In today's issue:

-Meet our 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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The Key To Quality Sleep

As the days shorten and the nights grow longer, nothing matters more than restorative rest! Cornbread Hemp’s USDA organic Sleep Gummies are designed to help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. The best part? They’re made without melatonin, so you can skip the weird dreams and the next-day grogginess.
Each gummy combines full-spectrum hemp with calming botanicals, including valerian root, chamomile, and lavender. They work naturally to help relax your body and quiet your mind, promoting a restful sleep cycle. Because good days start with great nights!

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Why Your Dog Shakes When They Wake Up

We’ve all seen it. Your dog blinks open their eyes, climbs out of their bed, stretches their front legs forward into a classic "play bow," and then executes a dramatic, ears-flapping, jowl-slapping, full-body shake. It’s a rhythmic vibration that starts at the snout and ripples all the way down to the tip of the tail.

If this morning ritual is a staple in your household, you might wonder why our canine companions feel the need to violently rattle themselves awake before they’ve even had their breakfast. As it turns out, that morning shake-off is a fascinating blend of physiology, ancient instinct, and emotional calibration.

The Canine "Cup of Coffee"

Just like we might reach for a morning stretch or a warm mug of coffee to dispel the fog of sleep, dogs use the morning shake to physically wake up their nervous system.

During sleep, a dog’s heart rate slows, their muscles relax, and blood pools slightly. A vigorous shake stimulates blood flow, loosens up stiff joints, and sends a rush of sensory data to the brain. It is essentially a rapid-fire physical warm-up that tells the body, "Hey, it’s time to be awake now." If your dog had an intense night of chasing dream-squirrels, this shake also clears out any residual muscle tension from sleep twitching.

Resetting the Fur "Coat"

For a dog, fur isn't just aesthetic—it’s a highly functional sensory and insulating layer. Hours of sleeping curled up in a ball or flat on their side can flatten, mat, or misalign their coat.

A quick shake-off immediately fluffs the fur back to its natural, lofted state. This lofting traps air close to the skin, helping them regulate their body temperature against morning drafts. It also realigns the sensory guard hairs on their coat, making them fully responsive to their environment again.

Discharging Emotional "Static"

In the canine world, the "shake-off" is a well-known behavioral reset mechanism. Dogs frequently use a full-body shake to flush out excess adrenaline or tension. You’ve likely seen them do it after a tense interaction with another dog at the park, or right after an intensely bubbly greeting when you walk through the front door.

When they first wake up, a shake serves a similar emotional purpose. It clears away the cognitive "static" of whatever they were dreaming about and grounds them in the present moment. It’s the ultimate canine transition tool—moving them seamlessly from unconscious rest to calm alertness.

When to Take a Closer Look

While a full-body shake upon waking is completely normal, context is everything. If your dog is only shaking their head repeatedly, scratching at their ears, or tilting their head to one side, it’s usually a sign of ear discomfort (like an infection or an allergen flare-up) rather than a simple morning wake-up call. If you notice localized head-shaking accompanied by whining, a quick chat with your veterinarian is always a smart move.

For the vast majority of pups, though, that morning rattle is just a sign of a healthy, well-adjusted animal preparing to take on the day with you. It’s their unique way of saying, "Sleep mode deactivated. Let's see what today has in store."

Dog Food and Supplement Recalls

Here are the recent recalls and advisories:

• Albright's Raw Pet Food - Chicken Recipe for Dogs: Potential Salmonella exposure

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