It's is a cute site, but I agree with Racheal that maybe the front page could use a simpler layout without so many large graphics as it does take a while to load. I'd keep to small, simple graphics that load quickly for the front page.
I also have to echo Navyflash's concern about the prefixes. Whenever you adopt a pet from someone else, (on forums, PA, AAC, or pet sites) you should always have their prefix in front of your own. It's sort of how we in the petz community give credit to each other for breeding or hexing the pets that they adopted out to us. It's something that is universally expected by breeders and hexers unless they specifically state otherwise. So if, for instance, I adopted a pet from Navyflash, the pet's prefix would be Navyflash's/Barguestspirit's or Navy's/Barguestspirit's (whatever the original owner wants adopters to use as a prefix. Some people have multiple versions of their prefix and will let you choose which one to use.)
In cases where you adopted the pet a while ago and aren't sure who the breeder/hexer is or what their prefix is, look in the pet's profile for a clue. Sometimes the original owner's name is still there unless it's been changed. Also try looking through old mail/old forum posts/etc. If you still can't figure out who the pet is from, you'd put a question mark in front of your prefix like this: ?/SPK's Fuzzy Dog
This is the best way to give credit to the unknown owner. I have several dogs that I am not sure where they came from and what their prefix is supposed to be, so I put the question mark before my own prefix. It can be hard to keep track of that kind of stuff when a pet was adopted long ago and people don't put that information in the pet's profile before adopting it out. That's why I advocate that everybody please paste your name or e-mail, website name/URL if you have one, adoption rules, and your prefix in each pet's profile before you adopt them out. It makes everything much easier, and helps ensure that your adoption rules will be followed. Like some people want the pet returned to them if it's no longer wanted, but if you don't put a note in the pet's profile along with an e-mail address to send it back to, you can't expect people to remember the adoption details and rules for every single pet they adopt. (I know I can't). I keep a simple txt document with my adoption rules, URL, and e-mail address so that I can simply copy and paste it into the profile of each pet I adopt out. It simplifies things and leaves little excuse for people to not follow my rules.
A lot of people who are rather new to the PC aren't aware that you're supposed to use the breeder/hexer's prefix, so no harm done as long as you correct the prefixes on pets that you adopted from others. Not putting the breeder/hexer's prefix before your own is generally frowned upon by the community, it's sort of like taking credit for a dog you did not hex or breed. Just a friendly warning as it's something that's liable to make people angry and land you in a bit of hot water with other PC members.
Also, just to let you know, the pose pictures on your shows page are actually not poses at all. For "standard" or "pose" shows (excluding cute, fashion, trick, sporting and other shows) the pet needs to always face right. A pose facing left or straight ahead is actually not considered a pose at all, and would be automatically disqualified in most any pose show. There are two types of poses typically allowed in dog pose shows, the dali pose (head looking at camera), and the profile/dane pose (head facing right). In both poses, the pet's legs need to be aligned as closely as possible so that only one leg is visible. Some breeds can only align one set of legs, either the front or back, so that's something that a judge needs to keep in mind. It helps to learn what different breeds are supposed to look like when posing as some have little quirks. In dogs, the eyelids should be slightly closed (with a couple of exceptions such as the Jack Russel which poses with slightly wider eyes than other breeds), but the eyes should never be completely wide as this is a "scared" or "surprised" pose and is not allowed in standard shows. The chest in both dali and dane poses should be puffed up and proud looking, but not too much. If a dog is "overposing", the dog will look weird, with it's chest puffed out too much, it's neck and legs at strange angles, and the head will be held too high. Overposes are not allowed in pose shows. Usually, dogs who are just learning to pose will overpose a lot, and the dog will usually give a proper pose after an overpose.
In dali poses, the dog should be looking straight at the camera with the head held straight and square with the shoulders (not tilted or looking off the the side). The nose ballz and shines should be as even as possible, though keep in mind that some breeds such as the OB dalmatian cannot get perfect nose shines when posing. The ears should be relaxed and positioned evenly (depending on breed). Dogs with up ears (like the CKBC) should be holding them straight up (not crooked or to the side) and the tips should be even with each other if you draw a straight line across them. Dalmation ears should look like upside-down triangles, with the sides and tips laying flush against the head (not upturned at the tips). Ears that are uneven or are held strangly usually mean that the dog was moving when the picture was taken, and is not what you want in a good pose. The dog's tail in both dali and dane poses should be curled over the back as much as possible (except in some hexed breeds where the tail is made of addballz and cannot curl over the back). In dane poses, the dog's legs should be aligned just like in dali pose, but the head should be facing to the right instead of looking at the camera. Only one eye and ear should show, and only one nose ball/shine should be visible. The one eye should still be looking at the camera with the lid slightly closed. If the eye is looking anywhere else (to the right or upward), the dog is not posing. Dane poses look best if the held is held high as it gives the dog a proud look. The chest should be puffed out a bit, and the legs should be nice and straight. Here's a couple of examples of what poses should generally look like, these dogs where bred and posed by me:
Profile pose:
An OB dane in profile/dane pose. This dog's head is being held level, which is fine, but some favor higher heads. Also note that in most OBs and older files, a tiny bit of the other eye will show in dane pose. This is normal.
A Java GSD in profile/dane pose. Java GSDs and some other GSD breeds have to be aligned by the front legs since their back legs are hexed to be apart like the classic GSD pose. Notice how this dog's front legs are aligned, how only one ear is visible, and how the head is held nice and high.
Dali Pose:
This is a dalmatian (BC dali OW) in dali pose. Notice how the head is facing straight and looking at the camera head on. Both ears are shaped like upside-down triangles laying against the head (not turned up at the tips or held away from the head). The eyes are slightly closed, giving the dog a proud and relaxed look. The nose is nice and round, not crooked. (both nose ballz/shines in OBs will not appear perfect like in a lot of hexed breeds. This is normal). The tail is curled up over the back, and the chest is slightly puffed out.
This is a CKBC in a dali pose. Once again, the head is looking at the camera head on and square with the shoulders. The eyes slightly closed, the ears are the flat type and are held evenly. The legs are aligned, and the nose is evenly shaped with both nose shines showing evenly. Since the dog has an addballz tail, it can not curl up and over the back.
That should give you an idea of what poses should look like. I added this because people will tend to stay away from entering shows if they feel they will not be judged correctly. Having a knowledgeable and professional looking shows page will encourage people to participate and send in entries. I would be happy to help you with posing dogs and judging dog poses if you'd like (I don't know anything about posing cats, so I can't help you there). You can e-mail or PM me with any posing/showing questions you have.
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