Raising Good Dogs is built on trust. Every article we publish is meant to help you raise a happier, healthier, better-behaved dog, and that only works if you know exactly how we o…
Raising Good Dogs is built on trust. Every article we publish is meant to help you raise a happier, healthier, better-behaved dog, and that only works if you know exactly how we operate behind the scenes. This page explains, in plain language, how we make money, when we accept gifts or sponsorships, and how we keep our opinions honest no matter who is paying for what.
Nothing on this site is written to flatter a brand, a sponsor, or an advertiser. Our writers and reviewers follow the standards outlined in our Editorial Policy, which means product recommendations, training advice, and health-related content are based on research, real-world testing, and professional input whenever possible — not on who sent us a free bag of treats. If we think a popular product is overhyped or a trendy training method is a bad idea, we say so, even if that product happens to be from a brand we work with elsewhere.
Some links on Raising Good Dogs are affiliate links. This means that if you click through and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission — at absolutely no extra cost to you. The price you pay stays the same whether you use our link or go directly to the retailer. These commissions help cover the real costs of running this site: research time, hosting, photography, and the hours it takes to test products with actual dogs.
We only link to products we genuinely believe are worth considering. Affiliate relationships never override our honesty — if a harness looks great in photos but falls apart after two walks, our review will say that, commission or not. For the full legal breakdown of how these links work, please see our dedicated Affiliate Disclaimer.
Occasionally, brands ask us to create sponsored posts or features. When this happens, we clearly label the content as "sponsored" or "in partnership with" at the top of the article, so there is never any confusion about who paid for it. Sponsored posts still go through the same editorial checks as everything else we publish — we do not accept sponsorships for products we would not personally recommend to a dog owner, and we reserve the right to decline any partnership that conflicts with our values around dog welfare and positive, force-free training. If you are a brand interested in working with us, details on how that process works are outlined on our Collaboration page.
Like most sites in this space, we sometimes receive free products, samples, or press review units from pet brands. Receiving a free item never guarantees a positive review, a mention, or any coverage at all. Our team tests gifted products the same way we test items we purchased ourselves: with real dogs, over a realistic period of time, looking honestly at durability, safety, and value. If a gifted product doesn't hold up, we will tell you — that's the whole point of doing this work.
Every review, comparison, and recommendation reflects the genuine opinion of the person who wrote it, informed by experience and available research. We are not required by any advertiser, sponsor, or affiliate partner to give positive coverage. You can learn more about the people behind these opinions, our backgrounds, and what motivates this site on our About Us page.
Because we cover topics like nutrition, behavior, and general wellness, it's worth repeating here: nothing on this site replaces a hands-on relationship with a licensed veterinarian, certified trainer, or veterinary behaviorist. Every dog is different, and advice that works beautifully for one dog may not be right for another with different health issues, history, or temperament. For the full details on how we frame this kind of content, see our Disclaimer.
This Disclosure page works alongside several other policies that govern how Raising Good Dogs operates:
Transparency only works if you can actually reach us when something seems unclear. If you have a question about a specific review, a sponsored post, an affiliate link, or anything else on this page, email us directly at [email protected]. We read every message and are happy to explain our reasoning or correct a mistake if we've made one. You can also find more ways to get in touch on our Contact page.
Ultimately, our goal is simple: to be a source you can trust when you're making decisions for your dog. Being upfront about how this site makes money and who's involved in creating its content is a core part of earning that trust, and it's something we take seriously with every post we publish.