader’s an inside look on her life is Hasley Pitman. Halsey’s website is super organized and has a very professional feel. She shares her experiences as a reporter with her readers and showcases her work. These blogs are all amazing to check out if you’re interested in becoming a reporter or just getting an inside look at the profession.

For my blog posts this week I wanted to share some blogs classmates of mine have created that are definitely worth checking out. One of my friends and classmates Rachel Tate created a blog all about surviving in Los Angeles on a budget. I absolutely love this idea because I moved to Los Angeles recently too and it is definitely not the cheapest place to live. She does a great job in adding humor to her writing and always being candid with her readers. Another classmate who has a blog I’ve enjoyed reading is Tiffany Rizzo. In her blog she names different activities for UF students to partake in. She lists so many fun and creative activities that I would love to check out the next time I’m in Gainesville. The photos she uses are also stunning. Finally, if you’re into sports my classmate Zachary Van Etten has created an amazing blog about college football, specifically UF’s own football team. He gives detailed updates on the Gator’s and all the games they partake in during the season. All these blogs offer something completely different and unique and are definitely worth checking out if any topics are of interest to you!

Abigail Salley

While the focus of my blog has been on dog training and tips for dog owners, I wanted to use this post to give you a little background on myself. My name is Abigail Salley and I am currently finishing my last semester at the University of Florida. Right now I am completing my courses online because I am working in Los Angeles as an Intern at a major production company at Paramount Studios. My goal is to get a job in booking for talk shows or casting for unscripted shows. I have a background in local news and enjoy reporting as well. In my free time I enjoy hiking, running, walking my dog Wolfie, baking, and going to the beach. I got Wolfie in January and we have been inseparable ever since. In my blog I talk about some struggles we go through. I talk about how we conquered chewing problems, leash pulling, and of course potty training. I am a huge dog lover and love sharing my tips and tricks with anyone who has a pup of their own!

For people music can have meaning and provoke feelings, but what about for dogs? I thought a fun topic to explore would be to look at how dogs respond to music and how music can be utilized in training. According to an article by The American Kennel Club website, different types of music can illicit different responses in dogs. The study shows little reaction to pop music, however dogs listening to classical music had reduced stress. On the flip side, grunge music promoted hostility, sadness, tension, and fatigue. Spotify has even created a dog playlist full of classical songs meant to promote positive feelings in dogs. I’d definitely suggest playing it for your dog if they’re experiencing anxiety or high stress. The playlist can also be an asset in getting your dog and maybe even yourself in the right headspace for training. If you want more techniques on prepping for training check out my post on 5 things you should know before training.

With Halloween right around the corner, many dog owners are excited to dress up their dog and take them out for a Howl-o-ween to remember. However, in 2019 it seems the costume options are endless. To prevent your dog from looking like a basic b**, here’s a couple costumes I found to be creative, fun, and adorable.

These are just my favorites, but Chewy has a full list of 19 dog costumes. Finding the perfect dog costume is all about catering to your dog’s features. If your dog looks like a lion, throw on a mane. If your dog looks like a teddy bear, make him a beanie baby. If your dog has one eye, give him an eyepatch and make him a pirate. Once you find your dog a look, it’s time to teach him how to act. If you’re planning on taking your dog trick or treating with you, or simply on a walk around the block on this busy holiday it’s important your is well behaved. With so many sights, sounds, and smells on Halloween, it’s easy for your dog get distracted or excited. To prevent your dog from harassing helpless trick-or-treaters check out my previous post on leash pulling. Halloween only comes around once a year, so make sure your dog is looking good and on their best behavior so they can enjoy all the fun amenities the spooky night has to offer.

With MLB postseason in full swing(pun intended), dog owners everywhere are wondering how to get their furry friends a ticket for the 2020 season. With Los Angeles being such a dog friendly city, it’s rare to find a place you can’t bring your dog. Apparently baseball games are no exception. That’s right, hotdogs aren’t the only dogs you’ll find in a baseball stadium. According to ESPN, most teams have sponsored dog-friendly MLB games for quite some time. The American Kennel Club listed some of the dog friendly games in the 2019 MLB season. If you’re worried about your dog’s behavior at the game, check out my basic training tips before refreshing him on certain commands. While the 2020 season list of dog friendly games has yet to be released, owners and their dogs are excited to “Play Ball” in the new year.

Although I’ve designed websites and created blogs throughout my college career, I never realized just how much science went into designing a webpage before reading “Don’t Make Me Think.” I feel like I learned so much from such a short book. I was pleasantly surprised by the books simplicity, it’s straightforward nature, and how easy it was to read because web design can be such a complex and intimidating topic. I’m also appreciative that Krug used visuals to communicate things that would have otherwise been difficult to understand. Not only was I able to comprehend the information given, but I look forward to applying it to my blog and any websites I create in the future. “Don’t Make Me Think” made me realize that user experience is paramount and being able to understand how to effectively  communicate with an online audience means everything in web design. It is so important to always keep the user in mind and design the page in a way they are able to understand. Krug does a great job warning web designers not to overcomplicate things. When it comes to producing a website, using common sense is the best approach. The first and perhaps most important rule Krug establishes in his book is to design pages that don’t have to make users think. Users should know what type of website they are visiting immediately upon clicking on it. A great website will convey a product/idea without the users having to use previous knowledge of the product/idea to instantaneously “get it.” The design of the webpage will speak to users in a blatantly obvious manner. For example, I make sure the picture of my dog is the first thing users see when they visit my site so it’s obvious that my website pertains to dogs and dog training. Another important point Krug mentions is to design a webpage for scanning, not reading. He explains web designers can do this by using universally accepted convections, creating visual hierarchies, and making obvious what’s clickable. An excellent website will make sure it is using all of these elements. One thing I make sure to do on my blog page is to create visual hierarchies within my posts. I use lists and bullet points, different sized fonts, and put my main points in bold. This makes it easier for user to discern what is necessary information and what is additional information. Krug also notes that it is important to make clicking mindless. This means that on a well designed website, users should be able to click and know exactly where that click will lead them. A webpage can accomplish this by using explanatory and easy to understand buttons. Furthermore, Krug emphasizes that a good web designer keeps in mind that less is more. A well designed website should eliminate filler words and avoid using instructions, they should be straightforward and easy to navigate. Good websites should include persistent navigation, a home button, page names, and breadcrumbs to avoid any trouble users might run into when exploring the page. The book also brings up the need to test usability and how many problems can be solved through testing. Krug explains that web designers will often fail to see the flaw in their own design so it’s important to test the site with a fresh set of eyes. For instance, a well designed website would test to see if wording or a function is confusing and modify it based upon the results. Lastly, Krug reminds web designers to be mindful of user’s “reservoir of goodwill,” meaning the feeling the user gets when they visit a website for the first time. Good websites will keep in mind what their user is there to do and make that action as easy as possible for them. Furthermore, good websites will be upfront and save users from taking any unnecessary steps. A good website will also apologize to users when they’re unable to provide a function the user expects. Overall, I feel like I took away a lot of great tips to apply to my blog. “Don’t Make Me Think” was an easy read and I’d recommend it to anyone interested in designing websites.