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Your daily dose of doggy goodness!
Every day, we celebrate our shared love of dogs and hopefully brighten your day. Enjoy!
Dog (and honorary pup) of the Day:
Hank and Daisy!
Meme of the day: The best season!
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Why Does Your Dog Go Wild Whipping Their Stuffed Toys Around? The Delightful Science Behind the Shake
If you've ever given a dog a new plush toy, you've likely witnessed the moment of ecstatic, violent thrashing. Your sweet, loving companion suddenly transforms into a tiny, focused predator, shaking their soft new friend back and forth with incredible intensity.
This endearing—and sometimes alarming—behavior is one of the most common and fascinating aspects of canine play. But what exactly is driving this "death-shake"? It's a blend of ancient instinct, sensory feedback, and pure, unadulterated fun!
The Call of the Wild: Predatory Instinct
At its core, the shake is a deeply ingrained hunting instinct. Domestic dogs, despite thousands of years of comfortable living, retain the behaviors of their wolf ancestors.
The "Kill Shake": In the wild, small prey (like a rabbit or a mouse) is subdued by a quick, forceful shake of the head and neck. This rapid, side-to-side motion is designed to snap the prey’s neck and render it incapacitated quickly.
Safety and Efficiency: When your dog shakes a toy, they are mimicking this efficient hunting technique. They are essentially practicing and perfecting the motions required to secure a meal, even if that "meal" is a squeaky hedgehog.
Sensory Feedback and Reward
The stuffed toy offers a perfect sensory experience that rewards the shaking behavior:
The "Floppy" Factor: Toys that are soft, loose, and floppy (or those with stuffing that shifts) feel like small, struggling prey. The toy's resistance and movement during the shake mimics the action of a caught animal.
The Squeaker Stimulus: If the toy has a squeaker, the sound it makes when shaken or bitten acts as an instant, high-value reward. The squeak mimics the sound of distressed prey, further reinforcing the instinctual behavior.
Stress Relief and Excitement Release
Shaking is a fantastic way for dogs to vent pent-up energy and emotion.
The Zoomie Connection: Just like how "zoomies" (FRAPs, or Frenetic Random Activity Periods) help dogs blow off steam, the toy shake is a focused form of intense physical activity.
Relieving Frustration: For an energetic dog who hasn't had enough physical or mental exercise, a vigorous toy session can be a wonderful, constructive outlet for releasing built-up stress or excitement.
It's Just Fun! (Play Behavior)
Sometimes, the simplest answer is the best. Dogs learn quickly that certain behaviors feel good and lead to an enjoyable outcome.
The Joy of Interaction: When dogs are alone, shaking can be self-amusement. When they do it near you, it can be an invitation to play, showing off their "catch" and encouraging a game of tug-of-war or chase.
It's a Full-Body Workout: A good shake session gets the whole body involved—the neck, back, core, and legs. It's stimulating and satisfying!
When to Encourage (and When to Step Back)
Generally, shaking toys is a perfectly normal, healthy, and enriching activity that should be encouraged!
Do Encourage: Provide your dog with durable, appropriate toys that they are allowed to "kill" with enthusiasm. A good shake session can be part of their daily exercise routine.
Do Step Back: If your dog becomes overly possessive, aggressive, or starts growling at you while shaking or playing, it’s a sign to pause the game and work on "drop it" commands and resource guarding management. Always supervise play, especially with new toys.
So, the next time your dog turns their stuffed octopus into a whirling dervish of fluff and fury, smile! You're witnessing a perfect, joyful intersection of their wild past and their playful present. They aren't trying to destroy your house; they are just enjoying the delightful, satisfying sensation of a very successful hunt.
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Dog Food and Supplement Recalls
Here are the recent recalls and advisories:
Foodynamics - Freeze Dried Pet Treats for potential Salmonella contamination.
Nature’s Own - Pet Chews Bully Bites Treats for potential Salmonella contamination.
Viva - Ground Beef for Dogs and Ground Chicken for Dogs and Cats for potential Salmonella and Listeria contamination.
Savage Pet - Cat Food Chicken for potential bird flu exposure.
Family Photo of the Day:
Mimi!
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: @coffilabdogs and @coffi.lab
