Your daily dose of doggy goodness!
Every day, we celebrate our shared love of dogs and hopefully brighten your day. Enjoy!
Dog(s) of the Day:
JoJo
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Meme of the day: They’re solar powered!
10 Weird Little Hacks Costco Shoppers Should Know
Do you shop at Costco? Then you know the thrill of saving money. But you might be missing other smart ways to stretch your dollars. Check out our list of genius money hacks—almost as good as that $1.50 hot dog!
More Than Just Scruff: The Secret Superpowers of Dog Whiskers
If you’ve ever leaned in for a canine cuddle and wondered why those long, wiry hairs on your dog's snout are so coarse—or why they seem to sprout from their eyebrows and chin—you’re looking at one of nature’s most sophisticated sensors.
While we might see them as a charming bit of "face furniture," to your dog, whiskers are essential tools for navigating the world. They aren't just thick hairs; they are high-tech biological radars.
They Are "Feelers," Not Just Fur
Technically called vibrissae, whiskers are much deeper and more complex than regular fur. Each whisker is rooted in a follicle packed with nerves and blood vessels. When a whisker touches something—or even feels a slight change in air currents—it sends a lightning-fast signal to the brain.
Think of it this way: if your dog’s eyes provide the "picture," their whiskers provide the "texture" and "proximity."
The Multi-Tasking Magic of Whiskers
Dogs use these tactile hairs for a variety of impressive tasks:
Navigating the Dark: Whiskers can detect subtle shifts in air currents, telling a dog where furniture or walls are located before they ever bump into them.
Close-up Vision: Dogs actually have a blind spot right under their noses. Whiskers help them "see" objects that are too close for their eyes to focus on, like that tennis ball hidden in the grass.
Protection: Ever notice your dog blink when you touch their eyebrow whiskers? Those hairs act as a tripwire, telling the eyelids to shut before a stray branch or tall blade of grass pokes them in the eye.
Emotional Signaling: Whiskers move! When a dog is curious or hunting, they often flare forward. When they are feeling defensive, the whiskers may flatten against the face.
A Note for Pet Parents: The "No-Trim" Rule
Because whiskers are so vital to a dog’s spatial awareness and confidence, they should generally not be trimmed or plucked. Cutting them won’t hurt (the hair itself has no nerves), but it can be incredibly disorienting for your pup. It’s a bit like someone suddenly dimming the lights or numbing your fingertips—it makes the world a lot harder to navigate.
Quick Summary of Whiskers
Feature | Function |
Location | Muzzle, chin, and above the eyes. |
Sensitivity | Detects touch and air movement. |
Purpose | Helps with "near-vision" and nighttime safety. |
Care | Never trim; let them shed and grow back naturally. |
The next time you’re giving your furry friend a scratch behind the ears, take a moment to appreciate those marvelous whiskers. They are just one more reason why dogs are such incredible, finely-tuned companions.
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Dog Food and Supplement Recalls
Here are the recent recalls and advisories:
Bonnihill Farms (Fromm Family Foods) - BeefiBowls Beef Recipe gently cooked frozen dog food, 16 oz. chubs for potential plastic contamination
Foodynamics - Freeze Dried Pet Treats for potential Salmonella contamination.
Nature’s Own - Pet Chews Bully Bites Treats for potential Salmonella contamination.
Family Photo of the Day:
Dozer!
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We want to feature your pup!
We want to share your pup with our pack. Email us your favorite doggy pic or video with your pup’s name, and we'll try to feature it as a family photo in one of our upcoming newsletters or on our Facebook page.
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Meme of the day - Instagram: @meme.ig
