Pages last updated 17 February 2000

In July 1999 when I was browsing the internet I came across the Delphi pages. I discovered this gave me the opportunity to set up my own internet discussion forum. Through my involvement with the Nottingham Afghan Training Club I already had an interest in all aspects of training, handling, grooming and showing the Afghan Hound and this seemed an ideal vehicle in which I could take my interest forward.

I had visited Steve Tillotson’s Afghan Hound Database and Breed Information Exchange on many occasions and belonged to an Afghan Hound email list. There were many Afghan Hound related sites on the internet and a lot of information was already available. However, I realised there was a gap to be filled because there was no interactive source of reference where enthusiasts could literally ask for advice from anywhere in the world if the information they required was not immediately available on the site. This was an opportunity not to be missed and by naming my forum after the Nottingham Afghan Training Club it simultaneously enabled me to raise the profile of the Club.

My objectives were clear. The forum would become a comprehensive library of useful tips and information which would be freely accessible to all enthusiasts anywhere in the world. It was my way of giving everyone an equal opportunity of exhibiting their Afghan to it’s maximum potential. My hope was that the more experienced members of our breed would be willing to give advice freely and that anyone would be able to ask questions without any feeling of awkwardness or embarrassment. This has certainly proved to be the case and the friendliness of the forum has been remarked upon many times. We have regular visitors from Australia, America, Canada, Estonia, UK, Sweden, Germany, Malaysia, Slovania, Italy, Finland, South Africa and more besides. A truly international forum.

I initially set up 5 folders covering training, handling, grooming, health and news. I later added an ‘introductions’ folder so that regular contributors could tell us a little bit more about themselves and their Afghans. This has proved to be a very popular addition. All folders are fully searchable and anyone posting a message on the forum will automatically be notified if they receive a reply.

Interest in the forum was at first very slow. I advertised on Steve Tillotson’s site, in the UK Dog Press and sent emails to numerous Afghan enthusiasts worldwide. This had a limited impact and I spent much of the early period trying to think up questions which I thought might stimulate a response. This was often to no avail, but I had faith in my belief that I had discovered something which could make a major contribution to the breed.

Finally, at the turn of the new millennium I sent out another batch of emails and advertised on an Afghan list. BINGO!! The forum went from strength to strength and we quickly gained 40 to 50 visitors per day. In Delphi, page views are measured by the number of banner advertisements that are seen (although I must add that they are fairly inconspicuous) and we achieved around 35,000 page views in January, far exceeding my wildest expectations. Messages soared from around 50 at the turn of the year to 850 by mid February and they are increasing at a rate of knots!

As I became more familiar with Delphi I discovered that photographs may also be included as attachments. Consequently when someone was trying to explain how to ‘wrap’ an Afghan we simply posted a few photographs to show what was meant. We also have a number of amusing photographs to add a little light entertainment.

In January I was persuaded to promote the ‘chat’ facility which automatically came with the discussion forum. I initially felt this would be to the detriment of the messages and that it would take us away from the principle of all tips remaining on the forum for others to browse through. I should not have worried - the chat facility has since been a revelation. I have met so many enthusiast from all over the world and I have learned so much about the show scene elsewhere that I feel privileged to have been part of this exciting development. A new circle of friends, chatting away about a subject which is close to our hearts until the early hours of the morning. Who could want more?

If you would like to visit the forum, please click on the link below. You do not need to be sponsored to join and membership is free:-

 Click here to join the Nottingham Afghan Training Club's Discussion Forum

Click here to visit the Afghan Hound Links page

John and Michelle Bloor

For further information contact john@pashtari.screaming.net