raisingagooddog.com is a reader-supported site. When we write about crate builds, training tools, leashes, or any other dog-related gear, some of the links we include are affiliat…
raisingagooddog.com is a reader-supported site. When we write about crate builds, training tools, leashes, or any other dog-related gear, some of the links we include are affiliate links. This page explains exactly what that means, how we choose what to recommend, and where you can find the actual disclosures on the site. If anything here feels unclear, you're always welcome to reach out at [email protected].
An affiliate link is a special tracking link to a retailer or brand's website. If you click that link and make a qualifying purchase — sometimes within a set time window, not necessarily the exact item we linked — we may earn a small commission from the retailer. This is a common way independent content sites fund the time it takes to research, test, photograph, and write posts like our step-by-step wooden crate builds or recall training guides.
We participate in various affiliate programs, including but not limited to the Amazon Associates Program, along with smaller pet-brand or tool-brand partnerships that come up from time to time as we build out our furniture and training content.
This is the part people worry about most, so we'll say it plainly: clicking an affiliate link and buying through it does not cost you anything more than buying directly. The price you see is the price you pay. The commission, when there is one, comes out of the retailer's marketing budget, not your wallet. You are never charged a markup, a fee, or anything hidden because you came from our site.
In some cases, retailers even offer exclusive discount codes to sites like ours, which means using our link could occasionally save you money rather than cost you any.
We know it would be easy to fill a site like this with whatever pays the highest commission. That's not how we work, and it's spelled out more fully in our Editorial Policy. In practice, our selection process looks like this:
Because our niche covers hands-on DIY dog furniture as well as training routines, we try to test or closely research physical products — hardware, wood finishes, crate hinges, training aids — before mentioning them by name.
You'll typically see a short affiliate note near the top of any post that contains affiliate links, so you don't have to hunt for it or reach the end of an article before knowing how it's monetized. For a broader explanation of how compensation, sponsorships, and partnerships work across the whole site, take a look at our Disclosure page, which complements the information here.
If a post involves a sponsored mention or a product sent to us for review, we call that out separately as well — you can read more about how those relationships are handled on our Collaboration page.
Being an affiliate partner with a retailer never buys favorable coverage. If a crate hardware kit is flimsy or a training tool underperforms, we say so, commission or not. Our goal is to keep raisingagooddog.com useful for people who actually want to build sturdy dog furniture or raise a well-behaved dog, not to push products for their own sake. You can learn more about who's behind these recommendations on our About Us page.
This Affiliate Disclaimer works alongside a few other pages that govern how content, data, and third-party links are handled on this site. For general limitations on the advice we share, see our Disclaimer. For how we handle personal information when you click through to a retailer, see our Privacy Policy, and for details on tracking technologies used by affiliate links, check the Cookie Policy.
If you're ever unsure whether a particular link on a page is an affiliate link, or you want more detail on why a specific product was recommended, just email us at [email protected]. We're happy to explain our reasoning, and we regularly update older posts as products change, go out of stock, or get replaced by better options for your dog and your build.