In today's issue:

-Meet our adoptable dog of the day

-Enjoy a laugh with our dog meme of the day

-Get great information in our featured article

-Take our action of the week

-Check out our family photo of the day

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Why Your Dog Is Obsessed With Fetch

If you have ever picked up a tennis ball, thrown it across the yard, and watched your dog transform into a puppy-missile of sheer joy, you know the magic of fetch. To a dog, a game of fetch isn’t just a fun pastime. Instead, the game is an all-consuming, tail-wagging experience. But why does this simple game hold such an irresistible pull over our pups?

It Taps Into Their Ancestral Drive

At its core, fetch is a safe, joyful expression of a dog’s instincts. Long before they were sleeping on memory-foam dog beds, a dog’s wild ancestors relied on a sequence of hunting behaviors: locate, chase, grab, and possess.

When you throw a ball, its unpredictable bounce and fast motion trigger your dog’s innate prey drive. Chasing that neon-yellow sphere gives them the same thrill their ancestors felt during a hunt, but without any of the danger or high stakes. It lets them be wild for a few glorious seconds before coming right back to you.

The Delight of a "Job Well Done"

Many dog breeds, especially retrievers, shepherds, and herding dogs, were selectively bred for working roles that required retrieving game or gathering livestock. For these dogs, having a task to perform isn't just entertainment; it's a deep psychological need.

Bringing the ball back satisfies that built-in desire to work and accomplish a goal. When they drop that slobbery tennis ball at your feet and look up with eager eyes, they aren't just saying, "Throw it again!" They’re saying, "Look what I accomplished!"

A Chemical Rush of Happiness

Just like humans experience a "runner’s high," dogs get a powerful neurochemical boost from energetic play. Running at full sprint releases endorphins and dopamine in your dog's brain, the feel-good hormones responsible for pleasure and reward.

This sensory reward cycle makes fetch deeply satisfying:

• The anticipation: Watching your hand move to throw the ball.
• The thrill: Sprinting full-speed through the air and grass.
• The victory: The satisfying squish of catching the ball in their jaws.

Fetch Is Ultimate Quality Time

While the ball is certainly exciting, the real prize for your dog is you. Fetch is a cooperative game between a dog and their favorite human.

Every time your dog returns the ball, they choosing to share their prize with you rather than running off to chew it alone. Your praise, smile, and willingness to throw it again reinforce a cycle of trust and affection. To your dog, fetch is proof that working together results in fun.

Dog Food and Supplement Recalls

Here are the recent recalls and advisories:

• FI - Pet Supplements: Potential Salmonella Contamination
• Northwest Naturals - Chicken Recipe: Potential Salmonella and/or Listeria Monocytogenes Contamination
• Fromm - Wet Canned Dog Food: Potential Metal Contamination
• Oma's Pride - Canine Food: Contaminated with Salmonella
• Pedigree - High Protein Chopped Chicken & Duck Flavor Wet Dog Food: Potential Plastic Contaminants

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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.